Clash of Titans: Penn State and Nebraska Set to Collide in NCAA Volleyball Semifinals

The NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship is set to deliver a thrilling semifinal matchup between two powerhouse programs: the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Nebraska Huskers. Both teams have a rich history of success and are eager to add another championship to their trophy case. This preview delves into the key aspects of this highly anticipated contest.

A Semifinal Showdown

The third-ranked Nebraska volleyball team is set to face No. 2 Penn State in the NCAA Semifinals on Thursday night at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. The match is scheduled to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the other semifinal match between No. 1 Pittsburgh and No. (CT). Thursday’s match will be televised on ESPN. Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Katie George and Madison Fitzpatrick will be on the call.

Nebraska's Road to the Semifinals

Nebraska (33-2) advanced to the NCAA Semifinals for the second year in a row and seventh time in the last 10 years with a 3-0 sweep of No. 7 Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Huskers will be playing at the KFC Yum! Center for the third time this season. Nebraska beat No. 9 Kentucky, 3-1, in the AVCA Showcase on Aug. 27 and No. 4 Louisville, 3-0, on Sept. 22.

Nebraska won its 36th all-time conference title and fifth Big Ten title with a 19-1 record in Big Ten play this season. The Huskers went back-to-back as Big Ten champions for the second time, also accomplishing that feat in 2016 and 2017. The Huskers’ 29 regular-season wins tied the 1983 school record for most wins in a regular season in the NCAA era. The Huskers’ 33 wins this season are tied for the most victories by a Husker team since the 2000 national championship team went 34-0.

Nebraska won 25 matches in a row after a Sept. 3 loss at SMU. Of those 25 wins, 20 were sweeps. NU’s win streak ended on Nov. 29 in a 3-1 loss at No. 4 Penn State. Nebraska is 13-1 against ranked foes this season and 8-1 against top-10 teams. The Huskers’ eight wins against top-10 teams ties the school record, as the 1995 national championship team also had eight victories against top-10 opponents.

After the Sept. 3 loss at SMU, Nebraska won 27 straight sets on the road until the Nov. 29 loss at No. 4 Penn State. The Huskers rank 12th nationally with a team hitting percentage of .285. The Huskers rank fourth nationally and first in the Big Ten in opponent hitting percentage at .139.

NCAA Tournament History

Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Semifinal for the 18th time in program history and for the seventh time in the past 10 seasons. The Huskers’ 18 NCAA Semifinals rank second in NCAA history, and Nebraska’s seven semifinal appearances in the last 10 seasons lead the nation. Nebraska has made 13 NCAA Semifinals since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1998. The Huskers’ 13 trips to the semifinals in the 64-team NCAA Tournament era lead the nation.

John Cook has led Nebraska to an NCAA Semifinal for the 12th time in his 25 seasons. He is one of only two coaches two make 12 NCAA Semifinals with one school. Cook is 101-25 in his NCAA Tournament career, including a 93-20 record at Nebraska. He ranks second all-time in career NCAA Tournament victories and NCAA Tournament wins at one school. Nebraska is 134-37 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

Key Nebraska Players

Harper Murray: Outside hitter Harper Murray is the team leader in kills at 3.37 per set, and also in aces with 36. One of the top six-rotation players in the country, Murray adds 2.41 digs per set.
Merritt Beason: Opposite hitter Merritt Beason is second on the team in kills at 2.83 per set, and the two-year captain also contributes 1.25 digs per set and 29 aces.

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Andi Jackson: Middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.57 kills per set with a .428 hitting percentage, which ranks ninth in the nation.
Rebekah Allick: Middle blocker Rebekah Allick adds 1.83 kills per set on .357 hitting with 1.40 blocks per set. Allick has moved into the top 10 in school history in career blocks at No. 6 with 405.
Bergen Reilly: Setter Bergen Reilly is averaging 11.09 assists per set, which ranks 10th in the nation. She also adds 2.85 digs per set and has 21 aces. Reilly has 16 double-doubles and was named Big Ten Setter of the Year for the second straight year.
Lexi Rodriguez: The 2024 Big Ten Libero of the Year, Lexi Rodriguez leads the Husker back row with 3.91 digs per set. Rodriguez ranks No. 2 in school history in career digs with 1,882, needing nine more to break the school record of 1,890 set by Justine Wong-Orantes (2013-16).

Nebraska's Balanced Attack

Nebraska has seven different players averaging between 1.83 and 3.37 kills per set. Six different players have led the Huskers in kills in a match this season. Setter Bergen Reilly ranks 10th nationally averaging 11.09 assists per set. Nebraska’s attack has been one of the best in the nation this season.

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Penn State's Journey to the Semifinals

No. 2 Penn State is 33-2 overall and shared the Big Ten title with Nebraska with a 19-1 conference record. The Nittany Lions won their regional final against Creighton, 3-2, on Sunday night to advance to the NCAA Semifinals for the first time since 2017. Under third-year head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, the Nittany Lions have won their most matches in a season since going 33-2 in 2017. Schumacher-Cawley was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Penn State has won 10 matches in a row since being swept at Wisconsin on Nov. 9.

