Two veteran squads to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament, square off in Final Four as No. 1-seeded Nebraska faces No. 4 Texas.
The two teams are split 2-2 all-time in the NCAA tournament, with the Huskers prevailing over the Longhorns in two championship matches – in 1995 and 2015. This match serves as revenge for Texas, as Nebraska took the National title over them last season.
Nebraska
Road so far: The Huskers first two rounds were to New Hampshire and TCU, which ended in sweeps. In the Sweet Sixteen match, No. 16 Penn State went up 0-2 over the Huskers and led 24-21 in the third, but Nebraska fought back to take the third set and the match in five. Against No. 8 Washington, Nebraska walked right through them in a three set sweep.
Who to watch: Kadie Rolfzen has been a force to be reckoned with in her four years at Nebraska. K. Rolfzen leads the Huskers with 3.19 kills per set while hitting for .299 this season. Twin sister Amber Rolfzen has produced 1.40 blocks per set this season, ranking 18th nationally. Libero Justine Wong-Orantes was named as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season and is averaging 4.24 digs per set.
Mikaela Foecke is averaging 2.89 kills per set this season and is hitting for .303, while teammate Briana Holman who transferred in from LSU is hitting a team-best .354 and 1.19 blocks per set.
Texas
Road so far: Texas has swept three of their four NCAA Tournament matches. Their first two coming in rounds one and two against UTRGV and SMU. The Sweet Sixteen match to BYU proved to test their abilities this season, being down in 5-11, the Longhorns went on a 7-1 run to ties things up. A tough path to the end, led to the Longhorns taking the match at 16-14 in the fifth. Their Elite Eight match came to Cinderella team Creighton, who was upsetting team after team, but Texas stepped in their way dominating the Bluejays in three.
Who to watch: Leading the Longhorn offense this season is Micaya White who has 4.06 kills per set this season. Next is Ebony Nwanebu with 3.70 kills per set and 0.66 blocks per set.
Setter Chloe Collins is dishing out 11.57 assists per set, while defensively Cat McCoy is picking up 3.96 digs per set and is second on the team with 97 assists.
Our Winner
Here at VolleyMob we have been watching these two teams play all season and are now ready to select our winner of this semifinal match.
With their dominate and steady performances this season and the ability to turn it on when they need to, VolleyMob chooses Nebraska over Texas to head to the finals.
Despite their five set loss to Minnesota in their final week of the regular season, Nebraska has forged forward to prove they are a championship worthy team. The Huskers are looking to repeat their National championship, to become only the sixth team to do so.
You can watch the match on ESPN Thursday, December 15 at 9 PM ET.
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