LINCOLN, Nebraska. – The Nebraska volleyball team defeated Montana State 25-19, 25-15 and 25-10 to cap off a perfect weekend at the Husker Invitational on Saturday afternoon in front of 8,456 spectators at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska (5-1) posted a .400 batting average and held Montana State (1-4) to a .128 slugging percentage. The Huskers had 47 kills to 26 for the Bobcats, and NU served seven aces and allowed just two.
Harper Murray had 11 kills and a .400 batting average with three aces, six digs and two blocks. Merritt Beason had eight kills, while Andi Jackson finished with seven kills and a .778 batting average.
Rebekah Allick and Taylor Landfair each had six kills and Lindsay Krause added five kills while hitting .417.
Bergen Reilly had 37 assists and eight digs, and Lexi Rodriguez also had eight digs. Olivia Mauch contributed five digs.
Set 1: Although Nebraska led throughout the first set, Montana State stayed close, getting within 13-12 and 14-13. A service error by the Bobcats and an ace by Murray made it 16-13, and Jackson and Krause scored consecutive kills for an 18-14 lead. MSU responded with a kill and an ace to cut it to 18-16, but a kill by Allick and a block by Allick and Murray helped NU keep the lead, 21-17. An ace by Beason brought set point at 24-19, and the Huskers won 25-19.
Set 2: Nebraska started 5-1 on kills by Beason, Krause and Allick and a block by Allick and Murray. NU extended its lead to 18-7 after a 7-0 run on Reilly’s serve. Krause and Allick each had kills in the period and MSU committed four hitting errors. The Huskers closed out the win 25-15 on three kills by Jackson down the stretch and a kill and an ace by Landfair. Nebraska held Montana State to .067 hitting in the second set.
Set 3: Nebraska started 13-3 and never looked back. They won easily 25-10 to pull off the sweep. Maisie Boesiger came in as a substitute and served up a 7-0 run on her birthday. Murray and Rodriguez each served aces in the set, and Landfair and Murray combined for 10 kills to help the Huskers earn their 27th consecutive home win.
Up next: Nebraska hosts Creighton on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
