Nebraska Cornhuskers

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Huskers make quick work of No. 21 Ohio State. Minnesota Up Next at Devaney On Sunday

By Lincoln Arneal

Nebraska’s game plan was simple – stress Ohio State with its serve and make Emily Londot work as much as possible for kills.

The second-ranked Huskers succeeded on all accounts for a 25-14, 25-16, 25-21 sweep Friday night over No. 21 OSU to kick off the Big Ten season.

NU kept the Buckeyes out of system as they hit .090 for the match, a season low, and limited Londot to single-digit kills for the first time this season with nine on 33 attacks.

“Our team came out really well prepared, was really on the game plan and very focused tonight,” NU coach John Cook said. “The first two games, we put a lot of pressure on Ohio State and controlled the match.”

The Huskers (10-0) began the match with a block party, jumping out to a 12-3 advantage behind four stuffs. Junior outside hitter Ally Batenhorst earned her second straight start in place of the injured Lindsay Krause and put up five stuff blocks in the first set, four of which were in partnership with freshman middle blocker Andi Jackson.

Batenhorst finished with a career-high seven blocks, while Jackson and Bekka Allick were each in on five.

Of Londot’s eight attacking errors, four came via NU blocks. Cook said NU’s goal was to put as many hands as possible in front of the senior opposite and take away her favorite shots.

“We did a really good job of that,” he said. “She got a couple of kills we couldn’t do anything about but for the most part we did a really good job of taking away her tendency and forcing her to hit a shot maybe she didn’t want to hit.”

On offense, the Huskers could do little wrong early in the match. Junior opposite Merritt Beason added back-to-back aces in the first set as NU set the tone with its serving. The Huskers didn’t have an error in 24 serves in the first set.

The attackers took over the second set as the Huskers recorded 17 kills with just one error for a .516 hitting percentage. Beason led NU with 14 kills at a .467 clip, while freshman outside hitter Harper Murray added 11 kills.

The Huskers finished with an attacking percentage of .333, their fifth-straight match over .300. Freshman setter Bergen Reilly, who tallied 37 assists, said the key is the trust she’s developed with her hitters, knowing they are going to be ready to swing away every single rally.

“Getting the middles up for every single play regardless (of the pass) has helped to open a lot of things up for the pins and then obviously get the middles kills,” Reilly said.

Allick recorded eight kills on a .467 hitting percentage, while Jackson added six kills on 10 errorless swings.

NU faced some adversity to start the third set as the Buckeyes (3-7) won three of the first four points. NU took its first lead at 11-10, but OSU eventually tied it up at 17-all. However, NU responded by taking four of the next five rallies.

The third set has been the Huskers’ trouble spot, as the only three sets they’ve dropped have come when they are trying to close out the sweep.

Allick said Laney Choboy helped keep NU focused in the third set after the slow start. The freshman defensive specialist, who returned to action after missing one game because of concussion protocol, told the rest of the team that she hoped Ohio State was making adjustments to avoid the sweep and what they had done to win the first two sets might not work anymore.

“As Coach always says the great teams adjust and that has been our weakness in the third set,” Allick said. “Laney made a great point. She’s like, ‘I hope they would adjust if they’re down two sets or they’re just going to get swept and sent home.’ We talked a lot about adjusting, just playing it cool, and not getting outside of ourselves, and I think that’s what we did tonight.”

Rylee Rader was the only OSU attack with consistent success on the night as she terminated six of her 12 attacks.

The Huskers opened their Big Ten schedule with another record crowd as 8,711 fans set a new Devaney Center mark. NU will take on another ranked opponent Sunday, hosting No. 12 Minnesota at 6:30 p.m.

Allick said she is ready for another challenge in league play.

“I understand the value of every game and each opponent,” she said. “You really can’t overlook anyone in the Big Ten. You never know how it’s going to add up in the end. Because in the Big Ten, we don’t get to play a tournament. It’s all built based on wins and losses, so every game has got to be our best game.”

huskersillustrated.com/huskers-make-quick-work-of-no-21-ohio-state-minnesota-up-next-at-devaney-on-sunday/

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Hibner Stadium


The Nebraska soccer team trains and competes at some of the top facilities in the country. The team moved into the brand new Hibner Soccer Stadium in 2015 and also has multiple training facilities. Look below for more details about Nebraska's soccer facilities.

Located on 28 acres north of Nebraska Innovation Campus, the Barbara Hibner Soccer Stadium was completed in the summer of 2015, and played host to its first game on Wednesday, Aug. 12, when the Huskers defeated South Dakota State in an exhibition match.

Barbara Hibner Field features a new technologically advanced video and scoreboard controlled by HuskerVision to enhance the exciting atmosphere at Nebraska soccer games. Barbara Hibner Field has a fully functioning press box that includes a dedicated area for television and video cameras sits atop 2,500 seats in the grandstand for Nebraska's devout soccer fans.

In addition to the grandstand seating, berm seating and standing room areas are located around the field to enhance the game-day atmosphere for fans and participants. An outdoor, elevated viewing deck also provides fans a new perspective from the north end zone, while offering a fantastic view of Nebraska's campus, downtown Lincoln and the state Capitol.

The soccer program also benefits from new game-day locker rooms, meeting rooms and athletic medicine areas that make the entire game-day experience among the best in the nation for student-athletes.

The new facility is located on the east side of 14th Street just south of Cornhusker Highway in the heart of Lincoln, with convenient access from campus, downtown, Cornhusker Highway and I-180. It also includes free parking for 600 vehicles in the adjacent lot on the east side of the soccer stadium. The parking lot can be accessed from 14th Street.

