For a while, the old Huskers challenged the current ones, winning four of the first five rallies and forcing 13 ties and a lead change in the first set. But in the end, No. 1 Nebraska downed the alumni in four sets, winning 25-21, 25-14, 17-25, 25-22 Saturday at John Cook Arena in Lincoln. The match was the Huskers’ last tune-up before NU takes the floor to face No. 3 Pittsburgh in the AVCA First Serve Showcase.
The first set was the most competitive, with the alumni not trailing through the first 40 rallies and the set tied at 20. But the current Huskers pulled ahead in the end, winning five of the final six rallies to clinch the first set. The current Huskers ultimately hit .467 in the set, but the Alumni hit a healthy .375.
The current Huskers dominated the second set, with just three ties and two lead changes in the set. After the Alumni started with a 4-2 lead, the Huskers won seven straight rallies to build a 9-4 lead and never looked back. Nebraska held the Alumni to .071 hitting as the current Huskers cruised, winning by 11.
In the third set, the Alumni controlled play with a team of most second-stringers on the other side for the current Huskers. The Alumni won the first four rallies and opened an 11-5 lead early. A six-point run by the Alumni built the lead to 21-10 and the Alumni finished off the third set.
An eight-point run early in the fourth set gave the Alumni an 8-2 lead, but the Huskers won six of the next seven rallies to cut the Alumni lead to 9-8. Five straight points by the Alumni built a 14-8 lead before the current Huskers won seven of the next nine rallies and eight of the next 10 to tie the fourth at 16-16. The set was also tied at 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 before the current Huskers won four of the final five rallies to. close the match.
Harper Murray led the current Huskers with 12 kills while hitting an efficient .476. Andi Jackson added 11 kills while hitting .389. Virginia Adriano and Teraya Sigler both had six kills. Ally Batenhorst led the Alumni with 13 kills while Lindsay Krause had 12 kills and Lauren Stivrins had 10. The current Huskers outhit the Alumni, .295-.241, outblocked them 12-9, and served six aces to the Alumni’s three.
The Huskers now prepare for the regular season opener Friday against No. 3 Pittsburgh at Pinnacle Bank Arena. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 5 p.m on KLIN and B-107.3.