Volleyball archive: 2021
The Huskers had a stumbling start to the season as coach John Cook tried various combinations of veterans and newcomers, but the team began hitting its stride en route to a second-place Big Ten finish. Then, as the No. 10 seed in the NCAA tournament, Nebraska knocked off No. 2 seed Texas and No. 3 seed Pittsburgh in a memorable run to the championship match, where the Huskers fell in five sets to Wisconsin.
December
Middle blocker Callie Schwarzenbach enters the transfer portal after four seasons as a Husker. | Decision tracker
Jaylen Reyes is promoted to the lead assistant spot, and Kelly Hunter steps up to a full-time assistant role.
Associate head coach Tyler Hildebrand is leaving* to become head coach at Long Beach State.
Wisconsin's hot start to the fifth set proves too much for the Huskers to overcome, and the Badgers take the national championship, 22-25, 31-29, 25-23, 23-25, 15-12. | Highlights: 1, 2 | Full replay | Stats | Photos: 1, 2, 3,* 4 | Postgame presser: Video, Transcript | Set by set* | Commentary: Carriker, Shatel,* Sipple,* Herz | All-Tournament Team
Previewing the national championship match between Big Ten rivals: HV, HOL, OWH,* LJS,* Huskers.com | Commentary: Sipple,* Chatelain*
Lexi Rodriguez adds AVCA National Freshman of the Year to her list of honors.
Nebraska is headed to the national championship match against Wisconsin after a 3-1 win over No. 3 seed Pitt. | Highlights | Full replay | Postgame presser | Box score | Set by set* | Commentary: Carriker, Chatelain* | Notes* | Photos: 1, 2,* 3, 4
Lexi Rodriguez is named a first-team All-American, while Kayla Caffey and Madi Kubik earn second- and third-team honors.
Coach John Cook talks with Adam Carriker about the win over Texas, the team's chemistry, his rebound from burnout a dozen years ago and more.
The Huskers are bound for the Final Four for the fifth time in seven years after upsetting No. 2 seed Texas in four sets* in Austin. | Stats | Highlights | Full replay | Carriker gut reaction
An Elite Eight rematch with Texas is next as Nebraska advances to the Austin regional final by sweeping Illinois.* | Stats | Highlights | Full replay
Four Huskers earn all-region recognition: Lexi Rodriguez, Madi Kubik, Nicklin Hames and Kayla Caffey.
The Huskers advance to the Sweet 16 with a sweep of Florida State and now will face Illinois in Austin. | Stats | Full replay | Photos
Nebraska holds Campbell to a negative hitting percentage in a sweep that sets up a Saturday night match against Florida State in the NCAA Tournament. | Stats | Photos | Full replay
Lexi Rodriguez is named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and is one of three Huskers named to the all-conference first team.
November
Lexi Rodriguez earns Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.
Nebraska is seeded 10th in the NCAA Tournament and will open by hosting Campbell. | Bracket
The Huskers finish the regular season with a strong defensive showing in a 3-1 win* at No. 6 Purdue. | Highlights | Stats
Nebraska wins the first set, but Wisconsin rallies for a 3-1 win* in Madison and its seventh victory in a row against the Huskers. Stats | Highlights
A comeback* from a 22-15 deficit in the second set helps propel the Huskers to a sweep of Penn State. | Stats | Highlights
Rutgers forfeits Saturday's match due to non-COVID illness issues.
Lexi Rodriguez is named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
Ally Batenhorst comes off the bench to help the Huskers fend off Indiana after Nebraska dropped the first set* to the Hoosiers.* | Stats | Highlights
Nebraska sets a school digs record in a sweep of Maryland. | Stats | Highlights | Photos: 1, 2
The Huskers have trouble closing as they get swept at Ohio State. | Stats | Highlights
With Lexi Sun back in the starting lineup, Nebraska sweeps No. 25 Illinois. | Stats | Highlights
October
The Huskers fall in a 3-2 marathon at Minnesota. | Stats | Highlights
Nebraska's winning streak ends at 10 matches as third-ranked Wisconsin registers a sweep in Lincoln. | Stats | Highlights | Photos: 1, 2
Big Ten weekly awards go to Lexi Rodriguez and Nicklin Hames.
After a slow start, the Huskers make it 10 wins in a row with a 3-1 victory over seventh-ranked Purdue. | Stats | Highlights | Photos
Nebraska stays undefeated in Big Ten play with a sweep at Iowa in three close sets. | Stats | Highlights
Madi Kubik earns player of the week honors from the Big Ten.
The Huskers remain perfect in conference play with a sweep of Illinois. | Stats | Highlights | Photos
Nebraska makes quick work of Indiana in a sweep of the Hoosiers. | Stats | Highlights | Photos: 1, 2
Three Huskers – Madi Kubik, Nicklin Hames and Lexi Rodriguez – earn player of the week honors from the Big Ten.
Strong serving helps power Nebraska to a convincing sweep at Rutgers.Stats | Highlights
Strong play from Madi Kubik and Ally Batenhorst paces the Huskers to a four-set win at No. 13 Penn State. | Highlights | Stats
Nebraska finishes the weekend by sweeping Michigan State with a strong showing on defense. | Highlights | Stats
With Lauren Stivrins back back in the lineup, the Huskers dominate Michigan in a sweep. | Stats | Highlights | Photos
Lindsay Krause earns Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.
