Penn State vs. Nebraska volleyball: Score, live updates, how to watch NCAA semifinal

 Harper Murray’s back-to-back aces help Nebraska climb back to a 14-14 tie in Set 4 with PSU.

BACK-TO-BACK ACES FOR THE ALL-AMERICAN @harpermurray4, WE’RE TIED

TIMEOUT PSU 🗣️

S4 | Huskers 15, Lions 15 pic.twitter.com/lrFkuQOy5v

— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) December 20, 2024

Penn State carries its momentum into Set 4, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and maintaining control at 14-11. The Nittany Lions capitalized on key blocks and sharp kills, forcing Nebraska to call a timeout.

S4 | #PSUVB 14, Nebraska 11

Hopp SOLO BLOCK! 🚫

Huskers timeout#WeAre pic.twitter.com/NDnkujfCaj

— Penn State Women’s Volleyball (@PennStateVBALL) December 20, 2024

Penn State keeps the match alive, winning Set 3, 25-23. The Nittany Lions used a 5-0 run to grab a 13-10 lead and held off Nebraska’s late push. Andi Jackson’s efficient night continued with her 15th kill on just 17 swings, but Penn State’s clutch play down the stretch forced a fourth set.

Lexi Rodriguez passed Justine Wong-Orantes to become Nebraska’s all-time digs leader with 1,891 digs.

TOP OF THE BIG RED MOUNTAIN 📈

YOUR NEW ALL-TIME DIG LEADER FOR THE HUSKERS: @Alexis14Rod 👸 pic.twitter.com/EXQuVXyLLa

— Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) December 20, 2024

Set 3 is heating up! Nebraska jumped ahead 7-6 after a big Taylor Landfair kill, but Penn State rallied to take an 11-10 lead. A key review and back-to-back kills from Rebekah Allick kept the Huskers in the mix.

Tonight’s attendance at the KFC Yum! Center hits 21,726 — the largest crowd ever for an NCAA volleyball semifinal. Historic energy in Louisville!

2️⃣1️⃣7️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ a National Semifinals attendance record! 🥳#NCAAWVB pic.twitter.com/mhgSI7aLFE

— NCAA Women’s Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 20, 2024

Nebraska takes Set 2, 25-18, behind seven blocks in the frame. The Huskers broke away with a 4-1 run and later pushed their lead to 15-8. Andi Jackson was unstoppable, racking up 11 kills on 13 swings (.846) through two sets.

Have no fear @aandijackson is here 💪

📺 ESPN#NCAAWVB x @HuskerVB pic.twitter.com/sHVeSuuVCt

— NCAA Women’s Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 20, 2024

Nebraska takes Set 1, 25-23, with Andi Jackson’s two late kills securing the win. Penn State led late, but Nebraska rallied to close it out. Jackson posted 6 kills, hitting .750 for the set.

It’s a back-and-forth battle in the first set as Penn State holds a slim 22-21 lead over Nebraska. The Huskers started strong, building a 12-7 advantage behind a block from Andi Jackson and Harper Murray. Penn State responded with a 4-0 run to close the gap, and since then, it’s been a tight race to 25.

S1 | #PSUVB 22, Nebraska 21@CJurevicius is doing it again… 5 kills, .429 hitting!#WeAre

— Penn State Women’s Volleyball (@PennStateVBALL) December 20, 2024

🦁 Penn State 

Penn State and Nebraska are set to face off in the semifinals after overcoming tough opponents. The Nittany Lions secured their spot with a thrilling five-set victory over Creighton, clinching the final set 15-7. Meanwhile, Nebraska powered past Wisconsin in a decisive sweep to punch their ticket to this stage.

These Big Ten rivals share a storied history and have nine national runner-up finishes between them.

🦁 Penn State

Semifinal Comeback: The Nittany Lions return to the semifinals for the first time in seven years, having last reached this stage in 2017, where they fell to Nebraska.
Milestone for Schumacher-Cawley: Third-year head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley secured her first NCAA regional final win with the victory over Creighton.
Semifinal Legacy: This marks Penn State’s 14th semifinal appearance in program history.
Championship History: Penn State holds seven NCAA titles, all won under legendary coach Russ Rose. Now, Schumacher-Cawley has the chance to become the first woman to win an NCAA Division I volleyball championship as a head coach.

🌽 Nebraska

Semifinal Regulars: The Cornhuskers make their seventh semifinal appearance in the past 10 seasons and their 18th overall, a testament to their sustained dominance.
Cook’s Dynasty: Head coach John Cook, in his 25th season, has led Nebraska to 12 semifinal appearances and four NCAA titles, making him the only coach in this year’s semifinals with championship experience.
Redemption Arc: Nebraska reached last year’s national championship but fell short. They’ll be hungry to avenge their loss and add to their five NCAA titles.
Past Glory: Nebraska last won the national title in 2017, the same year they defeated Penn State in the semifinals.

Earlier this season (Nov. 29), then-No. 4 Penn State upset then-No. 2 Nebraska, snapping the Cornhuskers’ impressive 25-match win streak with a 3-1 victory (21-25, 25-14, 22-25, 23-25).

Here are the teams’ stats against each other this season:

Penn State had 20 blocks, holding Nebraska to .154 hitting. The Nittany Lions also had 11 more kills, 57-46.

PENN STATE

cATEGORY
Leaders

Kills
Caroline Jurevicius (18), Camryn Hannah (12), Jess Mruzik (10)

Aces
Ava Falduto (1), Gillian Grimes (1), Jess Mruzik (1)

Blocks
Izzy Starck (6), Maggie Mendelson (6), Taylor Trammell (4)

Assists
Izzy Starck (46), Jess Mruzik (5), Gillian Grimes (4)

Digs
Gillian Grimes (12), Izzy Starck (11), Ava Falduto (10), Jess Mruzik (10)

Nebraska had 16 blocks, holding Penn State to .152 hitting.

NEBRASKA

cATEGORY
Leaders

Kills
Harper Murray (13), Andi Jackson (10), Rebekah Allick (8)

Aces
Harper Murray (1)

Blocks
Andi Jackson (8), Rebekah Allick (7), Merritt Beason (5)

Assists
Bergen Reilly (38), Lexi Rodriguez (3), Harper Murray (1), Andi Jackson (1), Rebekah Allick (1)

Digs
Lexi Rodriguez (16), Harper Murray (13), Laney Choboy (9)