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The Nebraska volleyball team, currently ranked No. 1, will conclude its regular-season schedule at home this weekend. The Huskers will host Iowa on Saturday, a match that will also serve as Senior Night for the program.
Whether the Husker seniors will opt to return for a fifth year remains uncertain, but they will be recognized during the ceremony regardless.
Iowa enters the matchup with a 13-16 overall record and a 2-13 mark in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes' last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 1994, when they fell to Pitt in the first round.
Historically, Nebraska has dominated the series, winning all 41 previous meetings. The Huskers have dropped only five sets to Iowa in program history, two of which came in 2019 when the Hawkeyes pushed Nebraska to five sets.
Iowa began the season with an 11-3 non-conference record but has managed just two conference victories since. Those wins came against Rutgers and an upset over UCLA in late October.
Offensively, the Hawkeyes are paced by senior middle blockers Hannah Wittingstall and Liv Mogridge, who have recorded 260 and 256 kills, respectively. Both average approximately 2.4 kills per set. Sophomore outside hitter Ksenija Tomic has added 201 kills, averaging 2.18 per set. Junior setter Jenna Meitzler has dished out 1,113 assists (10.31 per set) and tallied 30 service aces. Junior libero Jaimie Marquardt leads the team with 33 aces.
Defensively, freshman libero Henlee Moszkowicz anchors the back row with 327 digs. Wittingstall and Mogridge also lead the blocking effort with 100 and 95 blocks, respectively.
Nebraska, meanwhile, boasts a perfect 26-0 record. The Huskers' roster features a mix of experienced veterans and talented underclassmen, including senior setter Bergan Reilly, senior outside hitter Harper Murray, and sophomore outside hitter Teraya Sigler.
Key Analysis
Nebraska's undefeated season and top ranking underscore its dominance, while Iowa's struggles in conference play highlight the disparity between the two programs. The Hawkeyes' non-conference success early on suggests potential, but their inability to secure Big Ten wins has been a recurring issue. The Senior Night atmosphere may provide an emotional lift for Nebraska, but the team's focus will likely remain on maintaining momentum heading into the postseason.
Originally reported by newspub_live.