In a stunning reverse sweep, No. 1 Penn State upset No. Nebraska appeared poised to advance after taking the first two sets with strong performances from Andi Jackson, who finished with 18 kills, and a solid defensive effort from Rebekah Allick. The Nittany Lions found their rhythm in the third set, using a 5-0 run to take the lead, with Starck contributing six blocks and Mruzik finishing with 17 kills. In a thrilling fifth set, Penn State held off a late Nebraska push, with Starck’s block sealing the win. This marks Penn State's 14th NCAA championship match appearance and their first since 2017.

Key Penn State Players

Jess Mruzik: Jess Mruzik leads Penn State with 4.21 kills per set with 2.37 digs per set.
Camryn Hannah: Camryn Hannah adds 3.59 kills per set.
Izzy Starck: Freshman setter Izzy Starck is averaging 10.89 assists per set in guiding Penn State to a .285 hitting percentage.

Penn State's Victory Over Creighton

Penn State survives Creighton. The three other top seeds were already in. Then late on a snowy Sunday night in University Park, Pennsylvania, Penn State joined Nebraska, Pittsburgh and Louisville in the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship.

The Nittany Lions (33-2) of the Big Ten defeated Creighton 25-15, 16-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-7 in a match that all that and more for a program that has eyes on an eighth NCAA title, its first since 2014, when it went back-to-back. Just 12 programs have won since the NCAA began holding women’s volleyball championships in 1981: Stanford (9 times), Penn State (7), Nebraska (5), UCLA (4), Hawai’i (3), Long Beach State (3), USC (3), Texas (4), Pacific (2), Kentucky (1), Wisconsin (1) and Washington (1).

“It’s hard to get here, it’s hard to win, and these opportunities just don’t happen,” Penn State coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley said. “I’m just so happy for these guys and the program and all of the alums. We had quite a few come back for tonight. I’m so happy that these guys are able to experience a final four and win a national championship.”

Penn State’s Jess Mruzik led with 20 kills, hitting .278, and had an ace, four blocks and eight digs. Caroline Jurevicious had 11 kills, hit .292, and had four blocks. Camryn Hannah had nine kills but 10 errors and added two assists, two digs and three blocks, one solo.

Taylor Trammel had eight kills - including the match-winner - with one error in 12 attacks to hit .583 and she had five blocks, one solo. Setter Izzy Starck had six kills in 16 errorless tries, 41 assists, three blocks and 11 digs. Her team hit .226. Gillian Grimes had 17 digs, five assists and an ace.

Penn State “made some fantastic plays at big moments,” Booth said. Creighton (32-3) of the Big East had its chances, but the Bluejays, finishing their best season in program history, ultimately couldn’t keep pace inside a raucous Rec Hall. The Bluejays hit just .141 as their school-record 25-match winning streak came to an end.

Not the least among them was offensive leader Norah Sis, who had eight kills but eight errors. She had three aces, a block and 12 digs. Ava Martin had 17 kills but hit .132 to go with an assist, two aces, a block and eight digs. Elise Goetzinger had eight kills and four blocks and Jaya Johnson had eight kills, a block and three digs. Kiara Reinhardt had three kills, an assist, a dig and five blocks, one solo. Setter Kendra Wait had four kills with one error in 12 tries, an ace, five blocks and nine digs.

Penn State dominated the fifth set, going on a 6-1 run to take a 9-5 lead and never looked back. Creighton had just three kills in the fifth.

In the fifth set, “I thought we passed better, served tougher and gutted out some points and defensively made some great plays,” Schumacher-Cawley said. ” … When we do the little things well that we talk about we find ways to win.”

Series History

Nebraska is 28-12 all-time against Penn State and has won 14 of the last 16 meetings. Penn State snapped a seven-match losing streak to Nebraska with a 3-1 win on Nov. 29, 2024. In that match, the Huskers hit a season-low .154 and were out-killed 57-46. The teams have met 11 times in the NCAA Tournament with NU holding an 8-3 record against PSU in the postseason. The last NCAA Tournament meeting was Dec. 14, 2017 when the Huskers won 3-2 against the top-ranked Nittany Lions in an NCAA Semifinal.

Keys to Victory

Serve and Pass: Nebraska has allowed just 74 service aces this season, which leads the nation. NU allowed 77 aces in the 2022 season and 80 aces in 2017. Last season, the Huskers were aced 104 times. The Huskers have served 146 aces and committed 183 errors so far this season.
Balanced Attack: Nebraska has seven different players averaging between 1.83 and 3.37 kills per set. Six different players have led the Huskers in kills in a match this season. Setter Bergen Reilly ranks 10th nationally averaging 11.09 assists per set.
Defensive Prowess: Nebraska ranks fourth nationally and first in the Big Ten in opponent hitting percentage at .139.

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