Match day: Nebraska opens up its NCAA tournament run against Florida A&M
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Nebraska volleyball team will start its NCAA Tournament run on Friday night against the Florida A&M Rattlers at 7 p.m. in the Bob Devaney Center.
The Huskers are making their 43rd-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and hosting the first round for the 39th time.
Last Saturday, the Huskers won their second-consecutive Big Ten title with a win over the Maryland Terrapins. Nebraska shared the title with Penn State, who they lost to last Friday.
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This is the second time the Huskers have won back-to-back Big Ten titles, accomplishing that feat in 2016 and 2017.
Nebraska is 130-37 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and wining percentage (.780%).
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The Huskers made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament last season before losing to Texas in the championship game. With a large bulk of players returning from that team, John Cook said there is an edge to this squad that he didn’t see last year.
Scouting Florida A&M
Florida A&M is only one of 14 teams to have a winning record against Nebraska. The Rattlers hold a 1-0 record against the Huskers, beating them 3-1 in 2004 (30-25, 16-30, 30-28, 30-28).
The Rattlers are coming off a Southwestern Athletic Conference title, winning the trophy for the third time in four years and qualifying for their 13th NCAA Tournament.
In most recent tournament appearances, Florida A&M lost in the first round to Florida in both 2021 and 2022. Star Husker outside hitter Merritt Beason was a part of both those Florida teams.
Brooke Lynn Watts is the team leader in kills with 3.65 per set, and she has a team-high 37 service aces.
Teammate Iyonnie Sanford contributes 2.66 kills per set.
The Rattlers rank sixth in the nation in opponent hitting percentage (.142%) and fifth in aces per set (2.11).
Rotation Rundown
Harper Murray: The outside hitter is the team leader in kills at 3.28 per set. Murray also leads the team in aces with 30. She is one of the top six rotation players in the entire country. Murray has improved her defense since last season, adding 2.28 digs per set.
Merritt Beason: Beason is a close second on the team with 2.99 digs per set. The two-year captain has served 25 aces this season and adds 1.24 digs per set.
Andi Jackson: The powerful middle blocker is an offensive nightmare for opponents, tallying 2.58 kills per set with a .442% hitting percentage, which ranks first in the Big Ten.
Rebekah Allick: Allick is the defensive anchor, averaging 1.38 blocks per set. She has moved into the top 10 in school history in career blocks at No. 8 with 387.
Bergen Reilly: Reilly averages 11.12 assists per set, which ranks eighth in the nation and first in the Big Ten. The two-time Big Ten Setter of the Year adds 2.89 digs per set and has racked up 20 aces this season.
Lexi Rodriguez: Rodriguez was named the 2024 Big Ten Libero of the Year and leads the Huskers’ back row with 3.80 digs per set. She ranks No. 2 in school history in career digs with 1.819.
Match Predictions
Nate Johnson: Huskers sweep, 3-0
Jake Homan: Huskers sweep, 3-0
Mark Fischer: Huskers sweep, 3-0
