Huskers hang on to top Creighton in clash of top-10 teams

The Nebraska-Creighton volleyball match is always highly anticipated but there was even more excitement coming into Tuesday night’s contest — the first top-10 clash in the programs’ history. It didn’t disappoint as Nebraska won in five sets, 25-19, 25-16, 31-33, 16-25, 15-10.

Initially, it looked like the No. 5-ranked Huskers would make quick work of their in-state rivals as the Big Red started off strong both offensively and defensively.

Nebraska took control of the first stanza with an early 7-1 run and cruised to a set win.

The ninth-ranked Bluejays started better in the second frame but the result was the same. After Creighton took 7-6 lead, the Huskers went on a 19-9 run to win, including a 6-1 run to close out the set.

Again, Creighton started strong in Set 3 but it still seemed like Nebraska might sweep the Bluejays, who seemingly shot themselves in the foot. Creighton had five service errors in the frame, making a mistake every time it seemed like they were getting some momentum.

Their fourth one sparked a 6-1 Nebraska run that looked like it might end it, but Creighton went on a 3-0 to get back within a point. That’s when the Bluejays had another service error, putting the Huskers on the brink of victory via a sweep. Instead, that’s when the match really started.

Creighton rattled off another 3-0 run to get to set point before an epic back-and-forth battle deep into extras between the two programs. The Huskers fought off four set points while the Bluejays fended off four match points.

It looked like Creighton forced a fourth set with a 32-30 win but a Nebraska challenge shockingly overturned the set point win, keeping the Huskers’ hopes for a sweep alive. Creighton responded by winning the next two points to close it out for good.

Just like that, the match flipped from a near Nebraska sweep to all Creighton.

The Bluejays gave the Huskers a taste of their own medicine in Set 4 as the Big Red looked deflated following their Set 3 loss. Nebraska hung around early but an 8-2 run put the Bluejays firmly in control and they cruised to a win to force a decisive fifth frame — the first Set 5 for either school this season.

Yet, seemingly fading away and possibly fatigued by playing their fourth match in eight days, the Huskers woke up. They jumped out to a 5-1 lead, took a couple punches from the Bluejays and cruised to a win to move to 23-0 all-time against their in-state rival.

Bergen Reilly had a match-high 57 assists to go with 13 digs; Lexi Rodriguez had a match-high 21 digs; and Harper Murray led the Huskers offensively with 16 kills while Andi Jackson and Lindsay Krause each had 15 and Merritt Beason added 14.

Next up: The Huskers (6-1) host No. 14 Arizona State on Friday night in the Nebraska Classic. That match is set for a 7 p.m. start at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.