Husker Volleyball made it to five sets with a win over Purdue

Nebraska 3 vs. Purdue 2 – 25-2222-25, 23-25, 25-22, 17-15

Nebraska outlasts Purdue in a three-hour thriller at the Bob Devaney Center.

The statistics are staggering; Multiple players with twenty or more kills, double-digit blocks, and sideout percentages that are nearly equal. Nebraska didn't play their best volleyball, but they found a way to win. They are 5-0 in Big Ten play.

Purdue's outside hitters were out of this world offensively and defensively. Eva Hudson and Cloe Chicoine had 26 and 22 kills and 15 and 13 digs, respectively. They have done everything. Nebraska's block had very few answers for these two batters. That is the lesson that Husker needs to draw and learn from this match.

These two talented hitters were always looking for kills, but the block and defense had to stop SOME of their shots. It wasn't until the fourth set that Nebraska's block began to slow its attacks. This adjustment had to be made earlier in the game.

Purdue finished with a .311 batting average; This high percentage is rare against this Nebraska team. The opponent's second-highest batting average is SMU, Nebraska's only loss this season, and that is just .242. Purdue defeated Nebraska in this aspect of the game.

Purdue's block was assertive and effective against Nebraska. As a team, the Boilermakers finished with 15 blocks and Raven Colvin individually had 11 blocks. Half of the Husker scoring errors, of which there were 31 too many, were caused by the Purdue block. This learning point is about shot selection.

Nebraska was good in terms of service. They served three aces and seven errors. In contrast, Purdue had 19 service errors and only one ace. Huskers also played a lot of defense. Bergen Reilly threw 17 balls and Lexi Rodriguez had 12.

Nebraska is back in action against Rutgers tomorrow, Saturday night, at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Center and on BIG+.