Justification was the theme of the weekend No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team after earning two more Big Ten victories to remain undefeated in conference play. Additionally, No. 1 Pittsburgh lost its first game of the season to No. 12 SMU in Dallas, reinforcing the notion that the Huskers’ only loss to the Mustangs wasn’t as bad as it first seemed.

Friday’s battle against No. 10 Purdue was reminiscent of NU’s four-set loss to No. 9 Stanford in 2022. The Cardinal picked up two set wins by two points despite a stunning 23 service errors. Purdue didn’t match those numbers, but they did commit 19 service errors, including four in the deciding fifth set. All-American hitters Eva Hudson and Chloe Chicoine each had over 20 kills and hit over .300, but still it wasn’t enough for Purdue to defeat NU in Lincoln for the first time since 2013.

Rutgers didn’t offer much resistance in a straight-sets victory for Nebraska, extending its home winning streak to 36, which is the longest active streak in the NCAA. setter Bergen Reilly was recognized on Monday for her play over the weekend and was named Big Ten Setter of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 11.88 assists and 3.75 digs per set along with two blocks and an ace.

Next up are two teams that are in the midst of down years relative to program history, with visits to Michigan and Ohio State.

Here’s everything you need to know for the NU weekend road trip.

How to get involved

Matchup: No. 2 Nebraska (16-1, 6-0 B1G) vs. Michigan State (7-10, 0-6 B1G)

Where: Breslin Center, East Lansing, Michigan.

Time: 5:00 p.m. CDT

Regard: Big Ten Network

Hear: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates

Michigan State Scout

Head Coach: Leah Johnson | 3rd season at MSU, 14th overall | 37-42 (.468) at MSU, 231-193 career record (.545) | 2021 AVCA North Region Coach OTY, 2019 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Coach OTY.

Record 2023: 17-14 (9-11 B1G, T-8) | Two second-team All-Big Ten selections, one All-Freshman team member | Did not qualify for the postseason.

All-time series: Nebraska leads 27-2-2 (last game of 2023, Nebraska won 3-1)

Fun fact about the series: Nebraska has won 16 straight games against Michigan State since 2013. The Spartans’ only two wins over NU came in consecutive seasons, with a five-set win on November 4, 2012 and a four-set win on October 12, 2013. Both wins came on MSU’s home court. However, NU’s two wins over MSU last year both came in four sets.

Important returnees: Taylah Holdem, OH, Soph. | Nalani Iosia, L, Sr. | Aliyah Moore, OH, Sr. | Grace Kelly, OH, Sr. | Julia Bishop, S, Sr. | Cameron Berger, S, Soph. | Rachel Muisenga, S, Sr. | Zuzanna Kulig, MB, Soph. | Evie Doezema, MB, Jr.

Important additions: Taylor Preston, OH, Jr. (Oklahoma) | Akasha Anderson, OH, Jr. (Auburn).

Most important departures: Amani McArthur, MB (Eligibility).

Outlook: Michigan State head coach Leah Johnson posted her first season above .500 (17-14) for the first time since 2018 and appeared to have the Spartans on the rise with an influx of transfers from her previous school, Illinois State, while she used the transfer portal to fill certain gaps in the roster. This momentum has been halted more than three weeks after the start of the conference and there is a possibility that it will get worse.

Coming into Big Ten play at 7-4, MSU had a rocky non-conference schedule but still had plenty of opportunity to finish around .500 again. Unfortunately, the Spartans are winless in the conference in mid-October with a 0-6 record. Losses to No. 3 Penn State (twice) and No. 10 Purdue are understandable, but winnable games against Illinois, Indiana and Michigan have fallen by the wayside. The journey doesn’t get any easier as Nebraska is next in line, followed by Washington, USC, UCLA and Minnesota. A winnable stretch follows with Ohio State, Maryland, Michigan and Iowa, but the wins must begin.

The strange thing is that this Spartan team returns almost all of its regular players, plus two impactful additions announced through the transfer portal. A Second Team All-Big Ten selection last season middle blocker Amani McArthur, but Polish sophomore Zuzanna has stepped up that role as a sophomore with 87 total blocks, second in the Big Ten. Fifth-year libero Nalani Iosia is one of the best in the conference and has shown to lead the league with 4.37 digs per set and 13 aces.

Taylah Holden made the All-Conference second team last season with 3.34 kills per set, but she had a tough time her sophomore year with 2.00 kills per set and a .134 hitting percentage. Illinois State transfer Aliyah Moore followed Johnson, contributing 2.20 kills per set in her first season in the Big Ten. However, this season she has fallen off offensively with 1.40 kills per set but has 41 blocks, ranking third on the team.

