Nebraska v. Illinois: 2018 NCAA volleyball semifinal (Full Replay)

welcome back to Minneapolis inside a sold-out Target Center this is the NCAA women's volleyball semifinals Stanford has moved on now a Big Ten rematch number 7 Nebraska taking on number three Illinois to play the number one seeded Cardinals back with Carter I head coach of the u.s. national team I'm Paul Sunderland Holly Rowe will join us momentarily when we got to go back to the Stanford Cardinal they were almost perfect against a very very good BYU team and just dominant blocking at the net absolutely dominant 7 team total blocks for Stanford they are the nation's leading blocking team but they basically doubled their normal output and it started with their tough serving BYU just never able to recover congratulations to coach homestead and BYU for a great season but a very disappointing way to finish Stanford into the championship match for the 16th time will it be Illinois trying to get back for the first time since 2011 against the 7th seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers who have won five totals in program history 5 titles I should say and are also the defending champions but let's talk about Illinois much like Stanford they have three star players at different positions and this is the semi-finals they've all got to play well one of the beautiful things about this particular NCAA group of semi-finalists is we have four outside hitters who made the all-american team and for each one of them is leading their teams a Clint Wade for Illinois has had a what even the opposing coach coach cook would say is a Player of the Year type season she hits from all over the court Lawton runs lots of different routes to different locations and she's been phenomenal and al all all those touches going to her are coming from Jordan Poulter one of the top centers in the country another first-team all-american and then a leave st Nellie having a banana phenomenal season especially when it comes to blocking but very much improved on her offensive game 2 then they will have to deal with a player who has built a reputation and a resume that is certainly close to unmet and that is all American Mikayla Becky the outside attacker for Nebraska number two in red well they used to call Reggie mr. October sees miss December it's absolutely Mikaela Fekete I'm one of only three freshmen ever to have won the most outstanding player award in the NCAA finalists finals and she's done it twice looking to take her team to a third final so who will it be Illinois or Nebraska moving on Illinois thirty two and three on the year they were second in the Big Ten Conference Nebraska twenty eight and six they went through a very very difficult time in October they finished at fifteen and five for third in the Big Ten let's go over to the third member of our team here in Minneapolis why he said they are a package deal they are the team captains of this proof and it was most important when they call the team captains meeting after losing to Illinois they said it was our rock bottom but they brought the group together and they decided that they had to change their destiny of their season they did on it to end like that and these two team captains have their put team in a place that very few have gone before four straight national semi-finals it is the exception of the leadership of Kinsey Millhone and Michaela Becky I thank you Holly now let's take a look at the starting lineups first for the Nebraska Cornhuskers hi I'm Sammy slaughter I'm an outside for the defending champs of the University of Nebraska and this is my team nickel and Hames Center also known as our QB Kenzie Maloney libero okay 50 Makayla Becky outside our super whacker let's see Sun outside silent with them jazz sweet right side swing to us not the other team Capri Davis outside our 1k wonder Kylie Schwartz in Bluff middle blue insurrance middle but don't get too close she might bite hi I'm Beth Brent's redshirt junior on the University of Illinois and this is the Illini squad sporty Jordie Jordan Poulter running the show etc Megan MC Hammer Cooney blocking balls left and right at opposite Jacqueline the first Jack to Jackie played rock in six rotations has outside hitter fun master and vine connoisseur Alison bass sommelier at middle blocker phone Harry Potter and the whether absent swimming running the quick and middle blocker morgan o'brien our little golden retriever and only Illinois native at libero our Georgia Peach Caroline Welsh IDs our super Cooper Taylor teacup Cooper at D s set to go and Nebraska and Illinois will meet for the third time they split one-on-one and both winning on the opponent's home floor and that win for Illinois was the first win for this senior class including Ally Bastian Ellie and Jordyn Poulter they had lost six in a row to Nebraska until that match in October fourth times the national semifinals for the Illini it is the 15th time for the defending national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers and fourth in a row Illinois the higher seed at the number three overall seed and they will be wearing their home whites Nebraska to serve first and it will be in rotation number one nickel in Hames the 510 freshmen the number one setting recruit in the country last year out of Knoxville Tennessee bears repeating as we get ready for the start of semifinal number two the first freshman ever to start