Huskers Turn Away Bobcats, 3-0

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska volleyball team swept Montana State 25-19, 25-15, 25-10 to cap a perfect weekend at the Husker Invitational in front of 8,456 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. 

Nebraska (5-1) hit .400 and held Montana State (1-4) to a .128 hitting percentage. The Huskers had 47 kills to 26 for the Bobcats, and NU served seven aces and allowed just two. 

Harper Murray had 11 kills and hit .400 with three aces, six digs and two blocks. Merritt Beason provided eight kills, while Andi Jackson finished with seven kills on .778 hitting. 

Rebekah Allick and Taylor Landfair each had six kills, and Lindsay Krause added five kills while hitting .417. 

Bergen Reilly had 37 assists and eight digs, and Lexi Rodriguez also had eight digs. Olivia Mauch chipped in five digs. 

Set 1: Although Nebraska led throughout set one, Montana State kept it close, getting within 13-12 and 14-13. A service error by the Bobcats and an ace by Murray made it 16-13, and Jackson and Krause recorded consecutive kills for an 18-14 advantage. MSU answered with a kill and an ace to cut it to 18-16, but a kill by Allick and block by Allick and Murray helped NU stay on top, 21-17. An ace by Beason earned set point at 24-19, and the Huskers won 25-19. 

Set 2: Nebraska got off to a 5-1 start with kills by Beason, Krause and Allick and a block by Allick and Murray. NU pushed its lead to 18-7 after a 7-0 run on Reilly's serve. Krause and Allick each had kills in that span, and MSU committed four hitting errors. The Huskers finished off a 25-15 victory with three kills by Jackson down the stretch and a kill and ace by Landfair. Nebraska held Montana State to .067 hitting in the second set. 

Set 3: Nebraska jumped out to a 13-3 start and never looked back, cruising to a 25-10 win and the sweep. Maisie Boesiger subbed in, and on her birthday served a 7-0 run. Murray and Rodriguez each served aces in the set, and Landfair and Murray combined for 10 kills to help the Huskers close out their 27th straight win at home. 

Up Next: Nebraska hosts Creighton on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.