Practice Facilities

Located directly next to Memorial Stadium, the Hawks Championship Center houses the soccer team’s coaches’ offices, locker rooms, meetings rooms and indoor practice facility. Nebraska is one of the few schools in the nation with all of its soccer facilities located on campus. The Hawks Championship Center opened for the soccer team during the spring of 2006. The magnificent facility features FieldTurf ideal for year-round indoor training for the Huskers.

The Hawks Championship field also opens onto the practice fields of the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Facility, which includes one grass field and one field which was converted to FieldTurf in the summer of 2012 and it was replaced during the summer of 2018. The Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields help provide Nebraska with the most complete practice facilities in the nation. The Gass Practice Fields give the Huskers two full-size grass fields located in between NU's two indoor practice facilities - the Hawks Championship Center and Cook Pavilion.



Locker Room and Lounge

Nebraska's locker rooms include a student-athlete lounge, where players can relax between classes, meetings or practices.

The newly redesigned soccer locker room features hand-made wood units for each player. The lockers are also customized with a name plate and action photo of the player.

The design of the locker room allows each athlete to have a greater amount of space and personal storage, while providing a convenient location next to the players' lounge.

Named after a former Husker defender, the Jenna Cooper Team Room includes a high-definition television, a conference table and a lounge area for hosting team meetings and other gatherings. Players and coaches each have ample space to view game or practice video, giving them a greater edge in preparing for competition.





Strength and Conditioning

The Nebraska soccer team utilizes the David and Carol Alloy Strength Complex. The model strength and conditioning program in the nation, Husker Power plays a major role in the continuing success of Nebraska Athletics. Nebraska's strength program was the first in the nation, and their facilities have set the standard in collegiate athletics since the early 1970s.

Directions

Hibner Soccer Stadium: 2400 N Antelope Valley Pkwy, Lincoln, NE 68521

huskers.com/facilities/hibner-stadium

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Tad Stryker: Baby Steps for Nebraska Football

Huskers use 300-yard rushing day to even their record with win over Louisiana Tech

Tad Stryker3 hours ago
You want option football? You’ve got it.

You want to see the Huskers line up in the I formation and run power? You got some of that, too.

Nebraska got enough out of its running game to hold off Louisiana Tech 28-14 Saturday in Memorial Stadium and even its record at 2-2 going into the Michigan game next weekend. The Big Red ran for a season-high 312 yards and had two backs rush for more than 100 yards.

Tad Stryker: Baby Steps for Nebraska Football

Tad Stryker

They needed every bit of that running game, considering that passing was a difficult concept for Nebraska against a Bulldog defense that came into the game rated 27th in the nation in that category. The Bulldogs got three sacks and made throwing the ball a dicey proposition for NU. Pass blocking is still a mystery to the Cornhuskers.

Well into its second year of tutelage from Donovan Raiola, and with the most experienced position group on the team, the Husker offensive line is still learning how to survive, still not ready to handle any decent defensive front. It’s way too wobbly-kneed, like a toddler that ends up on its butt more often than not, but then surprises you with how far he just got. Let’s just say that baby steps are not necessarily a bad thing, especially when you consider just how awful that unit looked last year. Going from incompetent to inconsistent, well, you can call that progress.

The line looked best when Marcus Satterfield called the old-school speed option that looked a lot like the play Eric Crouch made famous. There were some sizable holes for Heinrich Haarberg, who started his second consecutive game at quarterback. Maybe that’s something for Raiola to build on.

Haarberg doesn’t quite have Crouch’s speed, but he can get out and move, and he broke two long runs for touchdowns Saturday. One of them was called back by a holding penalty, but Haarberg sprinted for a 72-yarder that counted for six points early in the fourth quarter that stretched Nebraska’s lead to 28-7. Haarberg led all rushers with 157 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. He was not as effective throwing the ball, completing eight of 17 for 107 yards, but one of them was a 29-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Fidone just a few minutes before his long touchdown run.

Still, Haarberg played turnover-free for the second consecutive week, and that was enough for the Husker defense to keep Tech at bay for much of the day. The Blackshirts allowed 338 yards of total offense, but only 46 on the ground.

Tech put together its best drive of the day, a 10-play, 87-yard march that consumed five minutes, to tie the game 7-7 with 6:07 left in the first half. Tristan Alvano missed a 41-yard field goal try on the final play of the half to leave it deadlocked at halftime, and Nebraska needed a spark.

When they absolutely, positively had to have something in its first drive of the second half, the Huskers lined up in the I formation and ran Anthony Grant at the Bulldogs. It worked. It was the offensive line’s most consistent drive of the season. Behind the blocking of fullback Barrett Liebentritt, Grant carried the ball five times for 76 yards on the nine-play, 85-yard drive, which included nary a pass. Grant capped it off with a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Huskers a 14-7 lead.

Grant, who also had a long touchdown run called back by a holding penalty, gained 135 yards on 22 carries. A lot of his yardage came when he bounced outside and ran to daylight — the sort of strategy that quicker, smarter Big Ten defenses took away from him last season.

It was enough against Louisiana Tech, finishing a two-game stretch that Nebraska absolutely needed to win. The Huskers did it by avoiding turnovers and getting an occasional big play. They’ll need more than that next week against the second-ranked Wolverines.

After the loss in Boulder, it was obvious that nothing Nebraska could do in the next two weeks would impress anyone. That’s exactly what has happened.

