HUSKER VOLLEYBALL: No. 5 Nebraska sweeps No. 2 Stanford

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) - No. 5 Nebraska made quick work of No. 2 Stanford, sweeping the Cardinal (25-17, 25-22, 25-14) in Lincoln on Wednesday night.

The victory marks Nebraska’s first win over Stanford at the Devaney Center.

“You’re always looking for matches to make you believe and see how they can play,” John Cook said. “They proved it tonight.”

Lindsay Krause and Andi Jackson each turned in nine kills, with Merritt Beason adding eight. Defensively, the Huskers held Stanford to just a .100 hit percentage in the match.

Nebraska jumped out to an 9-2 lead on the strength of kills from Krause, Jackson, Beason, Harper Murray and an ace from Lexi Rodriguez. The Cardinal would never get within five points for the rest of the set. Beason delivered a haymaker for the set point kill, giving the Huskers the win, 25-17. Nebraska hit .406 in the frame while holding Stanford to .114.

Stanford played it close in the second set. Nebraska again struck first, opening on an 8-2 run, but the Cardinal countered with an 8-0 stretch to pull in front. Trailing 18-16, the Huskers rode the momentum of back-to-back kills from Jackson and a Cardinal service error to a 20-18 lead. Beason again came through with the set point to hand Nebraska the 2-0 set lead, 25-22.

Set Three began like the two prior, with the Huskers opening a healthy 8-4 edge. The Cardinal showed little fight as Rebekah Allick logged a kill and two assisted blocks to help put Nebraska ahead 12-6. Back-to-back aces from Harper Murray extended the Huskers lead before Lindsay Krause delivered the match point to seal the sweep, 25-14.

Nebraska now hits the road for another Top 5 battle, taking on No. 4 Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

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