Nebraska
No. 2 Nebraska Swept by SMU, Loses First Match to Unranked Opponent Since 2017
The No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team became the third juggernaut in the college volleyball world to be upset within the first two weeks of the season. Plagued by sloppy passing, passive serving and an inability to establish a consistent offense, the Huskers were swept by a motivated SMU squad 25-23, 25-21, 25-18 Tuesday night in front of 6,773 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas.
What made the result so bizarre was the blazing start by the Huskers. Nebraska recorded seven kills in their first 13 swings, but three service errors kept the opening set close. Sophomore Andi Jackson cracked down five kills and her first career ace to go up 21-16. An insurmountable lead vanished before Nebraska’s eyes with a 6-0 run by SMU to take a 22-21 advantage. The backbreaker came with the score tied at 23 where consecutive kills from SMU’s Nnedi Okammor and Natalie Foster secured the 25-23 comeback set win to set the tone for the night.
“We got punched in the mouth and we let them keep punching us,” Nebraska coach John Cook said. “I’m pretty disappointed in how we responded tonight, but to be honest I saw this. This was all starting Saturday night. We talked about frustration and we didn’t fix it. We had a great practice last night, but we did not compete tonight. It was pretty disappointing.”
It’s the first loss to an unranked opponent since 2017 for Nebraska who hasn’t had the best start to its 2024 campaign. After a four-set win over No. 9 Kentucky in its season-opener, cracks within the Huskers started to show, especially offensively. A four-set win over TCU exposed some holes in the offense while Tuesday showed how far the Huskers need to go in its serving game, which rarely put the Mustangs out of system.
Nebraska was limited to a .171 hitting percentage with 18 errors compared to 36 kills. SMU hit a superior .242. The Mustangs out dug the Huskers 43-36 while SMU had its way from the service line with seven aces versus Nebraska’s one. The Mustangs also had the upper hand with 10 blocks while the Huskers mustered nine.
No player reached double-digit kills as Merritt Beason led NU with nine kills while Naya Shime and Maya Tabron also each had nine tallies. Jackson recorded eight kills on a .667 hitting percentage with six blocks. Foster also totaled eight kills on a .462 clip.
Bergen Reilly tallied a double-double for the Huskers with 31 assists and 11 digs. Lexi Rodriguez tied her teammate with 11, but SMU outside hitter Jamison Wheeler had a match-high 13 digs.
“They’re going to have to step up,” Cook said. “Part of it is we think we’re Nebraska and we’re going to roll out here and smoke teams. This team (SMU) played very inspired tonight. They played great. They won all the long rallies, let’s put it that way. That’s attitude and effort right there.”
Nebraska has to regroup quickly as they prepare to host the Huskers Invitational. NU will take on The Citadel on Thursday at 6 p.m. CDT on BTN+ before facing Montana State on Saturday at 2 p.m. CDT on Nebraska Public Media.
Box score
MORE: Nebraska-Colorado: It’s Big Game Week
MORE: Carriker Chronicles: Should ‘Nebraska Nice’ Be Suspended for the Colorado Game?
MORE: Nebraska Must Get Creative and ‘Find Ways’ to Limit Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders
MORE: Pat McAfee: Nebraska Football’s Dylan Raiola ‘Made for the Moment’
MORE: Colorado Buffaloes’ Deion Sanders: ‘A Ton of Respect’ for Matt Rhule, Nebraska Football
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, following HuskerMax on X, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – The Nebraska Extension hosted a workshop Wednesday morning for ag producers, focusing on how to use drought monitoring and forecasting tools, assess drought impacts and risks, explore management strategies, and identify available resources.
Organizers say the goal is to help producers make more informed, timely decisions as changing weather patterns continue to affect soil moisture, crop conditions, and long-term planning.
The session also highlighted practical tools farmers can use to track drought development and adjust operations before conditions worsen.
“The really warm temperatures and strong wind just sucked the moisture out of the soil, out of the vegetation and this has been going on since at least October and were not going to come out of it over the night, it’s going to take a while to rebuild those moisture supplies even if we get average moisture it will be enough for vegetation but it won’t helped us recover what we’ve already lost,” said Deborah Bathke, Nebraska state climatologist.
Officials add that continued education and early planning are key to helping producers stay resilient through increasingly variable growing seasons.
Click here to subscribe to our KNOP News 2 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KNOP. All rights reserved.
Adam Carriker is joined by HuskerOnline publisher Sean Callahan to break down the upcoming season for Matt Rhule and Nebraska football. Callahan gives unique insight on what Nebraska’s offense may look like, realistic expectation for quarterback Anthony Colandrea, if the offensive line is legit better, the new 4-2-5 defense, the undersized defensive line and if the Huskers will win more than seven games. Also, will Nebraska basketball make a Sweet 16 run again?