Baby steps — call it incremental progress if you like — won’t beat Michigan. That would take at least a plus-three turnover margin, and the Blackshirts haven’t shown a propensity to take away the ball this season — but it could beat Illinois the following week. Is there more growth in this team?

www.si.com/college/nebraska/football/tad-stryker-baby-steps-for-nebraska-football

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McKewon: Nebraska football’s old-school option is now so novel opponents seem baffled

AT TIBURON GOLF COURSE, A MONTH AGO — And legendary Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne had been asked what he liked to call on the first play of a game.

“I’d probably line up and run the ball first,” Osborne said plainly at the first Husker Extra Big Red Brunch of the year.

He’s sharp as a tack, so he didn’t end the answer there. He explained the value of gaining five or six yards on first down and the wonders it does for a playcaller, and how a good run game would “distort a secondary” and force safeties to get involved in stopping the rush, which would in turn open up “pretty destructive” playaction passes.

And in a ball control conference like the Big Ten, Osborne added, it was important to possess the pigskin longer and take more snaps than the foe. That, Osborne said, is the best defense a team can have.

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“So, I would run the ball,” Osborne quipped. And with rare exceptions — the 1989 and 1991 Colorado games — he did that week after week.

On Saturday, Nebraska offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield chose to throw it deep on the first play against Louisiana Tech. He slipped two presumably big-play receivers onto the field to start — Tommi Hill and Malachi Coleman haven’t made any yet, so it’s hard to say — and had quarterback Heinrich Haarberg fake to Anthony Grant and settle in for a deep drop.

Haarberg got sacked. He got sacked a few more times, too, when the Huskers tried to resemble a modern pro-style attack.

When NU embraced its run roots — as much a toss pitch out of 22 personnel as the speed option plays — it had the Bulldogs looking like they’d never defended those plays before. When Haarberg galloped 72 yards for a touchdown, I’m not entirely sure, 20 years ago, it’d be the best idea to keep it. On Saturday, it was a perfectly good choice because, for three hours, Louisiana Tech appeared baffled at any of it. Haarberg never pitched the ball, and the Bulldogs kept defending the play as if he would.

Humble, Haarberg conceded he has a lot of work to do in this scheme. He’s right. But in an age of spread football — if I hear the phrase “Air Raid” again I might have to get a can of one — what Nebraska did Saturday night was novel. Old school is new school.

“It’s hard to do what we’re doing,” Husker coach Matt Rhule said. “To run two-back power and hit it for a big play, then come back and hit speed option for a play and zone read for a play.”

He was referencing the diversity of NU’s run game, and all the personnel and play design work it takes to execute it well. For sure, Osborne had every run game wrinkle you could imagine. Backs could tiptoe the sidelines on one play with a fullback chugging hard on a quick trap the next. Osborne knew when to ride one play over and over as well.

And so on NU’s opening drive of the second half you saw a formation including tight end, a fullback, an extra offensive lineman (Teddy Prochazka) and a pulling lineman (Ethan Piper) all loading up for the same short side power play. Nebraska had more blockers than Tech had defenders. It reminded me of the 2011 Washington game, when NU ran the same shortside power play with repeated success out of 23 personnel.

Saturday option runs reminded me of those teams, too. Satterfield could have called them at will, although Haarberg has to get better at pitching the ball — if only for his own health.

“Coach (Scott) Frost and Tommie Frazier and all those guys didn’t have as many carries as I do in a week, but they were also pitching the ball a lot more, just distributing the ball, being a point guard,” Haarberg said. “So I think once you get more fluent — knowing who the pitch key is and getting comfortable with the backs — that offense becomes deadly. And we can combine that with a different element of what Coach Satt brings in all of his years.”

NU quarterbacks are averaging 18 carries a game. That’s two fewer per contest than Army. The Rewind has covered the risks of relying on QBs like this — they fumble and they get hurt like Jeff Sims did — but the Huskers’ drop-back passing game needs more work, more play-ready receivers and better pass blocking.

Again, Haarberg is honest here.

“I think it’s good but it needs to keep developing,” Haarberg said. “... I’ve got to see little details better, whether that’s watching film more or maybe understanding where to go with the ball and check it down sometimes.”

No Power Five team, through one month of the season, has fewer pass attempts than Nebraska. At 83, the Huskers lurk four behind Rutgers, which just played No. 2 Michigan and provides NU’s staff with good teaching tape for how the Wolverines might defend the Huskers. Just minutes into a 31-7 loss, RU hit a 69-yard slant-and-run for its lone touchdown of the game. The Scarlet Knights only ran 44 plays, and never got going again.

Nebraska could be in the same fate with this throwback approach. But these are the ingredients NU found in its “Chopped” box. Make the best meal you can and learn — like Haarberg is — on the fly.

“We ran it a lot my first year,” Haarberg said, referencing 2021, “and also, these coaches have sat down and really studied the option side of the playbook.”

The classics rarely go out of style.

I see you


Running back Anthony Grant: The usual good stuff in the open field coupled with laudable patience on some of the interior runs. He appeared to see the holes well on his way to 135 rushing yards.

Holder Timmy Bleekrode: Made the special teams play of his life, and might get another chance at placekicker duties, too. Kicking is a make-or-miss game, and Bleekrode, while not possessing a huge leg, could nail a few inside 40 yards.

The blocking dudes: That’d be fullback Barret Liebentritt, tight ends Luke Lindenmeyer, Nate Boerkircher and Thomas Fidone, extra offensive lineman Teddy Prochazka. Thankless stuff from those guys, who represented NU’s physical advantage over Louisiana Tech.