at the setting position for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and we're underway lexy son going off speed and finding some floor lexy son six to sophomore out of Encinitas California was all big 12 in an honorable mention all-american last year for the University of Texas her transfer the Lincoln made a lot of headlines in the offseason Ames again it's gonna be a net violation that is called against Illinois Megan Cooney the 6-4 sophomore out of Topeka Kansas plays the opposite the right side position there she is made the net violation so a quick start for Nebraska what are you looking for early in this contest the third time carts these two teams have met well one of the things Allah Noi coach Thomas talked about was not giving up runs of points so it's critical to do that against the best defensive team in the country in Nebraska I swing down the line and the first of what Illinois fans hope will be many kills for number seven Jacqueline Quaid there is Chris Thomas in his second year with the Illini he was an assistant at Nebraska for four years and on the bench along with his wife Jen Thomas who was an assistant also at Nebraska for the 2015 championship he has done a marvelous job and his first stint as a head coach Capri Davis number nine in red for Nebraska off the top of the block and will immediately go to the sidelines explain that cart this is very unusual rotating or platooning in that one rotation yeah because Stanford has other players who stay on the court full-time like their setter Nicklin Haynes a Calif ecchi and Lexie son is outside so they can use their subs more in a particular situation and that's where Capri Davis comes in to help them just when she's in left front to get the kill and then she checks right back out of the game chance here for Jaz sweet who's really come on throughout the course of this tournament number 12 in red with the kill for Nebraska they have yet to lose a set in the tournament 3-0 over Hofstra and then a good team out of the SEC also 3-0 against Missouri and then surprisingly easy against Kentucky and then took out the University of right here in Minneapolis last week nice dig by Lexie son Becky forced to just keep that ball in play Maloney with a pancake [Applause] I said Becky choosen to go off speed back to Quaid again and off the block and out-of-bounds nice swing by Jacqueline played six to junior out of Fort Wayne Indiana that's the kind of swing we've seen makayley and McHale affect knee take high off the hands and it bounces into the third row really tough to track down as a defender John cook now in his 19th season the defending national champions and that's gonna be a double contact called against Ames you can see Illinois targeting Lexy Sun a lot this is the first year where she's being left in didn't get to do that at Texas but they're leaving her on the court full-time so she's getting exposed in the service received formation she's probably the least efficient of those receivers on the court so they want to get her the ball lot not Kenzie Maloney part of that package deal that has gotten Nebraska to fourth straight semifinals Mikayla pecky when the block on the outside working against Bastian Ellie on the slide and Becky is tough walking this the coach cook says they'll often leave their blocker is one on one on that slide they got a lot of trust in Becky Bastian Ellie comes right back and off the edge of the block and down for number five the 6-3 senior out of Marysville Michigan a third-team all-american this year and her offenses really improved year by year by year she had a torn labrum as a freshman and she blamed her technique in large part because of that problem and has really come on as a good offensive middle blocker as well always was very good at the defensive end good set to Fekete on the outside bringing a heavy arm into the deep cross sport corner that's the howitzer we know from feck Ian you were talking about Bastion le she said she had to learn new mechanics after those shoulder issues now uses a throwing mechanic and her shoulder doesn't hurt anymore but definitely struggled through some issues that's a very common injury in an overhead sport like volleyball Becky having a big tournament so far hitting for 30 Becky again off the top of the block played was there must misjudge that play maybe some early nerves and just flailed one arm at it instead of two got to put out a whole platform on that even though she made a poor reach she could have made up and gotten that ball high in the middle of the court Nebraska with the early lead 7 to 4 and that ball served just out of bounds I thought John Dunning in between matches three times the national champion at Stanford made a really interesting point this is a very different team for Nebraska eight new faces but some of the keys have been to the NCAA semifinals now four years in a row for Illinois this is a very very different cat as far as the size of the stage weight or ripping out of the backcourt nice play defensively and in transition for the Illini this is the fastest Vic that is back court quick that you'll find in women's volleyball barely out of the center's hands there's not one blocker in front of Jacqueline Quaid that is not well executed on defense by Nebraska they're going to have to stay aware of where Quaid is on the court at all times through the block and down number eight on the outside Beth