The No. 2 Nebraska volleyball group enters its final weekend on the Devaney Center for the 2024 season with an opportunity to earn a spot within the Final Four for the second-straight yr and third within the final 4 seasons.
The Huskers took care of enterprise in dominant trend, sweeping Florida A&M and Miami within the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament final weekend in Lincoln to succeed in its thirteenth consecutive regional. Unlike different high seeds within the event, there have been no scares for Nebraska, who recorded its most lopsided set win in program historical past with a 25-3 first set victory over Florida A&M.
With the event subject narrowed all the way down to 16 groups, the strain ramps up within the pursuit of a nationwide championship. Three extra groups enterprise to the Devaney Center in hopes of pulling the upset of the hometown favourite, together with Nebraska’s greatest rival.
Here’s all it’s essential know for this weekend’s regional semifinals and closing.
How to Follow Along
Regional Semifinal
Regional Final
Dayton Scout
Head Coach: Tim Horsmon | sixteenth Season at Dayton; twenty sixth as Head Coach | 406-109 (.788) at Dayton; 582-273 (.681) as Head Coach | Program’s all-time winningest coach | First stint at Dayton from 2003-2007 | Previous head teaching stops at Maryland and Robert Morris.
2024 Record: 31-2 (18-0 A10, 1st) | A10 Regular Season Champions | A10 Player and Coach of the Year, 3x All-A10 First Team, 1x All-A10 Second Team.
All-Time Series: Nebraska leads 4-0 (Sept. 5, 2014 final assembly, 3-0 NU)
Fun Fact: Both groups have performed as soon as within the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers swept the Flyers on Dec. 6, 2003 within the second spherical in East Lansing, Mich.
Stat Leaders: Points: Lexie Almodovar, 627 | Kills Per Set: Almodovar, 5.02 | Attacking %: Liana Sarkissian, .385 | Assists Per Set: Alyssa Miller, 10.79 | Aces: Almodovar, 39 | Blocks: Sarkissian, 115 | Digs Per Set: Karissa Kaminski, 4.23.
Other Key Contributors: Brooke Smith, R-Sr. (2.43 Ok/S, 69 blocks) | Alayna Yates, MB, R-Sr. (91 blocks, 1.73 Ok/S) | Gaby Arroyo, L/OH, Soph. (2.21 D/S, 32 Aces) | Taylor Russell, OH, R-Jr. (1.76 Ok/S, 24 Aces, 36 blocks).
Outlook: Head coach Tim Horsmon has the Dayton program rolling in his second stint with the Flyers. Dayton went 18-0 within the A10 for the second-straight season, and has the group competing in its first regional in program look after topping No. 16 Baylor final weekend 3-2 in Waco, Texas.
The Flyers are led by its offense, which ranks sixth nationally with a .301 hitting share, whereas additionally fielding a powerful protection with a .140 opponent hitting share which is fifth within the nation. Lexie Almodovar received her second Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honor in her profession. She’s sixth within the nation with 5.02 kills per set and is Dayton’s all-time profession chief in kills with greater than 2,000. She earned a career-high 34 within the Flyer’s second-round win over Baylor.
All-Atlantic 10 First Team decide setter Alyssa Miller runs the offense with 10.79 assists per set. Junior center blocker Liana Sarkissian is a top quality star alongside Almodovar with a team-leading .385 hitting share with 2.54 kills per set. She has additionally posted a team-high 115 blocks for 348.5 factors – which is second on the group. Libero Karissa Kaminski averaged 4.23 digs per set to offer good ground protection. Redshirt senior Brooke Smith is a top quality arm with 2.43 kills per set, however elite depth clearly lies with the Huskers.
Wisconsin Scout
Head Coach: Kelly Sheffield | twelfth Season | 317-67 (.826) at Wisconsin | 589-179 Career HC Record (.767) | Three-Time B1G Coach OTY (‘22, ‘19, ‘14) | One National Championship (2021) and Five B1G Championships (‘14,’19,’20,’21,’22).
2024 Record: 25-6 (17-3 B1G, third) | B1G Player of the Year, 2x First Team All-Big Ten, 3x Second Team All-Big Ten, 2x All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
All-Time Series: Wisconsin Leads 7-3 (Sept. 21, 2024 final matchup, 3-0 UW)
Fun Fact: Nebraska coach John Cook led the Wisconsin program from 1992 by way of 1998 earlier than going again to Nebraska. He achieved a 161-73 total document, together with back-to-back 30-win seasons and journeys to the Elite Eight in his closing two years in Madison. His .688 successful share was the best at school historical past for coaches with a couple of season till Kelly Sheffield arrived to revitalize this system.
Stat Leaders: Points: Sarah Franklin, 559 | Kills Per Set: Franklin, 4.48 | Attacking %: Devyn Robinson, .343 | Assists Per Set: Charlie Fuerbringer, 10.94 | Aces: Julia Orzol, 40 | Blocks: Carter Booth & Anna Smrek, 132 | Digs Per Set: Lola Schumacher, 3.61.
