Nebraska volleyball had another perfect seven days.
The Huskers added three more wins to their record, beating Creighton, North Carolina and Florida Gulf Coast. Nebraska is now 10-0 and has continued to find different ways to win, as the three matches this week were not the same.
Nebraska dominated Creighton in a sweep, had to work through some tougher stretches against North Carolina and then handled FGCU in four sets after dropping a competitive third set.
Some of the same strengths from last week continued to show up, especially in the middle, but there were also some changes. Harper Murray had one of her best offensive performances of the season against FGCU, while Nebraska’s depth continued to show itself throughout the week.
Here’s how each position performed.
Setters
The setters continue to be one of Nebraska’s most reliable position groups.
Reilly has continued to run the offense while giving Nebraska plenty of different options. Against Creighton, the Huskers finished with 41 assists while hitting .202 as a team. Nebraska did not need to be at their most efficient because the defense and blocking helped control the match.
The North Carolina match was a different story. The Huskers hit .286 and had 49 kills, with four players finishing with at least six kills. Andi Jackson led the team with 10 kills while Harper Murray had 12.
Against FGCU, Flynn got an extended opportunity and finished with 27 assists and five kills while hitting .667. Nebraska hit .333 in the four-set win. That depth at setter is important.
Nebraska does not have to rely on Reilly for every point or every match. Flynn has shown that she can step into the offense and keep things moving when given the opportunity.
Reilly has continued to be a threat as a hitter. She had kills against both Creighton and North Carolina, forcing opposing defenses to pay attention to her when she is in the front row.
The setters haven’t had a perfect week, but they have kept Nebraska’s offense balanced and have helped the Huskers get production from several different players.
Grade: A
Middle Blockers
Andi Jackson, Manaia Ogbechie, Kenna Cogill, Keoni Williams
The middle blockers continue to be the best position group on the roster. This week showed that Nebraska has more than just Jackson and Ogbechie at the position.
Cogill had a huge performance against Creighton. She recorded eight kills on 11 attacks and hit .727. That was one of the most efficient offensive performances by any Nebraska player during the three matches.
Jackson was also excellent against Creighton, finishing with nine kills on 14 attacks while hitting .571. She followed that with 10 kills against North Carolina while hitting .571.
The middle blockers were also a major part of Nebraska’s defensive success.
Nebraska recorded nine team blocks against Creighton and another nine against North Carolina. The Huskers finished with 16 blocks in four sets against the Eagles. Despite FGCU coming in with a less-than-solid offense, a block party that strong is impressive at any level.
The front row’s sixteen blocks in a match is a huge contribution, and it helped Nebraska overcome a rough third set against the Eagles. The Huskers hit just .054 in that set but still found a way to win the match in four. Ogbechie was effective against FGCU, hitting .400 with five kills on 10 attacks.
There is still plenty of depth here, too. Cogill has shown she can be productive when she gets her opportunity, while Williams has continued to provide another option in the middle.
At this point, it is hard to find anything to criticize about this position.
Grade: A+
Opposite hitters
This position had a mixed week, but there were some positive signs.
Adriano had a difficult night against Creighton, finishing with eight kills on 21 attacks for a .143 hitting percentage. She was better against North Carolina, as she had multiple kills in important stretches of the match. She also gave Nebraska another blocking option from the right side.
Then against FGCU, Adriano hit .429, finishing with four kills on seven attacks.
Hunter also had a strong showing against North Carolina. She finished with six kills on seven attacks and hit .714, one of the most efficient offensive performances of the weekend. Hunter saw extended action against the Eagles, although she was less efficient in that match.
The biggest question with this position is consistency. Adriano has shown she can be a dependable offensive option, while Hunter has shown reason for extreme optimism when she gets more playing time.
The next step is regularly putting the production together.
Grade: B+
Outside hitters
Harper Murray, Skyler Pierce, Teraya Sigler, Gabby DiVita, Jayden Robinson
The outside hitters had a better week than they did in the previous set of matches. There were still some inconsistent moments, but also some big performances.
Murray had one of her best matches of the season against FGCU. She finished with 11 kills on 18 attacks and hit .556, helping Nebraska put together a .333 team hitting percentage. She also had 12 kills against North Carolina, although she was less efficient in that match, hitting .346.
Murray will see plenty of attention from opposing defenses, so the Huskers need her to produce even when she isn’t hitting her best.
Sigler had a more up-and-down week. She hit just .053 against Creighton and struggled at times against FGCU, but she also continued to contribute in other areas. The biggest difference this week was Nebraska’s ability to get production from different players.
Against FGCU, Murray led the way, while Sigler, DiVita, Pierce and others all saw time. Nebraska rotated players in and out without completely losing its offensive rhythm.
The outside hitters are still not as consistent as the middle blockers, but this week was a step in the right direction.
Grade: B+
Libero
Mauch continues to be one of the most dependable players on Nebraska’s roster.
Her biggest job is never going to show up in the kill column. It is keeping Nebraska in system and making sure Reilly and Flynn have good passing opportunities. Against FGCU, Mauch handled 22 digs and helped Nebraska finish the match with a .933 team reception percentage. She also handled a significant amount of serve receive against Creighton and North Carolina.
Mauch’s consistency becomes even more important when Nebraska’s offense is struggling. That was especially noticeable in the third set against FGCU. Nebraska hit just .054 in the set, but the back row continued to give the Huskers opportunities to stay in the match before Nebraska eventually pulled away in the fourth.
She has not been perfect, but that is a difficult standard to hold a libero to. Through 10 matches, Mauch has been the steady presence Nebraska needs in the back row.
Grade: A
Defensive Specialists
The defensive specialists continue to provide Nebraska with important depth.
Choboy has remained the primary option behind Nebraska’s hitters in the back row. Against FGCU, she went 17-for-17 in reception opportunities.
Choboy does not have to be one of the team’s leading scorers. Her job is to help Nebraska pass the ball, serve effectively and keep rallies alive. She has also continued to give Nebraska another option at the service line.
Leimbach has seen less action, but she has continued to provide depth when Nebraska makes substitutions. Both players have shown that Nebraska can make changes in the back row without completely changing its defensive identity.
The defensive specialists may not get as much attention as the hitters, but their consistency has helped Nebraska stay balanced.
Grade: A
Overall Grade
Nebraska’s most recent undefeated week showed why this team has been so difficult to beat. It has continued to win even when every part of its game is not clicking at the same time.
The middle blockers remain the biggest strength. Jackson, Ogbechie, Cogill and Williams have given the Huskers both offensive efficiency and a strong presence at the net. The team finished with nine blocks against both Creighton and North Carolina before recording 16 against FGCU.
The outside hitters also showed improvement, especially Murray. Her .556 hitting percentage against FGCU was a good reminder of how dangerous she can be when she gets into a rhythm.
The setters and back row have continued to provide consistency, while the opposite position remains the group with the most room to improve.
There are still things Nebraska can clean up. The third set against FGCU was a good example. The Huskers hit .054 and gave FGCU a chance to extend the match, but they ultimately responded by hitting .542 in the fourth set and finishing the match without an attack error in the set.
That response might be the biggest takeaway from the week. Nebraska does not have to play its best volleyball every set to win.
So far, when the Huskers have struggled, another part of the team has been able to pick them up.
Grade: A-