Nebraska extended their undefeated season to 25-0 with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over UCLA on Friday night at Pauley Pavilion. The match, which drew a program-record 10,498 fans—the largest crowd ever for a women’s volleyball match at the venue—ended with set scores of 25-17, 25-23, 19-25, and 25-15. Despite dropping their first set in 48 consecutive frames, the Huskers responded with composure and dominance, improving to 15-0 in Big Ten play while handing UCLA its 11th loss of the season (14-11, 8-7 Pac-12).
Nebraska imposed its will from the outset, using elite blocking and efficient attacking to seize the opening set. The Huskers built a commanding 19-9 lead behind strong serving from Taylor Landfair and a suffocating front line led by Rebekah Allick and Andi Jackson. UCLA struggled to find rhythm, committing early errors. Murray and Jackson each delivered timely kills down the stretch, closing out a 25-17 win that showcased Nebraska’s ability to control tempo and limit transition opportunities.
The second set proved far more competitive, with UCLA riding the energy of the record crowd to take an early 10-5 lead. Maggie Li powered the Bruins’ offense with aggressive swings, but Nebraska steadily chipped away. A 4-0 run, sparked by Bergen Reilly’s ace and capped by an Allick-Landfair block, tied the score at 13-13. The teams traded blows late, but the Huskers pulled ahead 23-19 on a string of sharp attacks from Allick and Landfair. Though UCLA saved two set points, Murray’s kill on the third opportunity sealed a 25-23 victory, keeping Nebraska in firm control heading into the intermission.
UCLA finally broke through in the third set, capitalizing on Nebraska’s first sustained lull of the night. After the Huskers jumped ahead 6-1, the Bruins responded with a 7-0 surge, flipping momentum and never looking back. Strong serving and improved passing allowed UCLA to attack with confidence, and despite a late Nebraska push, the Bruins closed out a 25-19 win.
Any concern about Nebraska faltering was swiftly erased in the fourth. The Huskers raced to a 10-2 lead and never allowed UCLA back into the match. Andi Jackson, who finished with 15 kills on .625 hitting and zero errors, dominated at the net alongside Allick, who posted 13 kills, seven blocks, and a .440 attack percentage. Reilly orchestrated the offense with 34 assists and added 11 digs for her sixth double-double. Nebraska hit .419 as a team in the final frame, cruising to a 25-15 win behind relentless efficiency and defensive pressure.
The victory marked another milestone in Nebraska’s historic season, as they continue to navigate one of the most challenging schedules in program history. Nebraska now turns its attention to No. 17 USC on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT, where the Trojans bring a nine-match winning streak into the weekend finale.