Nebraska women's volleyball eyes historic attendance record

The GIST: As demonstrated by today’s previously mentioned Nebraskan holiday, this week’s all about bumps, sets, and aces. Here’s who killed it last night, who to watch this week, and everything you need to know about today’s Cornhusker festivities.

Last night’s action: It started with brooms, when unranked Louisiana, led by junior outside hitter Shyia Richardson’s 12 kills, swept No. 18 Rice on their home court. Then No. 8 Florida proved their three-spot poll jump by joining the road-trip cleaning crew and wiping the floor with No. 2 Stanford in three tough sets.

• Meanwhile, No. 7 Texas took yesterday’s six-spot drop personally. With now-healthy senior middle blocker Asjia O’Neal back throwing her block party, the Longhorns hooked a huge 3–1 statement dub over hosts No. 5 Minnesota.

The newest holiday: Volleyball is a BFD in Husker Nation — the team boasts a 303-match sellout streak, the longest of any women’s college sport, and eight of the nine biggest NCAA women’s volleyball crowds involved Nebraska.

• The one they don’t own? The list’s top spot, which arch-nemesis Wisconsin snagged with a 16,833 attendance last September. The loss stung Husker fans, who hatched a plan to reclaim that record in a big way.

• Enter: Volleyball Day. Today’s party is so epic that the school chancellor canceled classes to allow all to attend the four-team fest. Nebraska-Kearney first faces Wayne State at 4:30 p.m. ET before Omaha contends with the No. 4 Cornhuskers at 8 p.m. ET on BTN.

What else to watch: Thanks to Texas’ season-opening stumble, the new queens, No. 1 Wisconsin, will try to rule the midweek court twice against No. 21 Arkansas, at 8 p.m. ET both today and tomorrow.

• The other can’t-miss ranked matchup? Tomorrow’s 8:30 p.m. ET battle between No. 25 Purdue, who plummeted nine spots (!!!) after a distressing weekend, and 2023 poll debutantes No. 23 Kansas. Serve’s up!