Two weeks later, eight more Big Ten play for them No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team. The Huskers sprinted to a 4-0 record to begin conference play NU is tied with No. 3 Penn State heading into the weekend.

Nebraska has won 12 of its first 13 sets in the Big Ten, with its only set loss coming in a four-set win over UCLA on Sept. 27. Since then, the Huskers have won three straight and seven of their last eight games.

NU defeated Illinois at Huff Hall in its first away conference game of the 2024 season, defeating Iowa in the process to move to 39-0 all-time against its neighboring state. And all without a breakthrough in the second year Andy Jackson who remains sidelined due to an unknown injury. On Tuesday, Nebraska coach John Cook mentioned that Jackson, who is batting .475 this season, has already completed two-thirds of practice that day, potentially allowing her to return Friday.

Jackson’s return would be significant for a NU team that hosts No. 10 Purdue on Friday before facing Rutgers in back-to-back night games.

Here’s everything you need to know for the Huskers’ busy weekend.

How to get involved

Matchup: No. 2 Nebraska (14-1, 4-0 B1G) vs. No. 10 Purdue (12-3, 3-1 B1G)

Where: Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, NE

Time: 7:30 p.m. CDT

Regard: Big Ten Network

Hear: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates

Purdue scout

Head Coach: Dave Shondell | 22nd season | 470-229 (.672) Purdue and Career HC record | 2021 and 2011 B1G Coach of the Year, all-time winningest head coach in program history.

Record 2023: 23-9 (15-5 B1G, T-3rd) | Three first-team All-Big Ten selections, one second-team All-Big Ten member, two All-Freshman Team selections | In the Sweet 16, he was defeated by regional No. 2 Oregon.

All-time series: Nebraska leads 24-8 (last game 2023, Nebraska won 3-2)

Fun fact: Nebraska has won the last five games between the two programs, including 13 of the last 14 dating back to 2014. The Boilermakers last won on Oct. 19, 2013 in Lincoln, where Purdeu defeated the Huskers in both games that season. Plus, Purdue sophomore across the street Grace Heaney is from Omaha and attended Elkhorn North, where she developed into a top recruit.

Important returnees: Raven Colvin, MB, Sr. | Eva Hudson, OH, Jr. | Chloe Chicoine, OH, Soph. | Taylor Anderson, S, Soph. | Lourdès Myers, MB, R-Sr. | Ali Hornung, DS, Sr. | Kenna Wollard, OH, Soph.

Important additions: None.

Most important departures: Maddie Schermerhorn, L (Eligibility) | Emily Brown, DS (Eligibility).

Outlook: Returning all but one starter from a team that reached the Sweet 16 a year ago, Purdue is primed to win in the Big Ten and compete for its first conference title since 1985. As stable as they may be, Dave Shondell always has a strong team under his belt and that is no different in the midst of his 22nd year in West Lafayette.

The dynamic duo of 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Eva Hudson and senior sophomore Chloe Chicoine are giving opposing blockers and backline defenders plenty of headaches. Hudson is currently averaging a career-low 4.09 kills per set, but she is also on pace to break her career highs in both digs (2.36) and blocks (.055) per set as she developed into an elite player with six rotations. Chicoine, the former No. 1 overall pick, lived up to high expectations in her debut season by being named an AVCA Third Team All-American after averaging 3.82 kills per set. That mark is lower in her follow-up season so far (3.28), but similar to Hudson, she is on track for career marks in digs (2.62) and blocks (0.32) per set.

A true breakout story heading into the 2024 season: Middle blocker Raven Colvin is on track to become a First Team All-American for the first time in her career. Her 2023 numbers were still very good to earn AVCA Honorable Mention with 2.15 kills and 1.34 blocks per set. However, she surpassed those numbers midway through her senior season with 2.68 kills and 1.74 blocks per set, ranking second nationally and leading the Big Ten. Additionally, her batting average of .439 ranks third in the conference (behind only Jackson and Leyla Blackwell) and 11th overall nationally among all players.

These three form a core that any team would envy, but let’s not forget the strong supporting cast. Sophomore hitter Kenna Willard has thrived on the right side with 2.10 kills per set and 27 blocks. Gone is All-Big Ten libero Maddie Schernerhorn, but returning senior Ali Hornung fills those shoes with 4.11 digs per set, third in the Big Ten. Taylor Anderson earned the starting setter spot for the Boilermakers last year as a freshman with 9.88 assists per set, an overall team mark of .253. At 6-foot-10 and the top setter in her recruiting class, Anderson has taken a huge step forward, dishing out 11 assists per set per pace and setting career highs in nearly every statistical category. Additionally, Purdue is hitting an improved .277 clip in 53 sets.