That’s because Johnson grabbed a pair of SEC outside arms in Auburn transfer Akasha Anderson (2.98 K/S) and former Oklahoma slugger Taylor Preston (2.61 K/S). Providing suffering is also a factor in the fighting. After three setters received significant playing time in 2023, MSU will rely on a 6-2 system in 2024. Seniors Julia Bishop (5.37 A/S) and Rachel Muisenga (5.23 A/S) make up the duo, but combine for 11.17 assists per set, the fourth fewest in the Big Ten.

The Spartans have played tough against the Huskers in recent years, including two four-set contests last season. NU’s problems this season have all come on the road, and trips to Michigan State have proven difficult in the past. Expect Nebraska to come out victorious, but a lost set wouldn’t be a surprise.

How to get involved

Matchup: No. 2 Nebraska (16-1, 6-0 B1G) vs. Ohio State (8-8, 1-5 B1G)

Where: Covelli Center, Columbus, Ohio

Time: 2:30 p.m. CDT

Regard: NBC

Hear: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates

Ohio State scout

Head Coach: Jen Flynn Oldenburg | 5th season | 83-46 (.643) at OSU & Career Record | 2020 Big Ten Coach OTY | Starting setter for the United States national team who won a silver medal at the 2002 World Cup.

Record 2023: 11-18 (8-12 B1G, 10th) | A first-team All-Big Ten member, a second-team All-Big Ten selection | Did not qualify for the postseason.

All-time series: Nebraska leads 19-10 (last game 2023, Nebraska won 3-0)

Fun fact about the series: Ohio State is one of only seven schools to record double-digit program wins against the Huskers. This list includes the Buckeyes, Minnesota, Missouri State, Penn State, Stanford, Texas and Wisconsin. The Huskers are 3-3 against OSU since 2021. NU had previously won six straight times.

Important returnees: Emily Londot, OPP, Gr. | Rylee Rader, MB, Gr. | Mia Turman, S, Soph. | Eloise Brandewie, MB, Soph. | Grace Egan, OH, R-Fr.

Important additions: Olivia Hasbrook, L, Fr. (Recruitment) | Ella Wrobel, OH, Jr. (Wisconsin).

Most important departures: Chelsea Thorpe, OH (North Carolina).

Outlook: Two years after a mass exodus that included several All-Americans and All-Big Ten players, Ohio State’s volleyball program has yet to reach the heights achieved by players like B1G setter of the year Mac Podraza, Kylie Murr, Gabby Gonzales , Adria Powell and others Jenaisya Moore did it. That included back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances, followed by an advance to the program’s fourth Elite Eight in 2022.

With players granted additional eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all five wanted to return for a fifth season, but with head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg already promising scholarships to four incoming freshmen, it was time to say goodbye to a historic one Upper class.

What followed was an 11-18 record and a 10th-place finish in the Big Ten for OSU’s worst season since 15-17 in 2019 — a season before Oldenburg’s arrival. The Buckeyes are slowly becoming a consistent conference contender again, but there have been some setbacks. Ohio State enters conference play with a record of 7-3 and is 1-5 in the Big Ten with losses to No. 11 Oregon, No. 20 USC, UCLA, Indiana and Michigan, while its lone victory is a win over Northwestern is.

Fifth-grader Emily Londot is her usual self after leading the B1G with 5.06 kills per set in 2023. She is averaging 4.65 kills per set with 63 blocks (1.02 B/S) and 158 digs (2.55 D/S) leading the conference. . Returning All-Big Ten middle blocker Rylee Rader wreaks havoc at the net with a team-high 70 blocks and 1.87 kills per set for a .346 hitting percentage.

As part of the 2022 recruiting class, sophomore Grace Egan has emerged as a second option behind Londot with 2.52 kills per set and 14 aces. Mia Turman, who is filling in for Podraza as a freshman, is on track to match her 2023 numbers with 9.58 assists per set. True freshman Olivia Hasbrook earned the starting libero spot for OSU and ranks sixth in the Big Ten in digs per set (3.97) in her debut season.

It’s a brutal weekend for the Buckeyes, who face No. 3 Penn State late Friday night before taking on the No. 2 Huskers in a matinee on Saturday. As NU-OSU receives the honor of hosting NBC’s first-ever college volleyball broadcast, both teams will be eager to head to the national stage. Nebraska is more comfortable in this environment, so expect the Huskers to get a win over the Buckeyes, but don’t rule out OSU escaping with a set or two.

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