The No. 4 Nebraska volleyball team defeated No. 21 Kentucky on Sunday night three sets to one (25-14, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21). The Cornhuskers finished non-conference undefeated for the first time since 2016 and only the second time since 2008.
The Huskers hit .338, while the Wildcats only hit .243. Nebraska also held the edge in kills (62-53), blocks (9-7) and digs (61-48).
In the fourth set, the Huskers and Wildcats were involved in a 72-second rally that featured 19 different attacks. Husker Illustrated’s Lincoln Arneal reports head coach John Cook said that the crowd played a factor in the long rally.
“Both teams were fighting super hard on that point. They have several chances to win it. We had several chances to win it, and people were just making freak plays. It’s just trying to impose your will and it also got our crowd fired up. Our crowd was great for Sunday night.”
Freshman Harper Murray said the team was exhausted at the end of the rally.
“We were dead. We were out of breath. When I went up for that last one, I was just telling myself to use my legs and give it my all.”
Nebraska now prepares for the start of Big Ten play on Friday night when they host Ohio State. Scroll below to see social media reactions to the now-famous rally.
The clip is 1:31 long. What a rally. https://t.co/2w0gwbLixy
— Lincoln Arneal (@Lincoln_VB) September 18, 2023
A ridiculously long rally in the fourth set at Devaney. Nebraska won the point and the challenge from Kentucky coach Craig Skinner, who argued that Lexi Rodriguez did not pancake a ball off the court mid-rally.
Here’s the crowd reaction.
Cats lead 13-11 in the fourth. pic.twitter.com/0HEmeV2Ecn
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) September 18, 2023
Its been dubbed the "rally of all rallies" enjoy the full 1:43 seconds of this incredible play!
What a moment to witness in person!
The Bob was LOUD tonight!!!
Big win for Nebraska over Kentucky! Conference play begins Friday. #GBR #B1GVB @HuskerVB pic.twitter.com/kEIVw18IdI
— Philip M Catalfamo ⚾️ (@PhilipCatalfamo) September 18, 2023
What. A. Rally. Nebraska "wins" one of the longest rallies I've seen all year, but Skinner is challenging that a ball was down earlier in the play. We'll see if this one gets overturned.
— Hunter Mitchell (@HMitchell14) September 18, 2023
S4 | That might have been the longest rally ever. Jeeeeeeeeeze.
That's potentially a momentum-changing point.
Nebraska wins the point, trails 12-10….. but there's a challenge.
— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) September 18, 2023
Nebraska is making all the hustle plays tonight as it leads 13-10 in the second set over Kentucky after 4straight points.
– UK was in the net trying to put away an overpass.
– Allick slams a kill after Beason was blocked.
– Reilly and Beason with digs to keep the rally alive.— Lincoln Arneal (@Lincoln_VB) September 18, 2023
Y'all…Nebraska and Kentucky just had an all-time rally. Holy crap that was fun to watch.
And Kentucky has the chutzpah to challenge something.
— Matt Serwe (@SerweWX) September 18, 2023
HUSKERS WIN IN FOUR‼️ pic.twitter.com/eGm2GZEWp0
— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) September 18, 2023
Watching volleyball tonight for an upcoming story. No. 4 Nebraska dominated the opening set against No. 21 Kentucky.
With a win, Nebraska might move up in the poll tomorrow. No. 2 Louisville lost in five at home today to No. 5 Stanford. And the Huskers won at Stanford last week. pic.twitter.com/6uhIooY6nB
— Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) September 18, 2023
This was the wildest 90 seconds of my life. https://t.co/fhalXPAori
— Abby Barmore (@Abby_Barmore) September 18, 2023
Cook said he can't remember many rallies like the one in the fourth set. He said both teams fought hard and had several chances to win it. It helped fire the crowd up that sparked NU's comeback.
"That might be a record." https://t.co/2w0gwbLixy
— Lincoln Arneal (@Lincoln_VB) September 18, 2023
Truly the most insane play I've ever witnessed https://t.co/7cO2Bk5ZZV
— Emily Ehman (@emilyehman) September 18, 2023
The sound from the Devaney Center crowd as soon as Nebraska wins the point…chills. #Huskers https://t.co/huI1DEOrGE
— Matt Foster KETV (@MattFosterTV) September 18, 2023
WHAT A RALLY‼️ ????
(via @HuskerVB)pic.twitter.com/CnSkEPFWIk
— espnW (@espnW) September 18, 2023
1:11 #GBR pic.twitter.com/ukaR5FLfc5
— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) September 18, 2023
To no surprise, Lexi was a star throughout that rally. ⭐️ https://t.co/RKgyHQ9Y3Z
— Nebraska On BTN (@NebraskaOnBTN) September 18, 2023
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