Make no mistake, this Purdue team is elite and looking to reach its first Final Four in school history. With experience on the big stage and influential players at every position, Friday will be a battle between two top teams vying for the conference title.

How to get involved

Matchup: No. 2 Nebraska (14-1, 4-0 B1G) vs. Rutgers (5-10, 0-3 B1G)

Where: Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, NE

Time: 7:00 p.m. CDT

Regard: B1G+

Hear: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates

Rutgers scout

Head Coach: Caitlin Schweihofer | 5th season | 37-89 (.294) at Rutgers; 110-197 (.358) career HC record | Previous HC stops at Northeastern University and La Salle University | 2018 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year.

Record 2023: 10-20 (2-18 B1G, 13th) | A Second Team All-Big Ten member, a B1G Sportsmanship honoree | Did not qualify for the postseason.

All-time series: Nebraska leads 14-1 (last game 2023, Nebraska won 3-0)

Fun fact: Rutgers’ only win against the Huskers came in 1978 in the first-ever match between the two schools. The streak continued in 2014 when Rutgers joined the Big Ten. Nebraska has won 13 straight times in the series, with the only non-sweep being a four-set win in the spring of 2021. Scarlet Knights second-year libero and defensive specialist Kenzie Dyrstad reports from Nebraska, where she graduated from Papillion-La Vista South High School.

Important returnees: Alissa Kinkela, OH, R-Jr. | Kenzie Dyrstad, L/DS, Soph. | Lexi Visintine, OH/DS, Jr. | Rebekah Williams, OH, Jr.

Important additions: Aly Borellis, S, Jr (Ole Miss) | Natalie Robinson, MB, Fr. (Recruitment) | Lily Bolen, S, Fr. (Recruitment) | Avery Jesewitz, OH, Fr. (Recruiting) |

Most important departures: Madyson Chitty, L/DS (Western Kentucky) | Rikki Williams, MB, R-Jr. | Alyssa Nayar, S (Eligibility) | Taylor Humphrey, OH (Texas A&M) | Tina Grkovic, MB (Wake Forest).

Outlook: 2023 was a banner year for Rutgers under coach Caitlin Schweihofer. Despite posting an overall record of 10-20 and 2-18 in Big Ten play, the Scarlet Knights secured their first All-Big Ten selection while posting their most wins and best non-conference record since 2012. Placed overall the 2023 squad 12 appearances the top 10 single season records of the Rally Era, 13 entries into the top 10 team records of the Rally Era and most sets played, kills, assists, assists per set, digs and Solo blocks by a team in conference play since joining the Big Ten in 2014.

Unfortunately, repeating Rutgers’ 2023 success looks like a difficult task in Schweihofer’s fifth season. Although a difficult task, the Scarlet Knights have lost four of their starters to the transfer portal, including their starting libero, setter, outside hitter and leading middle blocker.

However, for her junior season, after being named to the All-Big Ten Second Team last year, Alissa Kinkela posted a 2.99 kills per set season with a .240 hitting percentage with 1.79 digs per set, 79 blocks and one Team best of 29 aces. She increased those numbers in mid-2024 with 3.62 kills and 1.83 digs per set, along with 38 blocks and 12 aces. She is on track to secure more conference honors by the end of the season.

Nebraska native and Graduate from Papillion-La Vista South Kenzie Dyrstad is the starting libero and has a 2.96 digs per set rating as a sophomore. Depleted by transfers, Schweihofer has relied on newcomers and returning players to make a move. Freshman Avery Jesewitz is second on the team with 2.07 kills per set, while returning junior Lexi Visintine is third at Rutgers with 88 kills.

It’s new setters for Rutgers this season after losing Alyssa Nayar to eligibility in the offseason. Ole Miss transfer Aly Borellis has taken the reins but has been lacking at 6.55 assists per set, with freshman Lily Bolen also stepping in with a mark of 3.5 assists per set. Another fellow freshman, Natalie Robinson, leads the block with 65, while she is supported by sophomore Zora Hardison with 42.

With numerous freshmen gaining valuable playing time this season, it’s clear that Rutgers is in rebuilding mode after its best season in over a decade. Rutgers is a really tough job and the Scarlet Knights administration should be proud of the momentum Schweihofer has built, but 2024 will be a growing pain as the rookie prepares for better days.

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