Quarterback Heinrich Haarberg: Gamer. And he can throw on the run. In that area, he seems more natural than Sims, who can seem stiff throwing on the run.

Left guard Ethan Piper: Arguably the best game of his career. He’s becoming more adept as a puller and he appeared to hold up well as a pass blocker.

Right tackle Bryce Benhart: According to Pro Football Focus, one of the top-graded offensive tackles in the Big Ten.

Nose tackle Nash Hutmacher: He’s emerged as perhaps Nebraska’s best overall defender. The Polar Bear had that potential coming out of Chamberlain (S.D.) High School, but it took a new strength and conditioning, led by Corey Campbell and nutritionist Kristin Coggin. Hutmacher’s brute strength has now been matched with agility.

Linebacker Javin Wright: One of the best stories on Nebraska’s defense had a strong game with five tackles and a pass breakup.

Safeties DeShon Singleton: Hit man. Seven tackles on Saturday — 1½ for loss — with the wood-laying fourth quarter shot that had the crowd fired up.

Louisiana Tech quarterback Jack Turner: Most Group of Five backup quarterbacks aren’t ready for primetime. Turner played well, though, keeping plays alive and putting few balls — including the one that was intercepted — in harm’s way.

Five stats


+3.69: The gap between Nebraska’s yards per carry (5.52) and yards per carry allowed (1.83). While that gap is destined to narrow — perhaps next week! — it’s easily the largest gap of NU’s time in the Big Ten. The current season-long high of the Big Ten era came in 2013 — +1.02 yards per carry. In 2023, the second highest gap in the Big Ten belongs to Michigan at +2.21. The Wolverines led the Big Ten yards per carry +/- last year at 2.32.

12: Opponent plays of 20 yards or more allowed this season by NU’s defense. That’s tied for 23rd-fewest nationally — but only 7th in the Big Ten, the nation’s premier defensive conference. Only one of the Big Ten squads had to play Colorado at Folsom Field, of course. At three 20+ plays allowed per game, NU is ahead of each Husker defense in the Big Ten era. The stingiest NU D — at least in this category — in the league era was the 2011 bunch, which allowed 3.76 20-plus yard plays per game. The 2021 defense, at 3.83, is a close second. The 2010 defense allowed 3.07.

52nd: Nebraska’s national ranking in net punting so far this season. NU has a net of 40.05 yards — 812 punt yards, 51 punt return yards. Brian Buschini has nine punts downed inside the 20-yard line, which is tied for sixth nationally and tied for tops in the Big Ten — with Iowa’s Tory Taylor. NU’s placekicking and kickoff groups are struggling a bit. The punt unit is holding steady.

8-18: Since 2017, Nebraska’s record in Big Ten home games. Not real pretty. The Huskers finished 1-3 last year (beating Indiana), 1-4 in 2021 (Northwestern), 1-2 in 2020 (Penn State), 1-4 in 2019 (Northwestern), 3-1 in 2018 (Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State) and 1-4 in 2017 (Rutgers). Just two of those wins, Minnesota and Michigan State in 2018, came against teams that eventually had winning seasons.

53%: NU’s completion rate this season. Satterfield prefers at least 65%, but that’s typically a rate reserved for an offense that calls more short passes. The Huskers’ lowest completion rate of the Big Ten era occurred in 2016, when Nebraska completed just 50.3% of its passes with Tommy Armstrong and Ryker Fyfe pulling the trigger. The Huskers’ high point in completion rate came in 2020, when they completed 68.1% as a team and Adrian Martinez finished at 71.5%.

Facebook feedback


After each game, I ask Husker fans on my Facebook page for their thoughts. Selected and edited responses follow:

Derek Molacek: The run defense is still strong, and it was good to see the defense wake up in the second half. They still need to be better with receiver coverage as well as improving getting after the quarterback. Outside of the missed field goal, special teams play was excellent.

Ted Dlouhy: The offense has no margin for error to get off schedule with negative plays and penalties. It will be what it is the remainder of the season. Defense will keep us in pretty much every game. Are there four more wins on the schedule?

Carl Glup: We are playing the way we are capable of playing. Hopefully the QB will see the field better as experience grows.

Neill Snyder: It’s nice to have a coach who can make halftime adjustments.

Opponent watch


» The stat that best describes No. 2 Michigan is seven. That’s how many drives — total — the Wolverines had in their 31-7 win over Rutgers. Michigan has the ability to grind clock on offense like few teams while playing a vise-like defense. In a sense, it’s the kind of program Rhule wants Nebraska to be: Tough, physical, dominant in the fourth quarter.

» I could have envisioned Northwestern beating Minnesota — the Gophers are generally vulnerable to losing almost any game — but I didn’t have a 37-34 overtime win on the Bingo card. But the Wildcats can throw the ball a little bit, with receiver Bryce Kirtz grabbing 10 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Northwestern allowed 7.13 yards per play, but there might be a few more wins on the schedule if quarterback Ben Bryant stays healthy.

Forecast


The smell of fall — and tailgate grills — is in the air as Michigan, the best collection of linemen in the league roll in on winged helmets.





omaha.com/sports/huskers/football/mckewon-nebraska-football-s-old-school-option-is-now-so-novel-opponents-seem-baffled/article_12903a9b-0e4d-52c4-a3ef-74e4df8b777c.html

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Huskers Claim Big Ten Soccer Championship


Champaign, Ill. - The #25 Nebraska soccer team claimed a share of the 2023 Big Ten Conference title, as the Huskers defeated Illinois by 4-2 decision to cap off an outstanding regular season. Finishing with a 7-1-2 record in league play, NU notches its fifth regular-season title in program history and 11th combined championship, which includes six conference tournament titles.


