Hello Nebraska Volleyball fans, I have some exciting news for you: Nebraska vs Pittsburgh, which was played yesterday, 22 August 2025, and won by the Huskers With a 3–1. The match was the season opener at Lincoln, Neb. / Pinnacle Bank Arena with four sets (25–22, 25–11, 20–25, 25–23). It was a hard-fought battle between the strong State College volleyball teams.
If we talk about last year, both of these teams were among the best in their conferences. Nebraska, of course, is a legendary Big Ten program with multiple national championships, while Pittsburgh has quickly risen to elite status in the ACC. So even though this was just the first game of the season, it felt like a heavyweight showdown.
And I think by the end of this post, you’re going to understand not just who won, but how they won and why it matters
Let’s Understand the Scores Set by Set
Set One: Nebraska Sets the Tone
The first set was tight. Pittsburgh came out swinging, but Nebraska managed to stay steady. Pitt actually had almost as many swings (34 total attempts) as Nebraska (37), but here’s the difference: Pitt committed 7 errors, while Nebraska only had 9 and turned more swings into kills.
Harper Murray, Nebraska’s sophomore outside hitter, was electric early. Setter Bergen Reilly was distributing the ball nicely, finding both Murray and middle blocker Andi Jackson for big plays.
It was back-and-forth, but Nebraska edged it out 25–22. Already, you could feel the crowd (even though the official box score oddly lists attendance as zero — likely just a placeholder) getting behind the Huskers.
Set Two: Total Husker Domination
Now here’s where things really tilted. Nebraska absolutely dominated set two — winning 25–11. This wasn’t even close.
Why? Nebraska hit an incredible .429 as a team. That’s one of those stats that tells you they were almost unstoppable. They had 16 kills and only 4 errors. Compare that to Pitt, who had just 5 kills but made 7 errors, finishing with a negative hitting percentage (-0.063).
In simple words: Nebraska was scoring almost every time they touched the ball, while Pitt was giving away points.
Nebraska’s block was a huge factor here. Taylor Landfair and Andi Jackson were shutting down Pittsburgh’s hitters at the net. Pitt just couldn’t find a rhythm, and by the time it was over, Nebraska had a commanding 2–0 match lead.
Set Three: Pittsburgh Fights Back
But wait — Pittsburgh wasn’t done. In the third set, they came alive, and the credit goes to Olivia Babcock. Remember this name, because she was phenomenal. She ended the night with 21 kills, 3 aces, and 3 blocks. A lot of those kills came right here in set three.
Pittsburgh finally looked like themselves, hitting .262 in the set with 17 kills. Nebraska, meanwhile, got sloppy: only 9 kills and 6 errors for a weak .079 hitting percentage.
Pitt took advantage and controlled the set, winning 25–20. Suddenly, the match wasn’t over, and you had to wonder — could Pittsburgh force a fifth set?
Set Four: Nebraska Closes It Out
The fourth set was the closest one of the night, and it showed why both teams are considered among the nation’s best. Back and forth, neither team wanted to give in.
Babcock was still leading the way for Pitt, and Dagmar Mourits added 8 kills and 8 digs. But Nebraska’s defense proved to be the difference.
The Huskers’ block was just incredible. Landfair, Jackson, and Rebekah Allick combined for 22 blocks. Think about that — 22 times they stopped Pitt cold at the net. Add in libero Laney Choboy’s 16 digs, and Nebraska was just too tough defensively.
When it mattered most, Nebraska capitalized on Pitt errors and got a clutch kill from Harper Murray to finish 25–23. Huskers win the match 3–1.
What This Win Means for Nebraska
I think it’s safe to say Nebraska fans should feel very good about this opener. Winning against a tough ACC team like Pittsburgh proves the Huskers are ready to compete at the highest level again this season.
What impressed me most was Nebraska’s blocking game. With Landfair, Jackson, and Allick forming such a dominant trio, opponents are going to have nightmares trying to hit against them. Combine that with Murray’s scoring and Reilly’s leadership at setter, and you’ve got a team that looks Final Four-ready.
This match also showed that Nebraska can win in different ways:
They can dominate (like in set two).
They can grind through errors (like in set one).
And they can close out tight situations (like in set four).
Final Thoughts
So, to sum it up: Nebraska beat Pittsburgh 3–1 in the season opener, thanks to balanced offense, elite blocking, and clutch plays when it mattered most. Murray and Jackson led the way offensively, Reilly set the tone as a leader, and the defense held strong behind Choboy.
Pittsburgh wasn’t able to pull off the upset, but they showed flashes of brilliance, especially through Olivia Babcock.
I think we can all agree — if this is how the season starts, then we’re in for an incredible year of college volleyball. Nebraska looks scary good, and Pitt looks like a team that’s going to make noise once they iron out the mistakes.
Faqs
Who won the Nebraska vs. Pittsburgh match on August 22, 2025?
Nebraska defeated Pittsburgh 3–1 in their season opener in Lincoln, Nebraska.
What were the set scores?
Set 1: Nebraska 25, Pittsburgh 22
Set 2: Nebraska 25, Pittsburgh 11
Set 3: Pittsburgh 25, Nebraska 20
Set 4: Nebraska 25, Pittsburgh 23
What’s Nebraska’s record after this win?
Nebraska improved to 1–0 overall
How did Pittsburgh perform in this match?
Pittsburgh fell to 0–1 overall (0–0 in ACC play) but showed fight, especially in Set 3, where they pulled off a strong 25–20 win.
Who led Nebraska in kills?
Freshman star Harper Murray led Nebraska with 15 kills, followed by Andi Jackson (10) and Rebekah Allick (9).
Who stood out for Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh’s Olivia Babcock was dominant, finishing with 21 kills and 3 service aces.
What was the biggest difference between the two teams?
Nebraska’s blocking was the game-changer. The Huskers had 15 blocks, more than double Pittsburgh’s 7, which helped control the net.
How did the setters perform?
Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly dished out 40 assists, running the Husker offense efficiently.
Pittsburgh’s Brooke Mosher tallied 36 assists to keep her team competitive.
Who led the defense in digs?
Nebraska’s Laney Choboy had a match-high 16 digs, while Pittsburgh’s Emery Dupes led her side with 12 digs.
What’s next for both teams?
Nebraska continues non-conference play before starting Big Ten action.
Pittsburgh will look to bounce back in their upcoming matches as they prepare for ACC play.
