No. 1 Nebraska closed a nine-match homestand with a 3-0 sweep of Ohio State on Saturday night, winning 25-19, 25-10, 25-12 in front of 10,497 fans at John Cook Arena. The Huskers improved to 13-0 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play. Ohio State fell to 8-4 and 1-1 in conference action. Nebraska hit .333 as a team with five players recording at least six kills, while holding the Buckeyes to a -.010 hitting percentage. It marked the eighth time this season Nebraska has limited an opponent to under .100 hitting and the second time it has forced a negative clip.
Virginia Adriano, Manaia Ogbechie, and Skyler Pierce each finished with seven kills to lead the attack. Ogbechie was highly efficient at .667; Pierce hit .333 and added service aces during a key run. Harper Murray and Andi Jackson contributed six kills apiece. Setter Bergen Reilly recorded 31 assists, five digs, four blocks, and four kills. Nebraska’s block totaled 10 for the seventh time this season, with Jackson, Kenna Cogill, and Reilly each collecting four. Libero Olivia Mauch led the back row with 16 digs, her 10th match this year with double-digit digs.
The first set was the most competitive, featuring 13 ties and four lead changes. Ohio State led 15-13 at the media timeout before Ogbechie’s kill sparked a 12-4 Nebraska close. Kills from Reilly and Pierce sealed the 25-19 win.
Nebraska then pulled away. After a 5-5 tie in the second set, the Huskers used service runs from Murray, Campbell Flynn, and Pierce to roll to a 25-10 victory while holding Ohio State to five kills. In the third set, Nebraska jumped ahead 9-2 and closed 25-12, hitting .440 in the frame while limiting the Buckeyes to -.062.
Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly noted the value of spreading minutes and building confidence before a tough road trip. Outside hitter Teraya Sigler, working back from a recent injury, entered in the back row while Pierce started and delivered a strong all-around performance. Overall, twelve Huskers saw the court.
Nebraska next travels to No. 14 Penn State on Thursday, Oct. 1, followed by a Saturday match at Maryland. The Huskers have now swept 10 matches this season and remain unbeaten heading into the heart of Big Ten play.
