In a matchup that had Big Ten fans buzzing, top-ranked Nebraska volleyball steamrolled No. 16 Penn State Friday night at Rec Hall, wrapping up a 3-0 victory that felt almost too straightforward. The Huskers, riding high after a strong conference start, didn't give the Nittany Lions much breathing room, taking sets by scores of 25-18, 25-20, and 25-16. It was a reminder of just how stacked Nebraska remains in women's college volleyball this season.
Nebraska's offense clicked from the jump, with their hitters pounding away at Penn State's defense. Bergan Lorenz led the charge for the visitors, racking up 12 kills on a blistering .400 efficiency, while the back row dug in to frustrate any Penn State rallies. Coach John Cook's squad has now swept their first three Big Ten games, pushing their record to 15-0 overall. Indeed, the Huskers' depth showed—no one player carried the load, but the collective pressure wore down the home team.
Over on the Penn State side, things didn't quite gel as hoped. Dani Busboom Kelly's group, fresh off a solid non-conference run, struggled with serve receive and couldn't find consistent firepower up front. Caroline Jurevicius tried to spark something with her 10 kills, but errors crept in, especially in that third set where Nebraska pulled away late. Penn State's schedule hasn't been kind lately; they've got Rutgers next, but this loss drops them to 12-3, exposing some vulnerabilities against elite blocking.
Looking ahead, Nebraska's slate stays packed—Wisconsin looms in two weeks, a real test even for the undefeated Huskers. Penn State, meanwhile, hosts Ohio State on the 11th, a chance to regroup before the meat of conference play heats up. Their 2025 roster blends vets like Jurevicius with promising freshmen, but tonight highlighted the gap to the top. Still, Big Ten parity means these upsets can flip fast.
One has to wonder how long Nebraska's perfect run holds in this grind of a season.