The top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team is set to host an NCAA Regional Final for the third consecutive year at John Cook Arena, located at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, this Sunday. The match, which will kick off at 2 p.m., features Nebraska taking on No. 6 Texas A&M and will be broadcast on ABC.
Nebraska has had an impressive season, finishing the regular campaign with a record of 33-0. This marks only the third time in the history of the program, previously achieved in 1994 and 2000, that the team has concluded a season unbeaten. The Huskers have dropped only seven sets overall and just one in Big Ten Conference play, showcasing their dominance throughout the season.
The team is currently riding a remarkable 33-match win streak, which stands as the second-longest in the program’s NCAA history. Moreover, Nebraska boasts a nation-leading 63-match home court win streak, tying for the second-longest in school history. They have also achieved a remarkable feat by winning 29 consecutive NCAA Tournament matches at the Devaney Center—a new school record.
Nebraska clinched its third straight Big Ten title this season with an impressive 20-0 record in conference play. This unbeaten run is the team’s first since 2004 when they participated in the Big 12. With this latest victory, the Huskers have now amassed a total of 37 conference titles, including six within the Big Ten.
Historic milestones have also characterized this season under the leadership of head coach Dani Busboom Kelly, who became the first volleyball coach in Big Ten history to secure a conference title in her inaugural year at the helm of a school. This achievement is particularly significant, as previous coach John Cook won a Big Ten title in his first year, but it was during his 12th season overall with Nebraska.
Statistically, Nebraska’s performance this season has been exceptional. They have managed to exceed a .400 hitting percentage on nine occasions—a record in the rally-scoring era. The Huskers have demonstrated remarkable consistency, holding a perfect record of 95-0 in sets when they reach 20 points first. The offense leads the nation with an impressive .355 hitting percentage, a trend not seen since 2007.
Defensively, Nebraska ranks first in the country for opponent hitting percentage, having allowed just .121, which has been a hallmark of their successful play over the past few seasons. The Huskers have the best gap in hitting percentages nationally, at .234.
As the team prepares for the regional final, they also take confidence from their record against ranked opponents, entering the match with a perfect 13-0 against such teams this season. This ties them for the second-most victories against ranked opponents in school history, just one shy of the record set in 1998.
Nebraska demonstrated resilience throughout October, going 24-0 and only allowing opponents to reach 20 points in two sets during that month. Furthermore, the team has swept 15 consecutive matches and won 48 consecutive sets, both achievements reminiscent of their past successes in 2007.
As excitement builds ahead of the matchup against Texas A&M, the Nebraska volleyball community is certainly watching closely, anticipating another landmark moment in what has been a historic season for the Huskers.
