The Nebraska volleyball team had little time to reflect on the past. The Huskers only had two days.

NU returned to the Bob Devaney Sports Center and defeated The Citadel 25-14, 25-16, 25-16 to open the Husker Invitational on Thursday. It was a much-needed turnaround after they were swept by unranked SMU in Dallas on Tuesday.

“I think tonight was our best performance of the season so far,” Nebraska setter Bergen Reilly said after the game. “I’m proud of us and how we managed to pull it off.”

The difference between the loss at SMU and the win against The Citadel was the style of play. Reilly called it “Nebraska volleyball.”

“Everyone did their job and then moved on to their next task,” Reilly said. “I think the last couple of games we’ve pushed our limits and tried to take other people’s tasks away from them, and I think when we all just focus on one thing and then move on to our next task, we’re a really good team.”

Against the Mustangs, there was a lack of communication and an individual-first mentality. The team on the field didn’t play together and the results were ugly.

On Thursday it was the complete opposite. It was a pure team effort.

Harper Murray had nine kills and ten digs, while Merritt Beason and Leyla Blackwell each added seven kills and four blocks. Blackwell’s batting average in the game was .600. Andi Jackson also had seven kills and a batting average of .545.

Taylor Landfair finished with six kills on nine shots (.667) and Lindsay Krause had four kills.

Reilly dished out 36 assists and had seven digs and three aces. Lexi Rodriguez led the team with 15 digs.

“We strive to play Nebraska volleyball every day and that’s what we do so we can just be present in those situations and games,” Blackwell said. “I think that us playing Nebraska volleyball tonight and feeling all that was just because we felt really grounded and really connected on the court and just got back to what we’re good at.”

Nebraska continues the Husker Invitational with a game against Montana State on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The game will be televised on Nebraska Public Media and streamed on B1G+. Huskers Radio Network will also broadcast all the action.

MORE: Nebraska Volleyball rebounds and conquers the Citadel