‘Going to be a great challenge’: Nebraska volleyball faces familiar foe in Final Four

TAMPA, Fla. (KLKN) — For the second time in three years, Nebraska and Pittsburgh will battle it out in the NCAA Final Four.

The teams face off at 6 p.m. on Thursday in the national semifinal.

They played in 2021, when the Huskers defeated the Panthers in four sets. Nebraska head coach John Cook said Pitt is better this year.

“They are one of the top teams in all categories,” Cook said at a press conference Wednesday. “It’s not just one or two; they’re up there everywhere. They’ve done a great job. So it’s going to be a great challenge.”

Several players on Nebraska’s current roster also remember playing Pittsburgh in the Final Four in 2021.

“It’s going to be a huge match,” said Ally Batenhorst, a junior outside hitter for Nebraska. “It’s kind of cool that my freshman year we played Pitt as well. So it’s kind of cool that we’ll know some of the players, and they have some good freshmen as well. So it’s going to be a good match for sure.”

All Final Four teams participated in an open practice on Wednesday at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

The other semifinal match will feature Wisconsin and Texas. That will get underway about 30 minutes following the Nebraska-Pittsburgh semifinal.

Channel 8’s Annie Elming and Philip Catalfamo are in Tampa for the Final Four as well. They will host a 30-minute volleyball special at 4:30 p.m. on Channel 8 on Thursday.

Nebraska vs. Pittsburgh then gets underway at 6 p.m. on ESPN.