Set
1
The
first two points of the set canceled each other out as a kill into the net from
Texas Tech was quickly followed by a service error from Sydney Anderson. A triple block from Lindsey Licht, Jordan Wilberger,
and Hannah Werth was only one of three blocks for the Huskers in the opening
set. Nebraska led the entire first set but the Red Raiders were able to stop
Wilberger with only three attacking attempts. One of the best points of the
game came right after a Texas Tech time-out where the Huskers managed to dig
the ball out of the net after a bad pass and sent it flying back over to the
Red Raiders who couldn’t respond. There was a hole in the center of the court
for Nebraska this set and Texas Tech seemed to find that spot often as the
Huskers’ defense struggled to cover it. Brooke Delano led the Huskers with four
kills and 5.5 points for the set. After three tries, the Red Raiders gave
Nebraska their final point, 25-16.
Outstanding
Player: Brooke Delano
.
Set 2
The
second set didn’t start off the way it should have after the Huskers’ easy win
in set one. With two huge blocks during
the first point and another in the second, Texas Tech was able to steal the
momentum from the red and white. Four hits, a long tip from Anderson, and wide
attacks from Mueller and Licht, didn’t help Nebraska’s 3-7 score. Newcomers Allison McNeal and Kaitlynn James, were pulled off the bench to try and put an end to
the Huskers’ trailing score. They had their shining moments but their lack of
on-court experience made it difficult for them to hold up strong blocks against
the Red Raiders’ dominating kills. Texas Tech’s blocks put Mueller and Licht at
unusual negative hitting percentages proving that the Red Raiders found a way
to stop some of Nebraska’s best players. Throughout the set, Nebraska kept climbing
closer to Texas Tech’s points and a kill from Wilberger to tie the set at 14
was what the Huskers needed to get them fired up. Hitting and service errors
from Texas Tech gave Nebraska the points they needed. A kill from Wilberger in
front of the ten foot line and an ace from Mueller put the Huskers up 21-20.
Nebraska and Texas Tech battled back and forth for the last few points but
Nebraska grabbed the win with a much needed kill from Delano to end the set
25-23.
Outstanding
Player: Brooke Delano
Set 3
A
completely different Nebraska team came out to play the third set and there was
nothing that Texas Tech could do to stop them. Fundamental errors from the Red
Raiders put the Huskers up 4-0. Werth was consistent at breaking through the
block on the outside and earned a .500 hitting percentage. An ace from Delano
put Nebraska up 13-5 and forced the Red Raiders to take a time-out. James came
into the game and earned her second kill of the night while Megan Pendergast
came off the bench with something to prove. Pendergast’s six consecutive serves
sent Texas Tech fighting just get the ball back over the net in one hit. When
she was done, Pendergast had brought the Huskers to a 22-7 advantage. Mancuso
was strong in the back row and had numerous kills from the middle back position,
a spot Texas Tech wasn’t expecting her to hit from. She had one of the highest
hitting percentages of the game at .750. Delano slammed down a kill to end the
third set quickly, 25-11.
Outstanding
Player: Hannah Werth
Outstanding
Off-Bench Players: Megan Pendergast, Gina Mancuso
Overall
Consistency
wasn’t Nebraska’s strong point in this game, especially in the second set.
There were good times, followed by many bad times and that trend seemed to
follow them until the third set. Mueller was silent for the majority of the
game and her stats prove it. She was negative in attacking percentage the
second and third sets and had no blocks in those sets either. Delano seemed to
take over for her and had many strong hits throughout the night. She seemed to
be the reliable attacker and kept her team fighting when it seemed like Texas
Tech would take the second set. McNeal and James came off the bench with
enthusiasm when Nebraska was doing their worst and proved that they have the
ability to add points when needed most. With more playing time, they will be
two players to watch in the future. Pendergast’s serving was the highlight of
the evening and was exactly what the Huskers needed after such a tough second
set. She received a standing ovation from the crowd; something Delano told her
hadn’t been since Jordan Larson broke a serving record. With much tougher Big
12 teams on their schedule, Nebraska will need to step up their defense and
work on the fundamental elements like passing and serving.