Junior Abbey Schwarz and Sarah Weber recorded three points each in the first half en route to the victory, as the Huskers improved to 13-2-3 overall, while Illinois fell to 6-8-3 overall and 2-6-2 in the conference.


For the second time this season, NU scored four or more goals in the first half, as four different Huskers tallied finishes and senior Sami Hauk kept Illinois scoreless in the first 45 minutes.

The Huskers held the offensive pressure from the beginning as Eleanor Dale recorded the game’s first shot in the third minute. Then the Huskers got the scoring started in the 20th minute when Schwarz netted her third goal of the season. Florence Belzile sent the corner kick into the goal box, which was gathered and sent by Schwarz across the goal line. Belzile’s assist marks her 13th on the season, good for second in the conference and tied for third in the nation.


Less than 10 minutes later, the Huskers extended their lead to 2-0 thanks to Dale’s nation-leading 23rd goal on the season. Dale’s third shot on goal of the game, off assists from Schwarz and Weber, found its way past the Illinois goalie into the bottom left corner of the net in the 29th minute.


In the 34th minute, sophomore defender Lauryn Anglim shot her corner kick into the net for her first goal of the season and second career. Just seven minutes later, Dale’s header went off the Illini defense which Weber gathered off the rebound and punched past the goalie for her 10th finish of the season.


The teams entered halftime with the Huskers holding the advantage in shots (12-8), shots on goal (7-4) and corners (5-3).

In the 51st minute, Illinois tallied its first goal of the game as Makala Woods scored off an assist from Joanna Verzosa-Dolezal. Then in the 89th minute, Illinois netted its second goal of the game, but the Huskers held on for the 4-2 victory and secured their seventh conference win of the season and sixth-straight victory.


Up next, the Huskers host a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal match on Sunday, Oct. 29. Tickets for the match will go on sale Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. (CT) and can be purchased by calling 1-800-8 BIG RED or by visiting Huskers.com/tickets.

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Recap: No. 2 Nebraska volleyball defeats No. 1 Wisconsin in five sets

No. 2 Nebraska volleyball topped No. 1 Wisconsin volleyball on Saturday.

The win snapped the Huskers' 10-match losing streak to the Badgers, including the national championship in 2021.

Nebraska moves to 19-0, 10-0 Big Ten, while Wisconsin moves to 18-1, 9-1 Big Ten. The Huskers now are the sole team at the top of the conference standings.

Scroll down for our live updates from the match, plus analysis, video, photos and more! Plus check out what The World-Herald reporters said on X, formerly Twitter, here!

Live updates




Badgers 3-2: Thomas-Ailara started the final set with a kill as the two Huskers couldn't get a block on. Harper Murray came right back with her eighth kill but then Thomas-Ailara kill and Beason error put Wisconsin up 3-1. A UW service error was followed by a couple incredible Lexi Rodriguez digs but Carter Booth got the point.

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Badgers 6-4: Andi Jackson slammed down a kill but Sarah Franklin answered right back. Batenhorst then got on the board in the fifth with a point but a Murray hitting error led to a Devyn Robinson kill.

Badgers 8-7: Beason's 19th kill led to a Kennedy Orr serve and after a furious rally, Beason slammed down another one. An Orr service error put UW back up one and Thomas-Ailara then found a soft spot in the Husker defense. Murray then ran under a set in the middle and slammed down a kill.

Badgers 11-9: Robinson's 10th kill of the night put the Badgers up two and then both teams traded service errors. Beason on the right side converted another big swing but Anna Smrek had the answer leading to a Nebraska timeout.

Huskers 15-13: After getting an attempt blocked, Beason fired back and earned another kill but then committed a serve error to put UW back up two. A Crawford block error led to a Batenhorst kill then a great Rodriguez dig led to a finesse Murray swing that was converted for her 11th kill to tie the set and force a Badger timeout. After blocking a Robinson kill, Murray stepped into another major kill on the left side that was touched side out to give the Huskers the lead. A Robinson error led to another kill from the freshman Murray to bring Nebraska to its first match point and Sheffield called his final timeout. Franklin answered with a kill from the left side — her 17th of the night — and Nebraska called its last timeout. On match point No. 2, Murray missed her attempt but John Cook challenged for a potential net violation and the call was overturned to hand the Huskers the 15-13 win.

Badgers 4-1: After a long rally to open the fourth set, a Beason attack went out, giving Wisconsin the first point. Robinson scored off the block, before Wisconsin's serve went long. But Batenhorst's serve went into the net. Batenhorst's attack then went wide.

Badgers 6-4: Wisconsin served into the net. Beason got a kill for the Huskers, but Wisconsin immediately responded with a kill. But Beason put it away on the next point and headed to the service line. Crawford ended any potential Husker run.

Huskers 9-6: Batenhorst powered through the block for a kill. The receive of Laney Choboy's serve went right over the net and the Huskers put it down. A Badger attack went wide and then Reilly put one down. Another Badger attack went right into the net and the Huskers were on a 5-0 run.

Huskers 11-9: After a challenge (call stood), Wisconsin retook possession, ending Nebraska's run. But a Jackson spike put the Huskers back in control. The Badgers scored two straight before Beason put one away to keep the Huskers up.

