No. 1 Penn State delivered a stunning reverse sweep to upset No. 1 Nebraska in the 2024 NCAA women’s volleyball semifinals, winning 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 28-26, 15-13. It marked the first reverse sweep in the semifinals of the tournament since 2018.
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. But Penn State rallied, led by Jess Mruzik’s offensive spark and Izzy Starck’s key blocks, to take control in the next three sets.
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. The Huskers struggled to contain Penn State’s momentum as the match continued.
In the fourth, Nebraska had a 22-16 advantage, which would lead to the Huskers being able to close out the semifinal with two match points, but the set ended with the Nittany Lions stunning the Nebraska-dominant crowd sealing the fourth with a 28-26 final score.
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. They’ll face Louisville on Sunday, December 22.
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