Michigan
10-2,0-1Big Ten
Nebraska
11-0,1-0Big Ten
Michigan Falls to No. 1-Ranked Nebraska in Conference Opener
9/24/2025 9:22:00 PM | Volleyball
» The Wolverines dropped their conference opener in straight sets at No. 1 Nebraska.
» Allison Jacobs led the Wolverines with eight kills and added five digs and three blocks.
» Ellie White tied for the team lead in digs for the first time in her career with six.
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team lost in three sets to No. 1-ranked Nebraska (25-22, 25-10, 25-13) on Wednesday night (Sept. 24) at John Cook Arena at the Bob Devany Sports Center to begin Big Ten play.
Michigan (10-2, 0-1 Big Ten) was led offensively by Allison Jacobs, who tallied eight kills, and Cymarah Gordon, who recorded four kills on seven swings with no errors. Ellie White and Maddi Cuchran tied for the team lead in digs with six, and White added nine assists. U-M totaled 7.5 blocks as a team, outblocking the Cornhuskers with four from Serena Nyambio.
Ella Demetrician opened the match with a kill and a block by Nyambio and Jacobs to put U-M ahead 2-0. Nebraska (11-0, 1-0 Big Ten) got on the board with a kill and tied the match at three. Jacobs tallied a kill to keep U-M in front, but the Cornhuskers took the next two points to take their first lead of the set. Michigan stayed in the match with kills from Nyambio and Jacobs to stay just two behind. Nebraska went on a 5-0 run to take a 16-9 lead, but Michigan chipped away. Kills from Jacobs and Nyambio plus a Husker attack error helped Michigan to a 3-0 run and cut the score to 19-15. Nebraska took a 21-16 lead, but the Wolverines took four of the next five points to force a Huskers timeout. On the run, Jacobs tallied a kill and two blocks while Hanes added a block assist and a kill. Out of the timeout, Jacobs tallied a kill to cut the Nebraska lead to one, but the Cornhuskers took the next two points to reach set point. A kill from Gordon stopped one chance, but the Huskers won the first set on the next point, 25-22.
Nebraska opened the match on a 5-0 run and worked its lead to 12-2. Jacobs ended the run with a kill, and White tallied back-to-back aces to string together a 3-0 run. Nebraska took the next point, but U-M followed with four of the next five with kills from Hanes, Jacobs and Gordon. The Huskers then went on a 6-0 run to take a 20-9 lead. A block by Nyambio and Gordon ended the run, but Nebraska took the final five points of the set to win 25-10.
The third set started out back and forth. Nebraska took the first two points, but a kill from Morgan Burke and a triple block evened the match. The Huskers took the next two points, but U-M tied the match at five after a service error and solo block from Jenna Hanes. Michigan tied the match again at eight with a kill from Demetrician. Nebraska then went on an 11-1 run, taking a 20-9 lead with a kill from Gordon splitting the run into two. A service error ended the Nebraska run and U-M tallied kills from Jacobs and Demetrician and a block from Nyambio late in the set, but Nebraska won the set 25-13 and the match 3-0.
The Wolverines return to the road, making a short trip to East Lansing to battle in-state foe Michigan State at 8 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 27) at the Breslin Center. The match will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
