Penn State pulls off a reverse sweep of Nebraska to reach the NCAA volleyball finals

No. 1 Penn State delivered a stunning reverse sweep to upset No. 1 Nebraska in the 2024 NCAA women’s volleyball semifinals, winning 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 28-26, 15-13. It marked the first reverse in the semifinals of the tournament since 2018.

Nebraska looked to advance after taking the first two sets with strong performances from Andi Jackson, who finished with 18 kills and a solid defensive effort from Rebekah Allick. But Penn State rallied, led by Jess Mruzik’s offensive spark and Izzy Starck’s key blocks, to take control in the next three sets.

The Nittany Lions found their rhythm in the third set and used a 5-0 run to take the lead, with Starck contributing six blocks and Mruzik finishing with 17 kills. The Huskers struggled to limit Penn State’s momentum as the game wore on.

In the fourth, Nebraska held a 22-16 advantage, which would lead to the Huskers being able to close out the semifinal with two match points, but the set ended with the Nittany Lions stunning the Nebraska-dominant crowd, which closed the fourth with a 28. – 26 final result.

In a thrilling fifth set, Penn State held off a late Nebraska push, with Starck’s block sealing the victory. This marks Penn State’s 14th NCAA Championship game appearance and their first since 2017. They will face Louisville on Sunday, December 22nd.