Hit the play button for that and more in this episode of the Carriker Chronicles. For a synopsis, scroll down.
Synopsis
In the latest installment of the Carriker Chronicles, Adam Carriker and Sean Callahan discuss the upcoming season for Nebraska football and why this year is so important. They explain that Year 4 under Matt Rhule is a big turning point because by now, the program should reflect his system, culture, and recruiting. If things are going to work long-term, this is the season where fans should really start to see it.
One of the first things they talk about is the overall vibe of the offseason. Callahan mentions that Nebraska has “closed the lab,” meaning the team is done experimenting and now fully focused on playing football. The expectation is that players understand the system better and can execute at a higher level without the outside distractions.
They also discuss the offense and what it might look like under Dana Holgorsen. While there may be some similarities to past systems, there will also be differences based on the players Nebraska has. Part of the conversation is quarterback Anthony Colandrea, and they set realistic expectations for him. He doesn’t have to be perfect, but he does need to be consistent, make plays with his feet and take care of the football.
The offensive line is another key topic. Callahan believes the group has improved this offseason, especially with players like Elijah Pritchett, who seems to be on the uptick. If the offensive line can protect the quarterback and create running lanes, it could make a huge difference for the entire offense. They also mention the running back room, which has potential but still needs to prove itself during the season.
On defense, Nebraska is expected to run more of a 4-2-5 scheme this year. This means more speed on the field, but it also raises questions about size, especially on the defensive line. One of the biggest concerns is whether the defensive front can hold up against physical teams. However, they point out that the secondary might be the strongest position group, which could help balance things out.
Special teams are briefly discussed, with the expectation that they will be solid but not necessarily a major strength or weakness. Recruiting is another area where Nebraska seems to be trending in the right direction, which is important for building long-term success.
They also touch on men’s basketball and whether the team can make another Sweet 16 run. While it’s possible, it will depend heavily on player development and who will replace those that have left.
To wrap it up, they debate whether Nebraska football will win more than seven games this season. It’s seen as a realistic but challenging goal. This is a critical year for Matt Rhule and the program, and fans should have a much clearer idea of the team’s future by the end of the season.
Program order
- 00:00: Intro
- 01:09: Sean Callahan Joins the Show
- 01:54: Year 4 Under Matt Rhule
- 04:04: Offseason Vibe: Closing the Lab, Focusing on Football
- 05:30: Dana Holgorsen: Similarities & Differences to Expect
- 07:30: Offensive Line: Offseason Improvements
- 09:45: Elijah Pritchett Spotlight
- 12:54: Running Back Room: What to Expect
- 15:20: Defensive Scheme: What to Expect This Year
- 18:53: Biggest Defensive Question Marks
- 22:10: Strongest Defensive Position Group
- 23:00: Special Teams Outlook
- 25:08: Recruiting Class Breakdown
- 27:45: Nebraska Basketball Preview
- 29:50: Over/Under: 7 Wins Next Season
- 31:18: Fan Questions
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska baseball team lost to Kansas 9-7 on Tuesday in front of a record crowd at Hoglund Park. The Huskers took an early lead on an RBI single by National Freshman of the Week Drew Grego. After giving up three unanswered runs, Nebraska rallied to go back in front on a 3rd-inning single by Will Jesske. Both Grego and Jesske finished with two hits in the game.
Kansas, however, took control in the middle innings. The Jayhawks got home runs from Tyson Owens and Josh Dykoff in the sixth frame. Both round-trippers came off NU relief pitcher Ty Horn. Kansas added insurance in the 7th inning before a late rally by the Huskers.
Nebraska trimmed a five-run deficit to two, but couldn’t complete the comeback on the road.
The Huskers’ loss is their second to the Jayhawks this season. Nebraska’s record drops to 31-10 overall.
Will Bolt’s team returns to action on Friday at Illinois. Game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Champaign.
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
-
Wisconsin15 seconds agoWhat can and can’t you recycle in Wisconsin? Here are the rules to know
-
West Virginia6 minutes agoThis Is The Friendliest Small Town in West Virginia
-
Wyoming12 minutes agoGovernor Mark Gordon Discusses Water-saving Measures By Data Centers In Southeast Wyoming
-
Crypto18 minutes agoBen McKenzie is Still Mad at Matt Damon For Those Crypto Ads
-
Finance24 minutes agoAuto Finance Capital Summit | Insights | Mayer Brown
-
Fitness30 minutes agoAt 50, Hrithik Roshan’s ex-wife Sussanne sets fitness goals with challenging Pilates exercise
-
Movie Reviews42 minutes ago‘Madhuvidhu’ movie review: A light-hearted film that squanders a promising conflict
-
World54 minutes agoGoogle puts AI agents at heart of its enterprise money-making push