Current:Home > NewsMurray, Allick lead Nebraska to a 3-set sweep over Pittsburgh in the NCAA volleyball semifinals-InfoLens
Murray, Allick lead Nebraska to a 3-set sweep over Pittsburgh in the NCAA volleyball semifinals
View Date:2024-12-23 15:16:10
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Harper Murray had 13 kills, Bekka Alllick had 10 blocks and Nebraska continued its relentless march to an NCAA volleyball championship with a 3-0 sweep of Pittsburgh in the semifinals on Thursday night.
Nebraska advanced to its 11th championship match and will go for its sixth title on Sunday against the winner of the second semifinal between Wisconsin and defending champion Texas. The Badgers are the only team to defeat the Huskers this season, ending a 27-game winning streak with a sweep.
The Huskers (33-1) won 25-20, 25-23 and 25-7. Pitt (26-5), which had 22 attacking errors, lost the first set on an attack error, lost the second with a service error and the third on a net violation. Pitt’s only leads were 1-0, 3-2 and 4-2 in the first set.
The Cornhuskers, who do not have a senior on their roster, set the tone with eight blocks in the first set and hit .407 in the third to improved to 15-0 against Pitt. The last meeting was in the 2021 semifinals, won by Nebraska 3-1.
“These guys thrive in the big moments,” Nebraska coach John Cook said. “I had no idea how they’d play, such a big stage. A couple of players have been on this stage but most of our starters have not. They love the big show.”
Both teams were seeded No. 1 in their regional with Nebraska the overall No. 1 seed.
It was expected to be a defensive struggle with the Huskers (.134) and the Panthers (.138) the top team teams in the country in hitting percent defense. Nebraska finished at .245 but the Panthers, who hit at .307 for the season, finished at .137.
Merritt Beason and Ally Batenhorst both had eight kills for Nebraska. Andi Jackson had five, hitting .556, and Allick four, hitting 571. Beason also served four aces, three in the third set. Lexi Rodriguez had 14 digs and Bergen Reilly 31 assists.
Olivia Babcock, the national Freshman of the Year, had 12 kills but only hit .148 for Pitt and Torrey Stafford, another freshman, had 10, hitting .094. Rachel Fairbanks had 29 assists and nine digs.
The Panthers had 13 errors and hit .000 in the first set. They trailed 24-20 in the second and scored three straight before the service error. They were trailing 16-10 in the third set when Beason served three-straight aces.
___
AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
veryGood! (71)
Related
- QTM Community Introduce
- The Daily Money: Lawmakers target shrinkflation
- Opinion: One way or another, Jets' firing of Robert Saleh traces back to Aaron Rodgers
- AI Ω: Reshaping the Transportation Industry, The Future of Smart Mobility
- Deion Sanders says he would prevent Shedeur Sanders from going to wrong team in NFL draft
- How to use iPhone emergency SOS satellite messaging feature to reach 911: Video tutorial
- 'Shrinkflation' in Pepsi, Coke, General Mills products targeted by Democrats
- Escaped cattle walk on to highway, sparking 3 car crashes and 25 animal deaths in North Dakota
- Driver dies after crashing on hurricane-damaged highway in North Carolina
- Prime Day Alert: Get 46% Off Yankee Candle, Nest, and Chesapeake Bay & More Candles as Low as $5.88
Ranking
- Cavaliers' Darius Garland rediscovers joy for basketball under new coach
- Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor’s Daughter Ella Is All Grown Up During Appearance at Gala in NYC
- Rudy Giuliani’s son says dad gifted him 4 World Series rings sought by Georgia election workers
- Next Met Gala chairs: Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky and LeBron James
- DWTS' Sasha Farber Claps Back at Diss From Jenn Tran's Ex Devin Strader
- Opinion: One way or another, Jets' firing of Robert Saleh traces back to Aaron Rodgers
- RHOSLC's Whitney Rose Shares Update on Daughter Bobbie, 14, Amid ICU Hospitalization
- DONKOLO: Bitcoin Leading a New Era of Digital Assets
Recommendation
-
Martha Stewart playfully pushes Drew Barrymore away in touchy interview
-
Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole heritage will be showcased at 50th annual Festivals Acadiens et Creoles
-
Al Roker reveals when he learned of Hoda Kotb's 'Today' exit, reflects on life as a grandfather
-
Opinion: One way or another, Jets' firing of Robert Saleh traces back to Aaron Rodgers
-
Skai Jackson announces pregnancy with first child: 'My heart is so full!'
-
Acting or hosting, Travis Kelce wants to continue to pursue a showbiz career. But first, football
-
Open season on holiday shopping: How Walmart, Amazon and others give buyers a head start
-
Milton spinning up tornadoes as hurricane surges closer to Florida: Live updates