Nebraska Volleyball Plays Michigan in the First Big Ten Conference Match of the Season

The Big Ten Conference season gets started with a Wednesday night game in the Devaney Center. When Nebraska hosts Michigan it is not just Nebraska’s first conference match but the very first conference match for any team in the B1G. Northwestern and Indiana also play on Wednesday, but they have a later start time.

We should expect a few extra joules of energy from the players as they play the first conference match. The quest to win the conference trophy begins, and an invisible line marks the start of that race. This extra bit of energy should settle in on the Nebraska side a few points into set #1 and then we see quality volleyball.

While Michigan enters the match with a 10-1, they have not played a highly competitive schedule. They have notable wins over Notre Dame and Cincinnati. Their loss is to Virginia, but they are yet to play a ranked team.

They play with an overall balanced attack on the court with no one player getting every set, but the heavy point scoring will come from the two outside hitters, Allison Jacobs and Ella Demetrician.

2024 Record: 18-13 (8-12 in Big Ten)
11th best team in the Big Ten
Ranked Wins in 2024: They took set #1 from #2 Nebraska last October
NCAA Tournament: The did not make the field

In rhythm, Nebraska will spread the offense wide and fast as they work to stress the Michigan block. Husker setter, Bergen Reilly, will establish Virginia Adriano on the right side especially when Michigan’s smaller block of Jacobs (5’11”) is in front of her. Jacobs is an experienced player, with quick movement, solid passing and lots of offense but blocking is an area Nebraska can use to their advantage.

The Wolverines will run a 6-2 offense so those blockers will always have some size to them. Nebraska’s left side hitters Harper Murray and Taylor Landfair need to see the block well and hit off and around as the two opposites for Michigan block well.

Michigan also presents a great middle match up. Nebraska’s combination of Andi Jackson and Rebekah Allick is the best in college volleyball, but Michigan’s middles make an impact on the game and opposing middles must pay them their attention.

Serena Nyambio is a 6’2” senior and Jenna Hanes is a 6’3” sophomore. They average 1.95 and 1.81 kills per set respectively and both block on average over one ball per set. Those points start adding up and those are just from the middle position. Jackson and Allick will move their attack position around as they work to beat the Wolverines to the attack spot.

Michigan attempts to disrupt other teams with tough serving. They have been successful against many of their opponents thus far by averaging just under two aces per set. They have two jump servers doing most of the acing, Jacobs and sophomore setter Ellie White.

Nebraska passers have to have fast feet to beat the ball to the spot. Jump serves with lots of top spin cascade downward with speed. Passers have to move to the spot before the ball dives too far down. Once you beat the ball to the spot, passing is relatively easy.

Michigan’s other setter is Morgan Burke, the 6’0” junior from Omaha and former standout at Skutt Catholic HS. She continues to be a leader on the Wolverine squad and will see significant playing time in this match.

In a press conference earlier this week, Nebraska head coach Dani Busboom Kelly said “Every game is really important for who we want to be in December. The goal is to win a Big Ten Championship but that also isn’t the ultimate goal for this season.” The Michigan Wolverines will come to compete, and they will do that well. Nebraska needs to play with an urgency to improve and play to their potential every match. This is the next step to December outcomes.

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