Other Key Contributors: Anna Smrek, OPP/MB, Sr. (2.88 Ok/S) | CC Crawford, MB, Gr. (117 blocks, 0.93 Ok/S, .318%) | Julia Orzol, OH/L, Sr. (2.08 Ok/S, 2.31 D/S) | Carter Booth, MB, Jr. (132 blocks, 1.64 Ok/S) } Gulce Guctekin, L, Jr. (2.05 D/S, 26 Aces).
Outlook: One of probably the most veteran-laden rosters within the nation, Wisconsin enters the weekend hoping to avenge its second losses to Nebraska this season with a regional win on NU’s house courtroom.
The Badgers dispatched Fairfield fairly simply within the first spherical. Georgia Tech put up some resistance within the second spherical with a 27-25 first set win earlier than Wisconsin received three-straight units to take a 3-1 victory over the Yellow Jackets – who Nebraska beat within the regional semifinal in Lincoln final season. UW earned its twelfth consecutive Sweet 16 look with the win as Big Ten Player of the Year Sarah Franklin earned 20 kills. She’ll should be the workhorse she’s been all season if the Badgers come out of Lincoln with its ticket punched to Louisville.
The Badgers block is probably the most scary facet of this group as 4 gamers have triple-digit blocks together with Carter Booth (132), Anna Smrek (132), CC Crawford (117) and Devyn Robinson (100). Wisconsin was second within the Big Ten in blocks with 347 – proper behind USC with 353.5. The Badgers maintain the highest spot at blocks per set (3.10), but additionally led the convention with a .293 hitting share because of the companies of true freshman Charlie Fuerbringer.
UW is the favourite to face Nebraska within the regional closing, however hastily it’s Wisconsin who has the shedding streak in its rivalry with Nebraska. The Huskers have a sense on inevitability, but when there’s a group to break that feeling, it will be the Badgers.
Texas A&M Scout
Head Coach: Jamie Morrison | 2nd Season at Texas A&M | 37-20 (.649) School document | Assistant on three U.S. Olympic medal successful squads, as he received gold with the boys’s group in Beijing, then silver and bronze with the ladies’s group in London and Rio; three years with the Netherlands National Team | Previous faculty teaching stops at Texas, UC Irvine, Concordia (Calif.), USC and UC Santa Barbara.
2024 Record: 21-7 (10-6 SEC, fifth) | 2x All-SEC First Team.
Fun Fact: Nebraska native and Omaha Central graduate Ital Lopuyo returns to her house state this weekend. She’s a redshirt sophomore who performs as an reverse for the Aggies. She’s appeared in 48 units this season with 30 kills.
Stat Leaders: Points: Logan Lednicky, 530.5 | Kills Per Set: Lednicky, 4.47 | Attacking %: Morgan Perkins, .396 | Assists Per Set: Maddie Waak, 10.45 | Aces: Ellee Stinson, 28 | Blocks: Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, 151 | Digs Per Set: Ava Underwood, 3.23.
Other Key Contributors: Emily Hellmuth, OH, Jr. (3.01 Ok/S, 51 Blocks) | Taylor Humphrey, OH, Jr. (1.65 Ok/S).
Outlook: Jamie Morrison could solely be in his second yr season in control of the Aggies, however he has this system again within the Sweet 16 for the primary time since 2019.
Logan Lednicky is the group chief, and was chosen to the All-SEC First Team alongside teammate and center blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla. Lednicky was an offensive power for A&M with 469 kills for 4.47 kills per set – which led the group and was fifth within the convention. She additionally posted 98 blocks and 1.95 blocks per set. Cos-Okpalla was top-of-the-line center blockers within the nation for one more season with 2.10 kills per set on a .374 hitting share (seventh in SEC) and 151 whole blocks which leads the group and second within the league.
For as a lot of an awesome participant Cos-Okpalla is, Morgan Perkins has been a top quality operating mate because the second center blocker with 1.78 kills per set with a team-leading .396 clip which was additionally fourth within the SEC. She additionally put up 87 blocks. Junior setter Maddie Waak runs the offense with 10.45 assists per set (third in SEC), 2.07 digs per set, 29 blocks and 22 aces. Emily Hellmuth gives extra offense with 3.01 kills per set, however she struggles with effectivity with a .163 hitting share.
It’s going to be intriguing to see how the Aggies maintain up in opposition to the Wisconsin block. A&M could possibly push the Badgers with their sturdy play on the web and a star participant in Lednicky. Libero Ava Underwood (3.23 D/S) will likely be examined by the UW attackers, however will probably be as much as Cos-Okpalla and Perkins to clog up the attacking lanes and get suggestions. Serving will likely be key. The Aggies are effectively balanced ace-wise throughout the roster, however they have been twelfth within the SEC through the season with 1.26 aces per set. While the full variety of aces could not determine the match, getting the Badgers out of system with aggressive serves is paramount.
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