West Lafayette, IND – In a commanding display of offensive efficiency and defensive tenacity, the top-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-0, 6-0 BIG TEN) swept the No. 12 Purdue Boilermakers (13-3, 4-2 BIG TEN) in straight sets (25-23, 25-16, 25-15) on Sunday afternoon at Holloway Gymnasium in West Lafayette. The victory secured Nebraska’s seventh consecutive sweep and kept their perfect record intact, showcasing why they remain the dominant force in the Big Ten conference and the nation. Purdue struggled to find rhythm against the Huskers’ disciplined defense, recording a team hitting percentage of just $.186$compared to Nebraska’s potent $.349$.

➡️  Purdue vs Nebraska photos

The opening set was the most competitive of the afternoon, serving as a classic Big Ten battle. The scoreboard saw 19 ties and five lead changes, with neither team able to pull ahead by more than three points. Purdue, led by outside hitter Kenna Wollard, who finished the match with 14 kills, hit the 20-point mark first. However, Nebraska relied on its star power late, with Andi Jackson tying the score and Harper Murray delivering a crucial back-row kill to seal the narrow 25-23 victory, setting a high expectation for intensity that the Boilermakers ultimately couldn’t sustain.

Nebraska’s defensive engine kicked into gear during the second set. After seven early ties, the score was knotted at 10-10 before the Huskers unleashed an $8-3$ run to take a commanding lead. While Purdue briefly managed to cut the deficit to three points, Nebraska responded by closing the set on an overwhelming $6-0$ run, demonstrating their ability to lockdown points when the game was on the line. The final score of the second frame, $25-16$, indicated the shift in momentum and the Huskers’ growing confidence.

The third and final set was all Nebraska. The Huskers jumped out to an immediate $8-1$ advantage, capitalizing on aggressive serving and formidable blocking. Harper Murray, having a career-defining match, contributed two solo blocks early in the run that deflated the Boilermaker attack. Purdue was never able to mount a serious threat as Nebraska cruised to a decisive $25-15$ win to complete the 3-0 sweep. The win maintained Nebraska’s spotless record and highlighted their depth and focus against a ranked opponent on the road.

Individually, Harper Murray was the standout performer for the Huskers, logging 16 kills on an astonishing $.640$ hitting percentage, complemented by two solo blocks and two aces for a total of 20 points. Setter Bergen Reilly marshaled the offense with 44 assists and 10 digs. While Purdue’s Kenna Wollard provided a strong effort, the team could not overcome the defensive pressure applied by Nebraska, led by libero Olivia Mauch’s 12 digs. The Boilermakers will look to rebound from this tough loss as they continue their challenging Big Ten schedule.