Huskers 14-11: A net violation by Allick gave Wisconsin the ball, but Izzy Ashburn served into the net. A Robinson attack went wide, Batenhorst hit a kill as Nebraska went on a 3-0 run. But a long rally went the way of the Badgers.

Huskers 16-14: Batenhorst held onto the ball too long, then Franklin slammed one down and Wisconsin pulled within one. But a Badger serve then went wide. After a media timeout, a Badgers' attack went wide. After a long rally, a Franklin block shut down a Beason attack.

Badgers 18-17: Batenhorst put one down, but Nebraska couldn't return a Franklin kill. A Batenhorst kill was overturned upon review, putting Wisconsin within one. A Batenhorst error evened the score, and John Cook called a timeout. Out of the break, Jackson hit long and Wisconsin took the lead.

Badgers 21-19: Beason slammed one down out of the back row to even the score. Franklin hit off the block to retake the lead, and then Nebraska's swing went wide. Thomas-Ailara recorded a kill and Nebraska called a timeout with the Badgers on a 7-1 run. Reilly got a kill coming out of the break.

Badgers 23-22: An attack error by MJ Hammill put Nebraska within one, and Wisconsin called a timeout. Kennedi Orr served an ace, evening the score. But an attack error by Beason off a Smrek and Crawford Block gave the Badgers the lead again. A Harper Murray went wide, giving Wisconsin a two-point lead. But Beason got a kill out of the back row.

Huskers 26-24: An swing by Smrek went long, tying the set. Wisconsin called a timeout. Thomas-Ailara got a kill out of the break, setting up match point for Wisconsin. But Harper Murray slammed one down to keep the Huskers alive. A kill by Andi Jackson put the Huskers up and then a kill by Allick gave the Huskers the set.

» Stay with Omaha.com for more live updates

Badgers 3-2: Merritt Beason picked up the first kill of the set for the Huskers but the Badgers' snuck ahead on a Devyn Robinson swing.

Badgers 10-5: UW went on a 4-1 run to extend its lead, building momentum with the Huskers able to dig but not finish its swings on the outside.

Badgers 13-7: Bergen Reilly pulled off another second-touch quick kill after NU took a timeout down 11-5. Anna Smrek responded to out the Badgers back up six with a kill from the right side. A service error by UW was followed by a Thomas-Ailara kill.

Badgers 15-10: Bekka Allick took a big swing to bring Nebraska back within five but a Batenhorst violation around the net gave the Badgers its advantage back. Batenhorst and Allick both combined to block Robinson. Sarah Franklin put a quick touch over the net for another kill but Wisconsin would commit its second serve error of the set.

Badgers 18-12: A diving dig by Beason and a second-touch way in the back corner landed in for a Reilly kill but Kelly Sheffield used his final challenge on the play and was successful to retain his last one and give UW a six-point lead back. Ally Batenhorst came back for another kill but Smrek pounded another swing and Sarah Franklin slammed a kill into the corner from the back row to put Wisconsin up 18-11 and force John Cook to use another timeout. It appeared like Booth had another kill around the net but she was called for interfering to give NU a much-needed point.

Badgers 21-14: Smrek came back to block a big Harper Murray swing and end the Husker momentum and NU's next attempt sailed just long to extend the Badger lead to eight. Thomas-Ailara hammered another kill but off a UW deflection, Allick picked up a kill to keep Nebraska within seven.

Badgers 22-18: Merritt Beason took a not great set and got just enough on her swing to beat the Badger blockers for another kill then Franklin took a set on the left side and hit a well-placed shot in the back right corner. Beason came back with a big swing from the right side to keep NU within six. After several incredible digs and a long rally, Sarah Franklin was called for a double hit. After the point, Crawford was shown a yellow card by the referee. A Husker kill brought the fans to their feet and forced a Wisconsin timeout.

Badgers 25-20: A NU service error led to a major Beason block of Franklin's hit that brought the Huskers within four then she kept the momentum going with an ace serve that forced Sheffield to burn another timeout with the score 23-20. Beason couldn't control a Crawford swing to bring UW to its first set point where Crawford pounded another kill to give the Badgers the set two win.

Badgers 3-2: Two attack errors by Merritt Beason gave the Badgers the first two points of the second set (blocks by Carter Booth, Devyn Robinson). Nebraska got on the board with a kill by Harper Murray, but a ball handling error by Bergen Reilley returned possession to Wisconsin. After a long rally, a Ally Batenhorst spike gave Nebraska the point.

Badgers 5-4: Nebraska quickly took the lead with a ball handling error by Izzy Ashburn and an attack error by Robinson (block by Andi Jackson, Batenhorst). Wisconsin evened the score with a kill by Sarah Franklin, then followed it up with a kill by Robinson.

Badgers 8-5: A Merritt Beason kill tied the score again, but a kill by Franklin gave the Badgers the lead. Attack errors by Jackson and Murray (block by Caroline Crawford, Franklin; Anna Smrek, Crawford) added to Wisconsin's score. Nebraska called a timeout.

Badgers 12-8: Out of the break, Ally Batenhorst put one away to give Nebraska back the ball. Wisconsin answered with a kill by Smrek. Nebraska responded with a kill by Murray right between multiple Badgers. A block by Crawford and Smrek ended any potential Husker run, and another block (Smrek, Booth) added to Wisconsin's total. On a slide, Bekka Allick put down a kill to cut Wisconsin's lead to three, but an attack error by Beason (block by Booth, Temi Thomas-Ailara) brought it back to four points.

