knapplc
International Man of Mystery
The final four matches of Big Ten conference play are all that remain, and Nebraska is in hot pursuit of another Big Ten title. Nebraska currently sits alone at #2 in the conference with a 14-2 record, one game behind 15-1 Penn State.
Both teams' next three matches feature familiar opponents. Nebraska faces #25 Purdue at West Lafayette, then they travel to Bloomington to take on Indiana and to Iowa City to face Iowa.
Purdue sits at #9 in the Big Ten, ranked #25 overall, and represents the toughest test remaining on the Huskers' schedule before the final showdown against the Nittany Lions. The Boilermakers stunned Nebraska in Lincoln in mid-October, defeating the Huskers 3-1. The road trips to Indiana and Iowa represent mere formalities for Nebraska. The teams are mired at the bottom of the Big Ten, with a combined two conference wins.
Penn State faces familiar foes as well. They have already defeated their next three opponents once this season, sweeping both Northwestern and Ohio State, and winning a wild match in Champaign against Illinois in five sets. Neither Northwestern nor Ohio State should pose any problem for the Nittany Lions, and it is unlikely that Illinois will be able to take down Penn State in Rec Hall.
Nebraska's road to this point has been rugged. Thirteen of their last eighteen opponents, dating back to mid-September against Iowa State, are currently ranked in the Coaches Poll. In those 18 matches Nebraska went 15-3, with a five-set loss to #1 Texas in Austin, a four-set loss to Michigan State in East Lansing, and the aforementioned loss to #25 Purdue.
The Huskers look to keep their title hopes alive and avenge the Purdue loss this Friday. The Boilermakers have struggled of late, losing four straight matches to Penn State, Ohio State, Northwestern and Illinois, all on the road. They have won only two sets and have hit no better than .225 in any of the four losses - a stark contrast to their .309 kill percentage against Nebraska in Lincoln.
Nebraska has not lost since the Purdue match, defeating five ranked opponents in their eight-match winning streak.
If both Penn State and Nebraska win out, as both should, the November 30th match at the Devaney Center in Lincoln should decide the Big Ten championship.
Both teams' next three matches feature familiar opponents. Nebraska faces #25 Purdue at West Lafayette, then they travel to Bloomington to take on Indiana and to Iowa City to face Iowa.
Purdue sits at #9 in the Big Ten, ranked #25 overall, and represents the toughest test remaining on the Huskers' schedule before the final showdown against the Nittany Lions. The Boilermakers stunned Nebraska in Lincoln in mid-October, defeating the Huskers 3-1. The road trips to Indiana and Iowa represent mere formalities for Nebraska. The teams are mired at the bottom of the Big Ten, with a combined two conference wins.
Penn State faces familiar foes as well. They have already defeated their next three opponents once this season, sweeping both Northwestern and Ohio State, and winning a wild match in Champaign against Illinois in five sets. Neither Northwestern nor Ohio State should pose any problem for the Nittany Lions, and it is unlikely that Illinois will be able to take down Penn State in Rec Hall.
Nebraska's road to this point has been rugged. Thirteen of their last eighteen opponents, dating back to mid-September against Iowa State, are currently ranked in the Coaches Poll. In those 18 matches Nebraska went 15-3, with a five-set loss to #1 Texas in Austin, a four-set loss to Michigan State in East Lansing, and the aforementioned loss to #25 Purdue.
The Huskers look to keep their title hopes alive and avenge the Purdue loss this Friday. The Boilermakers have struggled of late, losing four straight matches to Penn State, Ohio State, Northwestern and Illinois, all on the road. They have won only two sets and have hit no better than .225 in any of the four losses - a stark contrast to their .309 kill percentage against Nebraska in Lincoln.
Nebraska has not lost since the Purdue match, defeating five ranked opponents in their eight-match winning streak.
If both Penn State and Nebraska win out, as both should, the November 30th match at the Devaney Center in Lincoln should decide the Big Ten championship.
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