Top-ranked Nebraska volleyball extended its unbeaten run to 17 matches by sweeping No. 7 Wisconsin in straight sets at John Cook Arena on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Powered by a season-high 20 kills from Harper Murray and dominant net play, the Cornhuskers claimed a 25-23, 25-14, 25-20 victory before 10,497 fans.
Harper Murray and the Senior Attack Overwhelm Wisconsin’s Defense
Nebraska finished the night hitting .396 as a team, converting 50 kills while holding Wisconsin to a paltry .171 hitting percentage. At the center of the offensive onslaught was Murray, whose 20 kills came at an efficient .471 clip alongside four digs and three blocks.
Andi Jackson added 11 kills, marking her sixth double-digit output of the season, while sophomore Teraya Sigler contributed nine kills on a .533 hitting percentage and anchored an opening-set rescue mission.
Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly expressed satisfaction with the team’s composure during high-pressure stretches, noting after the match, It feels great.
Busboom Kelly added that the team’s aggressive mentality and refusal to get tentative in big moments usually translates directly into kills.
Defensively, the Cornhuskers won the battle at the net with nine total blocks to Wisconsin’s two, while Laney Choboy and Olivia Mauch combined to out-dig the Badgers 44 to 28. Choboy paced all players with 13 digs, and Mauch added 12.
How the Badgers Fought Through a Chaotic Opening Set
Wisconsin (11-5, 5-1) absorbed its first conference loss of the 2026 campaign despite flashes of high-level resilience. Freshman Decelise Champion led the Badgers with 12 kills on 29 attempts—her fifth double-figure match of the year—while junior Charlie Fuerbringer chipped in 27 assists, seven digs, and five kills.
The opening frame featured a block assist from Lynney Tarrow and Champion, which helped Wisconsin take an 18-17 lead late in the first set. Nebraska responded instantly with four straight points, and Murray slammed a back-row kill immediately after a timeout to clinch a narrow 25-23 win.
That momentum spilled over into a dominant second set where Nebraska hit .424 and stifled Wisconsin to a .053 attacking clip. Though the third set mirrored the tight battle of the opener, the Huskers closed out the match on a three-point run punctuated by Murray’s final swing.
Standings Impact and the Road Ahead for Both Big Ten Rivals
The straight-sets victory moves Nebraska to 17-0 overall and 6-0 in Big Ten play, maintaining their status as the team to beat in conference title talks. The Cornhuskers also preserved a remarkable home streak, capturing their 58th consecutive regular-season victory inside the Devaney Center. This latest triumph also marks Nebraska’s fifth consecutive victory against their Midwest rivals.
Sheffield noted after the match that their performance carried stretches capable of beating almost any opponent in the country, emphasizing that the outing serves as a great learning opportunity to establish a permanent standard.
Nebraska hits the road next to face Northwestern on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. CT at Welsh-Ryan Arena, with the match broadcast on Big Ten Plus and the Huskers Radio Network.
