Nebraska volleyball faces a much-improved Michigan team

#2 Nebraska (19-1, B1G 9-0) vs. Michigan (16-4, B1G 6-3)

When: Saturday, October 26, 2024, 7:00 p.m. (CT)

Where: Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, NE

Clock: B1G+

Radio: Husker Radio Network

Live statistics

Nebraska hosts Michigan on Saturday night. Last night, Nebraska defeated Illinois for the second time this season and the Wolverines beat Iowa for their sixth win in conference play. Michigan has notable B1G wins over UCLA, Ohio State and Washington and losses to USC in five, Illinois in three and Wisconsin in four.

The Wolverines were looking for a comeback season after going 7-22 last season. Even though Harper Murray's sister Kendall is no longer with the team, it will likely still be an emotional affair for the Murray family since Harper and Kendall's late father played football for the Wolverines. Kendall is also in Lincoln this weekend cheering on Harper and the Huskers.

Michigan doesn't overwhelm teams with one or even two players. They beat you with their entire offensive system. This system is operated on the pitch by Morgan Burke. She is a sophomore from Omaha and attends Skutt Catholic High School. The system is the mastermind of second-year head coach Erin Virtue.

Coach Virtue is the offensive coordinator for USA Volleyball, so we really mean mastermind. She was an assistant coach for Michigan before taking over as head coach last year, but her extensive knowledge of the game seems to be evident this season. Last season, the Wolverines were 7-22 overall. They are 15-4 this season and are receiving votes in the coaches' poll, ranking them 32nd nationally.

Michigan moves the ball quickly and very variably over the net, so the blockers have to pay attention and move well. The Wolverines also use an overload approach on opposing blockers. They will use two hitters in the same area to give the blockers too many players to block. For example, the Michigan centerfielder approaches two feet from the outside hitter. The batters approach at the same time and the opposing middle blocker must choose which batter to jump for.

Graduate OH Allison Jacobs is currently Michigan's best hitter this season and will look to help her team defeat the Huskers. She played two seasons at UCLA before transferring to Michigan in 2022.

Jacobs is currently hitting .250 this season and has 272 kills. It also adds 143 excavations and 30 blocks. It's definitely a key to their defensive game as well.

Freshman OH Ella Demetrcian cracked the Wolverines' starting lineup this year and has put up some good numbers so far this year that have contributed to the success of this offense. She hasn't played every set this year, but she's only a freshman and will continue to improve.

Sophomore OPP/OH sophomore Valentina Vaulet is also one of Michigan's best hitters behind Allison Jacobs. Vaulet has 175 kills on 455 attempts, for a hitting percentage of .207. She also adds 35 total blocks, which is currently third on the team.

Junior MB Serena Nyambio and senior Jacque Boney form the starting middle blockers for this Wolverine squad. They have been the cornerstone of Michigan's offense and defense this season. Together they make up 123 of the 234 blocks this season. That is currently over 50%. Although it should seem like it, it's still impressive to see them carrying this workload.

Nyambio is hitting .412 and Boney is hitting .288 in 66 game sets. Nyambio could be the Andi Jackson of this Michigan team, so she has to be someone the Huskers don't let heat up.

Senior DS/L Maddi Cuchran has been a key part of the Michigan D as the starting libero. She has 269 digs and is averaging 4.08 per set so far. That's a little more than Lexi Rodriguez's 3.73 per set, but you have to keep in mind that teams are intentionally knocking Lexi away because she's that good.

Sophomore setter Morgan Burke makes this Michigan offense work. She won a setter of the week in the B1G this season on October 7th after averaging 10.30 assists per set in 10 sets. She is currently averaging 10.08 assists per set and is also adding 168 digs.

This offensive system Michigan is running needs to be stopped from the start. They can't get hot or Nebraska could play from behind. As good as they are on offense, they also have girls who can hold their own on defense. They seem to be a lot more versatile than last season.

The Huskers will look to get their 20th win of the season against Michigan. First serve is at 7:00 p.m. CT on B1G+.

#2 Nebraska (18-1, B1G 8-0)

#2 Bergen Reilly 6’1” SO Setter
#5 Rebekah Allick 6’4” JR MB
#6 Laney Choboy 5’3” SO DS/L
#7 Maisie Boesiger 5’6” JR DS/L
#8 Lexi Rodriguez 5'5″ SR DS/L
#9 Kennedy Orr 6’0” SR Setter
#10 Olivia Mauch 5’6” FR DS/L
#11 Leyla Blackwell 6’4” SR MB
#12 Taylor Landfair 6'5″ SR OH
#13 Merritt Beason 6’4” SR OH
#15 Andi Jackson 6’3” SO MB
#21 Skyler Pierce 6’2” FR OH
#22 Lindsay Krause 6’4” SR OH
#27 Harper Murray 6’2” SO OH

University of Michigan (15-4, B1G 5-3)

#1 Serena Nyambio 6'2'' JR MB
#2 Allison Jacobs 5'11'' GR OH
#3 Cymarah Gordon 6'0'' FR OPP
#5 Lydia Johnson 6'3'' SO OPP
#6 Ellie White 5'11'' FR Setter
#7 Morgan Burke 6'0'' SO Setter
#8 Mira Chopra 6'3'' SR MB
#9 Ella Demetrician 6'2'' FR OH
#10 Carly Greskovics 5'6'' SO DS
#11 Amalia Simmons 5'11'' R/SO OH
#12 Jenna Hanes 6'3'' FR MB
#13 Valentina Vaulet 6'1'' SO OPP
#14 Kendyl Reaugh 6'3'' GR OH
#16 Camille Edwards 5'11'' FR setter
#17 Jacque Boney 6'4'' SR MB
#19 Maddi Cuchran 5'5'' SR DS
#28 Trixie McMillin 5'5'' FR DS