LINCOLN, Nebraska — If there was any doubt about the importance of the night, the numbers hovering above Memorial Stadium in the post-match light show made the point of the night crystal clear.
The drones aligned to form the number 92,003.
“We made a statement to everybody else on how important volleyball is here and we want the record,” Nebraska coach John Cook said. “We did it to the world.”
Indeed, because 92,003 attended Nebraska’s 25-14, 25-14, 25-13 sweep over Omaha on Wednesday night.
In an event designed to take back the regular-season attendance record the Huskers lost to Wisconsin last season, Nebraska fans packed its football stadium, leaving no doubt where the record resided. The crowd also quintupled the old NCAA mark for fans from the 2021 title match, surpassed the Memorial Stadium record and set a world record for a women’s sporting event.
Cook admitted playing a match in such a large venue was risky — luckily the weather cooperated — and said he was proud of how everyone supported the program. By returning the record to Nebraska, the fans proved how the sport is a state treasure.
The play on the court didn’t match the caliber of a typical college match. By the time the match started, the sun was hidden behind the West Stadium structure and the temperature dropped to more comfortable levels, in the low 80s.
However, the wind blowing out of the south was a little stronger than anticipated and played havoc with passing and serving. Any wind at all, of course, made it different than an indoors match.
Nebraska (4-0) hit just .263, led by eight kills on 12 swings from Andi Jackson.
“We were walking out of the tunnel on the second set and we heard on the speaker that we had just broken the world record,” Jackson said. “We celebrated in the tunnel walking out. It’s incredible..”
The freshman middle blocker said she might have benefitted from the breezy conditions. While she usually thrives on slide attacks, the wind forced the Huskers to change their game plan and feature more quick attacks from setter Bergen Reilly.
“Tonight with the wind, it was just stay in front (of Reilly) and shoot it out of her hands and be up for her,” Jackson said.
Nebraska had 80 attacks but only 29 kills, five fewer than their lowest from the 2022 season. Reilly finished with 19 assists and three kills. Most of…
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