The No. 2 Nebraska Huskers volleyball team will welcome the No. 16 Minnesota Golden Gophers to the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Thursday, November 14th, for a highly anticipated Big Ten matchup.
The Huskers, currently 21-1 on the season and 14-0 in conference play, are just six games away from finishing the Big Ten schedule undefeated. After suffering an early-season upset at the hands of SMU, Nebraska has bounced back in impressive fashion, grinding out tough wins and dominating their opponents with their trademark brand of stifling defense and explosive offense.
“This team has shown a lot of resilience after that early loss,” said Head Coach John Cook. “The players have really come together and are playing their best volleyball at the right time of the year. We’re excited for the challenge Minnesota presents, but we’re confident in our ability to go out and get another big win in front of our fans.”
While the Huskers have been dominating, the Golden Gophers have experienced a fluctuating season as they strive to establish themselves as one of the nation’s top programs. However, Minnesota has already proven they can hang with the big boys, notching impressive wins over Texas and rival Wisconsin earlier in the year.
“We know Nebraska is going to be a tough test, especially on their home court,” said Minnesota Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon. However, our team has undergone rigorous testing, and we eagerly anticipate the challenge. If we can execute our game plan and play to our strengths at the net, I believe we have a real shot at pulling off the upset.”
One of those strengths for the Gophers is their formidable front line, which ranks among the top blocking teams in the Big Ten. They’ll need that defense at the net to try and slow down the Huskers’ dynamic attacking duo of Madi Kubik and Lindsay Krause, who have been lighting up the scoreboard all season long.
Additionally, Taylor Landfair, a former Minnesota standout who transferred to Lincoln after four successful seasons with the Gophers, will add an intriguing subplot to the match.
“It’s going to be a little strange going up against my old teammates,” admitted Landfair. “But I’m 100% focused on helping Nebraska get the win. This is a huge match for us, and I’m excited to compete against a quality opponent like Minnesota.”
Thursday’s clash in Lincoln promises to be a thrilling match as both teams aim to make a significant impact. The Huskers will lean on their home-court advantage and stellar defense to try and remain perfect in conference play, while the Gophers will look to pull off the upset and solidify their own standing in the national rankings.
Fans can catch all the action live on the Big Ten Network, with the first serve scheduled for 9:00 PM ET. Those without cable can also stream the game for free on fuboTV or DirecTV Stream with a trial subscription.
In addition to the highly anticipated volleyball matchup, Nebraska fans will also have the opportunity to catch an extended version of ESPN’s acclaimed “No Place Like Nebraska” documentary on the school’s storied volleyball program. The in-depth special, available exclusively on ESPN+, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s 2023 national runner-up campaign.
Whether you’re tuning in for the game or the documentary, Thursday night’s showdown between the Huskers and Golden Gophers is must-see volleyball action that you won’t want to miss.