The Nebraska Huskers volleyball team is on fire this season, and their latest performance against Penn State proves it. On Friday night, October 3, the No. 1-ranked Huskers swept the No. 16 Nittany Lions 3-0 in a matchup that felt more like a clinic than a contest. Harper Murray led the charge with her usual precision, racking up 14 kills, while the defense stifled Penn State's attacks all evening. It's the kind of win that reinforces why Nebraska remains the gold standard in college volleyball, even under new head coach Dani Busboom-Kelly.
Indeed, the 2025 schedule has been a grind so far, but the Huskers have navigated it with relative ease. They kicked off the season on August 9 against a tough non-conference slate, including early tests against powerhouses like Stanford and Texas. By now, with the Big Ten conference play in full swing, Nebraska has already notched wins over Purdue and Wisconsin, keeping their record spotless at 15-0. Home crowds at the Devaney Center have been electric, packing in over 8,000 fans for key games—a testament to the program's enduring draw.
Looking ahead, the schedule doesn't let up. Next up is a road trip to face Michigan on October 10, followed by Ohio State the week after. Those matches could test the depth of this roster, especially with injuries nagging at a couple of key players. And then there's the late-season gauntlet: rematches with Penn State and a finale against Iowa on November 29 to close out the regular season. Nebraska's path to another national title run seems clear, but as always in the Big Ten, nothing's guaranteed.
However, the sweep over Penn State wasn't just about the scoreline; it exposed some vulnerabilities in the conference that Nebraska can exploit. The Huskers' serving game, in particular, disrupted Penn State's rhythm from the start, forcing errors that snowballed into the shutout. Moreover, Busboom-Kelly's adjustments mid-match highlighted her tactical edge—something fans are still getting used to after John Cook's long tenure.
With 19 home dates already drawing massive turnouts, the schedule underscores Nebraska's commitment to building that home-court fortress. But as the season progresses, how will the Huskers handle the mounting pressure from rivals hungry for an upset?