Huskers Sweep Illinois for Ninth Straight Win

LINCOLN, Neb. - The No. 5 Nebraska volleyball team swept No. 18 Illinois for the second time this season, 25-16, 25-16, 25-16, Wednesday night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center for its ninth straight win, matching its longest win streak this season. 

The Huskers improved to 25-4 overall and 16-3 in the Big Ten. With Minnesota's 3-2 comeback win against Ohio State on Wednesday night, the Huskers are still one match behind the Gophers with one to play. The Gophers have clinched at least a share of the Big Ten title and can win it outright with a victory at Indiana on Saturday. Nebraska will need to beat Penn State on Saturday and have Minnesota lose in order to grab a share of the Big Ten title, which would be Nebraska's first since 2011.

Nebraska has now reached at least 25 wins in 15 of Head Coach John Cook's 16 seasons at Nebraska.  

The Husker middle blockers set the tone all night. Amber Rolfzen (12 kills, seven blocks) and Cecilia Hall (nine kills, six blocks) combined to hit .655. Amber Rolfzen was perfect on the night with no errors in 16 attacks for a .750 hitting percentage, one match after hitting a career-best .769 at Michigan last Saturday.

Kelsey Fien had eight kills and three blocks, and Mikaela Foecke has seven kills and three blocks. Kadie Rolfzen added six kills, seven digs and three blocks. Kelly Hunter led the Huskers to a .339 hitting percentage with 35 assists, 10 digs, five blocks and six kills. Annika Albrecht had a team-high 10 digs.

Defensively, Nebraska was outstanding. NU held Illinois (19-11, 10-9 Big Ten) to just .056 hitting, including a .000 mark in the second set. The Huskers had 13.5 blocks, their most since Oct. 23. Nebraska also led in digs, 53-41. 

Set 1: The Huskers were playing from behind early as Illinois built a 10-6 lead. Kadie Rolfzen and Fien kills brought the Huskers within 10-9, part of a 19-6 run to end the set. Kills by Hall and Foecke tied the set for the first time, 12-12, and the Huskers had their first lead at 13-12 after Illinois hit long. The Rolfzen twins combined for a block to make it 15-12 at the media timeout, capping a 5-0 run. Illinois cut it to 15-14, but Amber Rolfzen and Hunter took over from there, combining for six kills and a block to help put NU up 24-14 with a 9-0 run. Foecke finished it at 25-16 with the final two kills. Nebraska hit .333 and limited Illinois to .073. 

Set 2: Four blocks by the Huskers early in the set lifted them to a 12-5 advantage. Illinois pulled as close as four at 13-9, but the Huskers had an answer for every comeback attempt. A dump by Hunter made it 21-15, and Hall immediately smashed a kill on the next rally for a 22-15 lead. NU scored the last three points to win 25-16 again. Nebraska totaled six blocks in the set and hit .343 while holding Illinois to .000 hitting. 

Set 3: A 5-1 run in the third set put the Huskers in front, 10-5, with two kills by Amber Rolfzen and a Foecke ace. A Kadie Rolfzen kill capped the longest rally of the night and brought the Devaney Center to its feet as the Huskers went up 18-11. That began a 5-0 run that effectively put the match away. Nebraska finished out the sweep, 25-16. NU improved its hitting percentage each set, finishing at .344 in the final frame.

Up Next: Nebraska finishes the regular season against No. 7 Penn State on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The Huskers will honor their four seniors after the match.