UCLA women’s volleyball (6-3) is gearing up for a showdown against No. 2 Nebraska (10-1) to kick off Big Ten play Friday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. This match will mark the inaugural meeting between the two teams. This week’s scouting report is by Daily Bruin staff writer Rahaf Abumansour, who has been waiting for the day that the Bruins and Cornhuskers face off.

Coach: John Cook
Starting Lineup: S Bergen Reilly, MB Rebekah Allick, OH Lindsay Krause, OH Harper Murray, MB Andi Jackson, OH Merritt Beason and Libero Lexi Rodriguez.
Strength: Experience
X-Factor: MB Andi Jackson

The Cornhuskers are without a doubt a household name in women’s volleyball. Nebraska boast one of the most decorated programs, with five national championships – the last one coming in 2017. Since then, the Cornhuskers have been runner-ups in the NCAA tournament three times, most recently last year when they lost to Texas.

During the 2023 season, Memorial Stadium – the Huskers’ football venue – witnessed a historic evening when Nebraska and Omaha played an outdoor volleyball match with 92,003 spectators in the audience. The massive crowd was the largest-ever to watch a women’s sporting event.

Before its takeover of Memorial Stadium, Nebraska had sold out 306 consecutive regular-season volleyball games at its home venue. The Huskers have a die-hard fanbase that is certainly an element to consider come Friday.

Among the Huskers’ decorated squad members, libero Lexi Rodriguez is one of many players to watch in the match against the Bruins. The Sterling, Illinois, local has been an integral part of the Huskers journey. She has been named to the All-Big Ten First Team three times, one of the many honors on her award-packed resume. In her junior season, she led the Huskers with 3.60 digs per set, 150 set assists and 15 service aces. She also was the main factor in the team maintaining the lowest opponent hitting percentage for a second straight year.

Alongside Rodriguez, outside hitter Merritt Beason also got a 2023 first team All-American nod. This season, Beason is notching 2.84 kills per set at a .237 clip, but last year those numbers were 3.76 and 0.282, respectively.

Middle blocker Andi Jackson has been a noteworthy influence since her first year in 2023. Her abilities were recognized when she was named to the AVCA All-Region Team, All-Big Ten Second Team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season. As a freshman, Jackson ranked third in the Big Ten and 19th nationally in hitting percentage with a .399.

Jackson broke records as the seventh-best rally scorer of all time and the highest-hitting freshman in Nebraska history. She racked up a .515 hitting percentage in non-conference play – the second-best efficiency in the country at the time. Jackson reached double digit kills four times and hit .500 or better in 14 games during her freshman campaign.

Leading the Huskers in kills this season is outside hitter Harper Murray. With 116 total, Murray also leads Nebraska in kills per set at 3.22. During Murray’s freshman campaign, she was named a third team All-American and the AVCA Region Freshman of the Year after racking up 391 kills through 35 starts.

Nebraska enters the matchup with a 10-1 record, with seven of those victories being sweeps. In a single weekend Nebraska defeated then-No. 2 Stanford, limiting them to a mere .100 clip, and held then-No. 4 Louisville to .133.

This weekend’s matchup provides the Huskers with the chance to start Big Ten play in the win column.