September
Nebraska goes 2-0 in conference play by sweeping Iowa behind Madi Kubik's 15 kills and Nicklin Hames' 40 assists. | Stats | Photos | Highlights
Madi Kubik's 19 kills help the Huskers get back on the winning track with a 3-1 victory at Northwestern. | Stats | Highlights
After much experimenting, John Cook has a lineup identified for the start of conference play.
Louisville sweeps Nebraska, extending* the Huskers' skid to three. | Stats
The Huskers make it two losses in a row as Stanford wins in four sets against Nebraska's shuffled lineup. | Stats
Utah stuns Nebraska by storming back from twovsets down, handing the Huskers their first loss* of the season. | Stats | Highlights
"Relentless" defense helps the Huskers hold No. 19 Creighton to .053 hitting* in a sweep in Omaha. | McKewon commentary | Stats | Photos
Kayla Caffey is named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
A showdown between volleyball unbeatens is coming Wednesday when the Huskers face Creighton in Omaha.
Lexi Sun's 14 kills* help Nebraska register a sweep* against Arizona State. | Stats | Highlights | Photos
The Huskers bounce back from a first-set loss and put away Georgia,* 3-1. | Stats
Nebraska fends off a stiff challenge from Omaha, winning the match in five sets.* | Stats | Highlights
August
Lexi Rodriguez earns Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week honors.
The Huskers rebound from a third-set blowout and a fourth-set deficit to complete a 3-1 win over Kansas State. | Stats
Nebraska opens the 2021 season with a dominating sweep* of Colgate.* | Stats | Photos: 1, 2
The season opener against Tulsa has been cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols, but the rest of the Huskers' weekend slate remains intact.
Weekend preview: The Huskers prepare for their first matches without their top setter.
Lauren Stivrins, Nicklin Hames and Kenzie Knuckles are named captains.
Nicklin Hames* probably won't play this weekend, but coach John Cook doesn't expect her to be sidelined for long.
The Reds and Whites* battle to a 2-2 tie* in the preseason scrimmage, and Nicklin Hames leaves with an injury of unknown severity. | Photos: 1, 2 | Post-match presser
John Cook says the freshmen are providing stiff competition for the veterans.
Nebraska gets a No. 5 ranking in the preseason AVCA poll.
Fifteen Husker volleyball matches are slated for national telecasts.
Jordan Larson delivers match point as she and fellow former Huskers Justine Wong-Orantes and Kelsey Robinson win gold with Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.
John Cook says all positions are up for grabs as the team gets set to start practices. | Press conference video | Shatel on Cook
Three former Huskers will try to make history this weekend in the Olympic gold-medal match against Brazil.
Lauren Stivrins confirms she is returning this season.
July
Harper Murray, the top ranked player in the 2023 class, announces her commitment to the Huskers.
Laren Stivrins' status for this season remains uncertain.
The Huskers' roll in recruiting continues with the commitment of Caroline Jurevicius.
Nebraska gets commitments from two 2023 prospects, setter Bergen Reilly and middle blocker Andi Jackson.
Lexi Sun earns second-team Academic All-America honors.
June
Coach John Cook says Lauren Stivrins will play this season if her injured back is sufficiently rehabbed.
Lauren Stivrins is coming back for an extra season, says associate head coach Tyler Hildebrand, but it is announced later that no official decision has been made.
The wraps have come off the Huskers' fall schedule.
Lexi Sun is named to the Academic All-District team.
Three former Huskers — Jordan Larson, Kelsey Robinson and Justine Wong-Orantes — have made USA Volleyball's Olympics roster.
Jazz Sweet announces her signing with VK KP Brno in the Czech Republic.
MAY
Lexi Sun announces she'll return for the Huskers' fall season.
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26-8, 15-4
08/27
08/27 Colgate W 3-0
08/28 Kansas State W 3-1
09/03 Omaha W 3-2
09/03 Georgia W 3-1
09/04 Arizona State W 3-0
09/08 @Creighton W 3-0
09/11 Utah L 3-2
09/14 @Stanford L 3-1
09/18 Louisville L 3-0
09/22 @Northwestern* W 3-1
09/25 Iowa* W 3-0
10/01 Michigan* W 3-0
10/03 Michigan State* W 3-0
10/08 @Penn State* W 3-1
10/09 @Rutgers* W 3-0
10/13 Indiana* W 3-0
10/16 Illinois* W 3-0
10/20 @Iowa* W 3-0
10/23 Purdue* W 3-1
10/27 Wisconsin* L 3-0
10/30 @Minnesota* L 3-2
11/04 @Illinois* W 3-0
11/06 @Ohio State* L 3-0
11/12 Maryland* W 3-0
11/14 @Indiana* W 3-1
11/19 Penn State* W 3-0
11/20 Rutgers* W Forfeit
11/26 @Wisconsin* L 3-1
11/27 @Purdue* W 3-1
12/03 Campbell** W 3-0
12/04 Florida State** W 3-0
12/09 Illinois** W 3-0
12/11 @Texas** W 3-1
12/16 Pittsburgh** W 3-1
12/18 Wisconsin** L 3-2
* Conference match
** NCAA Tournament