Nebraska tops Wisconsin in five-set thriller between undefeated teams

These two teams have been in the top two of the ACVA rankings for five consecutive weeks and are the only teams — besides unranked Citadel — to remain undefeated this season. With respective 18-0 records, the Big Ten rivals have downed a combined 12 ranked programs and have absolutely dominated this season. This match is undoubtedly the most important match of the season thus far; it’ll likely determine the title favorite (timely with the second DI committee Top-10 rankings coming out next weekend). Here’s how these juggernauts compare:

Offense

The programs dually rank in the top-10 nationally for hitting percentage, Wisconsin hitting .315 and Nebraska at .297. Wisconsin’s Sarah Franklin is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week from her 34-kill weekend that carried the Badgers over Rutgers and Maryland. The Michigan State transfer leads Wisconsin with 231 kills (3.85 K/S). Freshman Bergen Reilly controls the Nebraska offense, assisting 10.48 per set and picking up two consecutive Big Ten Setter of the Week honors. Her main targets are Florida transfer Merritt Beason and first-year Harper Murray, who have added almost 450 combined kills.

Defense

Saturday’s match will be a showcase of the block; Wisconsin MBs Carter Booth and Caroline Crawford go head-to-head with Huskers Andi Jackson and Bekka Allick. Minnesota transfer Booth leads the conference in B/S and ranks in the top 10 in the nation with a 1.45 average, combining with Crawford for 164 blocks on the year. Booth has also proven herself as a utility player with 107 kills on the season and averaging a .454 clip. At Nebraska, Jackson has had a breakout freshman season, ranking third in the Big Ten in hitting .415 and totaling 68 blocks. Allick is dangerous at the net, tallying 72 total blocks.

In the back line, Nebraska libero Lexi Rodriguez just earned her second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors by digging up an average of 4.86 digs per set between the Huskers’ recent matches versus Penn State and Michigan State.

In sum…

The only clear leg up that Wisconsin has over the Huskers is the serve, which could be pivotal in this tightly contested match. The Badgers have aced 115 times so far, more than double the Huskers’ 48 service aces. 

The distinct makeups of these teams are also worth noting; Nebraska’s starting rotation is comprised of four freshmen whereas Wisconsin’s is made up of four transfers.

This will be the 16th time (of 30 matches) that the two meet while both…