Badgers 15-10: Wisconsin's blocks continued to give Nebraska trouble with Robinson and Booth stopping a Beason attack. Allick answered with a kill, but Wisconsin got one of their own from Thomas-Ailara. Beason and Allick blocked a Franklin attack, but Franklin quickly answered with a kill.

Badgers 19-11: Wisconsin earned two points off of attack errors by Batenhorst, and Nebraska called a timeout. The Huskers continued to struggle with the block as Beason was stopped by Franklin and Crawford. An attack error by Batenhorst gave Wisconsin another point before a kill by her ended Wisconsin's 5-0 run.

Badgers 22-13: After a challenge overturned a touch call, Nebraska earned a point off an attack error by Robinson. But a block by Robinson and Crawford stopped the Huskers' run at two. Nebraska answered an attack error by Beason with a kill by Jackson. But Franklin put one away for Wisconsin.

Badgers 25-17: Jackson put down a kill but a spike by Hayden Kubik went out of bounds. A block by Smrek and Booth, set up set point for Wisconsin. A block error by Smrek gave the Huskers possession, and Reilly served the first ace of the match. A long rally ended with a kill by Beason, but Reilly's serve went long and Wisconsin took set two.

Badgers 3-2: After a couple of kill attempts, Merritt Beason couldn't control a set and gave the first point to the Badgers. Nebraska would respond with a kill from Bekka Allick. Carter Booth and Sarah Franklin slammed down kills after a Devyn Robinson hitting error that tied the set at two.

Huskers 6-4: NU went on a 4-1 run including a Lexi Rodriguez dig that looked like it was heading side-out but landed in for a point to Nebraska. Andi Jackson and Merritt Beason added kills of their own.

Huskers 9-6: After another Beason kill and a hitting error by UW that was challenged by Kelly Sheffield claiming a Harper Murray touch on the block, Anna Smrek and Caroline Crawford blocked a Murray hit and Beason committed an error to bring Wisconsin within three.

Huskers 12-8: Murray would respond with her first kill of the night and an error by Sarah Franklin extended NU's lead to five. Murray would pound another kill after a Badger spike from Temi Thomas-Ailara. A Nebraska service error brought UW back within four.

Huskers 14-11: After a Booth kill, Beason tapped a kill just over the net off an assist from Bergen Reilly. Harper Murray committed the Huskers' second service error but the Badgers came back with their own. Devyn Robinson slammed down another kill to keep Wisconsin within three.

Huskers 17-13: Ally Batenhorst slammed down her own first kill of the night to send the match to a media timeout. Sarah Franklin was originally called for an error on her attack attempt but Kelly Sheffield's second challenge overturned the NU point to a Franklin kill. Batenhorst responded with another kill. Harper Murray took a big swing after a Rodriguez dig and Reilly's 10th assist already that sent the match to another break at 17-12. Laney Choboy committed NU's third service error of the match.

Huskers 19-16: Andi Jackson slammed her second kill but UW came back with kills from Booth and Devyn Robinson to force John Cook to take a timeout. Bergen Reilly then hit a quick-ball over on the second touch in the middle of the Badger defense for her first kill. Thomas-Ailara came back with her second kill.

Huskers 22-18: Nebraska scored back-to-back kills from Murray and Beason to force another Wisconsin timeout. Devyn Robinson responded with a kill, her third on six attempts, and Bekka Allick was called for a lift-carry to bring UW back within three. Julia Orzol's serve then went into the net — the Badgers' second service error.

Huskers 24-21: Sarah Franklin's big swing landed in the middle of NU's defense for her third kill and Andi Jackson's swing was stuffed by the net to put UW within two. Batenhorst took the swing from the left side and nailed her third kill. Nebraska got to its first set point after a Murray diving kill, a Rodriguez assist and the second Batenhorst kill in a row. But Murray's next swing went long to extend the set.

Huskers 25-22: On the second set point, Batenhorst's attempt went awry to make it 24-22 and Cook called a timeout. On the third set point, Batenhorst and Reilly combined on the block to give Nebraska the set one win.

No. 1 Wisconsin at No. 2 Nebraska volleyball begins at 7 p.m.

The match will be broadcast on BTN.

Nebraska's starters for the match are: Bergen Reilly, Harper Murray, Bekka Allick, Merritt Beason, Laney Choboy, Andi Jackson, Lexi Rodriguez.

» Stay with Omaha.com for more live updates when the match starts

Even Field Podcast: Previewing No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Nebraska volleyball
In the latest episode of the Pick Six Podcast, Sam McKewon, Evan Bland and Tom Shatel break down why Saturday's No. 1 Nebraska-No. 2 Wisconsin volleyball match feels so much bigger and the various factors that make it feel like the sport's "Match of the Century".
Photos: Nebraska volleyball hosts Wisconsin

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Nebraska's Merritt Beason (13) celebrates a point with her team during the fourth set of the Wisconsin vs. Nebraska college volleyball match at the Devaney Center in Lincoln on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.

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Nebraska Tops Northwestern on 100th Anniversary of Memorial Stadium

Huskers win a very typical Big Ten West affair

Kaleb Henry20 hours ago
A celebration of the Old Grey Lady on One Memorial Stadium Drive ended with a victory on the field.

Nebraska (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) topped Northwestern (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten) 17-9 Saturday. The Huskers improved to 10-7 all-time against the Wildcats.

The game began ominously for Big Red, as quarterback Heinrich Haarberg threw an interception on the first play. Luckily for Husker faithful, Northwestern's offense would prove equally up to the task of making Saturday afternoon fully Big Ten West-ified as possible.

