Nebraska volleyball vs. Badgers in top-10 showdown, Huskers preview at Northwestern

Nebraska volleyball, ranked No. 2 nationally and possibly close to taking over the No. 1 spot, will face No. 7 Wisconsin in a top-10 showdown Friday night in Madison.

After the big matchup with the Badgers (15-4 overall, 9-1 Big Ten), the Huskers (20-1, 10-0) remain on the road for a conference game on Sunday afternoon at Northwestern (4-14, 2-8).

Below are the stats you should know, players to keep an eye on and more information about the Huskers' upcoming road games against the Badgers and Wildcats.

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#2 NEBRASKA (20-1 overall, 10-0 Big Ten) at #7 WISCONSIN (15-4, 9-1)

Time: 8:00 p.m. CT on Friday

TV channels: Big Ten Network

Commentators: Jacob Schrantz (piece by piece) and Camden Cohn (color)

Streaming: Fox Sports app

Radio: Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations

Listen online: Huskers.com (LINK)

App audio: Official Huskers app

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#2 NEBRASKA (20-1 overall, 10-0 Big Ten) at NORTHWESTERN (4-14, 2-8)

Time: 12:00 p.m. CT

TV channels: NONE

Commentators: N/A

Streaming: B1G+

Radio: Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations

Listen online: Huskers.com (LINK)

App audio: Official Huskers app

NEBRASKA-WISCONSIN:

>> Nebraska is 20-14-1 all-time against Wisconsin. The teams split last year's games, with each team winning at its home level.

>> Nebraska is 4-8-1 in games played in Madison and has lost eight straight to the Badgers at UW Field House. The Huskers' last win at Wisconsin was November 8, 2013.

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NEBRASKA-NORTHWESTERN:

>> Nebraska is 20-1 against Northwestern and has won 16 straight. Northwestern's last win against the Huskers was November 26, 2011.

All stats and information courtesy of Nebraska Athletics Communications

>> Nebraska has won 17 straight games since losing at SMU on Sept. 3. Thirteen of the 17 wins were sweeps.

>> The Huskers rank ninth nationally and second in the Big Ten with a team batting average of .297.

>> Nebraska ranks eighth nationally in kills per set (14.34).

>> Outside hitter Harper Murray leads the Huskers with 3.36 kills per set and 21 service aces and is hitting .255. Murray also adds 2.14 digs per set.

>> Opposite batsman Merritt Reason is averaging 3.14 kills per set for the Big Red and is hitting .253 with 1.27 digs per set and 20 aces.

>> Lindsay Krause And Taylor Country fair have played splits at NU's other outside hitter position and averaged 2.32 and 2.22 kills per set, respectively.

>> Middle blocker And I Jackson is averaging 2.73 kills and a .472 batting average, leading the nation.

>> Middle blocker Rebecca Allick Adds 1.75 kills per set on .361 hits with 1.24 blocks per set.

>> Setters Bergen Reilly is averaging 11.25 assists per set, which ranks fourth nationally and leads the Big Ten. She also adds 3.00 digs per set and has 14 aces. Reilly has 13 double-doubles and was named Big Ten Setter of the Week three times this season.

>> Three-time All-American Lexi Rodriguez leads the Husker back line with 3.70 digs per set.

>> Wisconsin has won nine straight games since the Big Ten opened, including a 3-2 loss at Minnesota.

>> The Badgers rank sixth nationally in hitting percentage (.300) and fourth in blocks per set (3.08).

>> Sarah Franklin leads Wisconsin with 4.41 kills per set. Anna Smrek adds 2.83 kills per set.

>> Northwestern is led by Buse Hazan with 3.00 kills per set.

>> The Wildcats are batting .182 and allowing their opponents to hit .250.

>> Tim Nollan is in his first year as head coach after eight years as head coach at Grand Canyon.

SERVE AND PASS

>> Nebraska has allowed just 38 service aces this season, leading the nation. The next closest team is Pittsburgh at 46.

>> Nebraska's opponents have served 17 aces and committed 141 service errors in the last 14 games.

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BALANCED ATTACK

>> Nebraska has seven different players averaging between 1.75 and 3.36 kills per set.

>> Six different players have led the Huskers in kills in a game this season.

>> Reilly ranks fourth nationally averaging 11.25 assists per set.

>> Nebraska's offense has been one of the best in the country this season. The Huskers rank ninth in hitting percentage (.297) and eighth in kills per set (14.34).

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HOME SWEET HOME

>> Nebraska has won 38 straight home games since December 1, 2022, which is the longest active streak in the country.

>> The Huskers' home winning streak is their longest since moving to the Devaney Center in 2013.

>> Nebraska's longest home winning streak ever was 88 games from 2004 to 2009. Since then, NU has also had a home winning streak of 38 straight games from 2009 to 2011.