The Huskers upset the Badgers in straight sets in Madison

In the fall of 2013 the world was different. The iPhone was only available in its fifth version. “How I Met Your Mother” was on television in its penultimate season. An incredibly tall but skinny rookie named Giannis Antetokounmpo has just started playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.

This was also the last time the Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the Wisconsin Badgers in volleyball in Madison, Wisconsin until Friday night.

The No. 2 Huskers (10-0 Big Ten, 20-1 overall) came to the UW Field House and defeated the No. 7 Wisconsin Badgers (9-2, 16-5) in straight sets (21-25, 22-1). ). 25:19-25) and silence the crowd.

The opening set started close, but Nebraska took a 10-8 lead after two straight blocks. The Huskers had a strong block early against the Badgers, particularly veteran outside hitter Sarah Franklin. The Huskers always used two to three blockers against the Badgers star, especially in the opening set, and the UW offense struggled to find alternative options.

With Nebraska leading 15-13, senior outside attacker Julia Orzoł scored two straight kills to tie the set. But the Huskers went on a 3-0 run to take an 18-15 lead and never let the first set slip. Trailing 24-19, UW had several set points and fended off two before outside attacker Merritt Beason secured the set for the Huskers, 25-21. Franklin took negative hits in the first set as the Husker block – not typically what they are known for – was humming.

In the second set, UW found itself down 12-7 early and called a timeout before its block began to take hold. Senior middle blocker CC Crawford provided a big defensive boost in the second set when the Badgers needed something, hitting three blocks in quick succession, including one to make the score 17-14 and force a Nebraska timeout. It looked like the Badgers were gaining momentum and capitalizing on it to tie the game at 1-1, especially with some impressive serves from junior Gülce Güçtekin.

But Nebraska didn't collapse in “The Dungeon” – accidentally coined by a former Husker player in 2021 while discussing the team's struggles in the field house. Instead, Nebraska had back-to-back points, highlighted by two big pancake digs, to tie the set again at 19-19. Nebraska scored an ace that increased the score to 22-21 before the Huskers tied the game at 24-21. Beason put the bow on the set again, scoring the kill 25-22 and silencing the crowd.

The Badgers played well enough and applied everywhere except on offense, where they scored just .086 points after two frames. Nebraska held senior Anna Smrek, senior Devyn Robinson, junior Carter Booth and Crawford to either negatives (Smrek and Crawford) or .000 (Robinson and Booth). UW had 24 offensive errors and Nebraska outscored the Badgers 10-9 in the game.

In the third set, UW trailed 7-2 but rallied to take a 10-9 lead after Franklin hit a kill that forced a Husker timeout. It was back and forth from there, but Nebraska went on a 3-0 run to take an 18-15 lead. The Badgers couldn't get back into the game and Nebraska closed the third set with a 5-0 run and was able to celebrate a rare but well-deserved victory in Madison.

Nebraska blocked Sarah Franklin in the opening set. Then, in a second set, the Huskers fought off a Wisconsin run that would have crushed other Nebraska teams and took the second set. It then continued to outplay the Badgers to secure the win, showing why they are in the conversation for the No. 1 ranking.

For Wisconsin, they are left licking their wounds after losing two games in the fight for a Big Ten title to the Huskers and Penn State, both of which are undefeated in conference play. The Badgers will play the Huskers and Penn State later in the season, but they obviously need to play a lot better than they did tonight when they were frankly stunned at home.

Next up for UW is a road game against the Illinois Fighting Illini (7-4, 15-6) on Sunday. The game will take place at 1 p.m. and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.