The Wildcats went three-and-out, with a fumble, near-interception, and a sack, before punting the ball inside the one yard line.

After the team's exchanged punts on three-and-outs, Haarberg tried to slip a pass to Thomas Fidone through a tight window. The ball went off of Fidone's hands and landed in the arms of a Wildcats.

Northwestern used that turnover to lose 14 yards before kicking a field goal and going up 3-0 in the first quarter. Nebraska answered with a field goal of their own.

After a pair of punts, Northwestern retook the lead with another field goal. That would be all the Wildcats could muster until the fourth quarter.

Nebraska answered the Wildcat field goal with a 77-yard touchdown drive, topped off by a Heinrich Haarberg run, to go up 10-6. That lead would hold all the way through the third quarter.

Early in the fourth, a Northwestern punt failed to reach midfield. On the first play of the drive, Haarberg set up for a play action pass and skied the ball towards the end zone. Freshman Malachai Coleman reached up and made his first career touchdown reception, extending the lead to 17-0.

Northwestern kept things interesting with a field goal on the next drive, but the Blackshirts allowed just 13 more yards over their final two possessions.

The visitors ended up with more total yards on the afternoon, picking up 257 yards to Nebraska's 248. But on the rushing end, it was the home team with a 163 to 81 advantage.

Part of that rushing advantage came thanks to the effort the defense. Nebraska finished with 13 tackles for loss, including eight sacks.

Haarberg finished 8-of-17 passing for 85 yards and a touchdown to go with two interceptions. He added 72 yards on the ground on 16 carries.

Emmett Johnson led the backfield in rushing with 73 yards on 12 carries.

Nebraska stays home next Saturday to host Purdue. It will be another 2:30 p.m. kickoff.

Full stats
HuskerMax game page
Nebraska Communications Postgame Notes

With the win, Nebraska improved to 10-7 in the series with Northwestern, including a 6-3 record in Lincoln.
Today’s game marked the 592nd all-time game in the 100-year history of Memorial Stadium. With the victory, Nebraska improved to 431-148-13 all-time at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska limited Northwestern to nine points after holding Illinois to seven points in its last game. The Huskers have held back-to-back conference opponents to single-digit points for the first time since November of 2010, when Nebraska limited Kansas to three points and then allowed only nine points the next week at Texas A&M.
The Huskers totaled 13 tackles for loss with eight sacks. The 13 TFLs were the most for Nebraska this season and marked the most TFLs since NU also had 13 TFLs at Illinois during the 2019 season. Nebraska’s eight sacks against Northwestern tied its season high (also at Colorado).
Nebraska limited Northwestern to 81 rushing yards on 39 carries, including negative yards (-5) on 18 carries in the second half. The Huskers have held six of their seven opponents under 100 rushing yards this season.
Freshman running back Emmett Johnson rushed 12 times for 73 yards, marking career highs in both categories. His previous highs were seven carries for 29 yards at Illinois. Johnson surpassed those totals before half with nine carries for 43 yards before intermission.
Freshman receiver Malachi Coleman had a 44-yard TD reception early in the fourth quarter for his first career touchdown. It was Coleman’s second career reception.
The 44-yard touchdown was Nebraska’s longest touchdown pass of the season and its fourth touchdown this season of at least 44 yards.
Defensive tackle Nash Hutmacher had 2.5 sacks, including 1.5 in the first half, marking a career high for Hutmacher. He finished the game with a career-high seven tackles, bettering his previous high of 6 vs. Northern Illinois earlier this season.
Freshman linebacker Princewill Umanmielen had seven tackles, marking his career best. His previous high was two stops against Northern Illinois. Umanmielen also set career highs with 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack.
Safety Isaac Gifford finished with seven tackles, including 0.5 sacks and 1.0 TFL, marking his fourth consecutive game with at least seven tackles.
Nebraska allowed Northwestern a pair of field goals in the first half. In its last six games against Big Ten West opponents, Nebraska has allowed only 16 first-half points. The Wildcats scored three points in the first quarter, ending a streak of five consecutive games against Big Ten West foes in which NU had held the opposition scoreless.
Freshman place-kicker Tristan Alvano connected on a 47-yard field goal to open Nebraska’s scoring, marking the longest field goal of his Husker career.
Today’s game captains were LB Luke Reimer, LB Grant Tagge, OT Turner Corcoran and S Malcolm Hartzog.
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Heinrich Haarberg sends a pass at the beginning of the game.

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Phalen Sanford makes a tackle on Northwestern's AJ Henning.

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The Huskers celebrate Nash Hutmacher's (0) sack.

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The defensive line attempts to block a field goal from Northwestern.

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The Huskers met with the Northwestern Wildcats Saturday afternoon in Lincoln.

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Emmett Johnson breaks free on a run play.

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Emmett Johnson is taken down by Northwestern defenders.

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Heinrich Haarberg runs the ball in the second quarter.

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Emmett Johnson had 73 rushing yards on the afternoon.

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Joshua Fleeks recovers a fumble.

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Jaylen Lloyd celebrates Heinrich Haarberg's rushing touchdown late in the first half.

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Jimari Butler celebrates a false start from Northwestern.

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Nash Hutmacher and Isaac Gifford celebrate another Husker sack.

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The Huskers beat Northwestern 17-9 to improve to 4-3.

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Malachi Coleman celebrates his touchdown in the fourth quarter.

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Heinrich Haarberg rushed for 72 yards in Saturday's Husker victory.