print 6-3 redshirt junior out of Avon Indiana put away match point against Wisconsin at home in champaign-urbana the road for Illinois easily over Eastern Michigan then beat a good Louisville team swept Marquette and then beat Wisconsin three sets to one to advance Becky again nice read by Quaid back-to-back digs little miscommunication nice set prints looking for the line but that ball was into the antenna immediately out of bounds by Beth Prince number eight in white for Illinois let's go down to Holly for more on Jaclyn play well you said they have to keep track of where Jaclyn Quade is hitting from and that is a huge challenge because she hits from all over she's one of the most versatile arms in the sport hitting from six or seven different locations on the court so they've got to be aware of where she's coming from but her nurse said I have a great communication and can really connect wherever they need her to be on the court makes it hard for them to find her Thank You Holly really good serve by Mikayla Fekete to start this point and then cracking out of the back row that's when you don't want to take to the face ball that can we've had concussions Oh over far less than that Becky will hit that ball so hard back to her left to our right as we watch that a cross body shot and she puts a lot of wood on that combination play nicely done blocked out of the middle number 12 Ashland Fleming six for junior out of San Jose California and a very important addition for the Fighting Illini they had kind of a void as a middle blocker but she transferred from Pacific where Chris Thomas Thomas uh coincidentally played his college volleyball several years ago nicely done by Illinois Becky perfect pass nice up Doug and for the kill by Quaid much better positioning that time by Quaid and she did not have a lot of time to react so most of that is just picking a better location on the court to get a chance to touch it played already with three digs doing a very nice job defensively getting a little fortunate on the point scoring another dig good read into the cross-court corner dug by Poulter but out of the reach that time of Meagan Cooney I'm surprised the middle block or Ashland Fleming for Illinois was so surprised by the attack of freshman Center Nicklin Haynes for Nebraska she had no choice but to put that ball over the net [Applause] there is Haley Den's burger five nine sophomore out of Malcolm Nebraska on to serve nice rip into the cross-court kept alive by Lexie Sun Flemming off the edge of the block and that's going to be a net violation called against the Nebraska Cornhuskers Illinois at 32 and three on the year Nebraska 28 and six and Nebraska went through a stretch where they lost four out of five five out of seven if I'm not mistaken karch in mid to late October and that was a real challenge and a very very difficult time for this Nebraska team yeah coach cook talked about it you just said look he started questioning everything are we training too much oh we're not training enough or retraining enough individually do we need more teamwork it's very rare and those were all against quality teams for the Big Ten but it still brought in doubts and eventually the the match that turned it around was when they were down two to one and one in five sets at home against Penn State they haven't looked back Nicklin Haynes with a kill on two got things started out pretty nicely for Nebraska from the service line and continues to do so that ball not dug very accurately nice swing by Lexie son [Applause] Kenzi Maloney you know if you're a Libra you get bruised and she had to go quickly to the sidelines paying the price and back on the floor immediately for the Cornhuskers tough serve but nicely handled and Quaid looking for the tap down Illinois fans wanted a lift straight to the floor by number 7 Quaid I don't know if you want to leave Jaclyn Quaid one on one very much that is a losing proposition great choice by setter Jordan Poulter look at how fast that is no time but for one blocker in that case Jaz sweet but she had no chance against Quaid Quaid had 25 kills in the regional final win over Wisconsin combination play number 10 and red Lexy Sun once again took a long time for Lexie Sun to overcome described as a injury when she arrived in Nebraska and she was basically shut down for six months before she could really start training regularly with the team shank Pass Wade missed that ball straight out of bounds and now Nebraska goes out to the three point advantage 14 to 11 each team has a clear target that they want to serve it's the big arm of Jaclyn Quaid for Illinois and across the net Lexie son who is just in her first year of playing full-time volleyball Quaid again good hard high flat swing and back to Lexi senate's it's not that we didn't ask for five or six times during the course of the season but you know Nebraska like so many other schools playing it very close to the vest in terms of injury information and the coaching and medical staff at Nebraska just said look it's an undisclosed injury she was just doing rehab and physical therapy for the first six months that she was in Lincoln [Applause] nice pass by Maloney Wade Illinois seems to have found some rhythm especially at the defensive end coming out to Becky Illinois getting a free ball Poulter goes quickly on to what Illinois's had some really good chances and finally put the ball to the floor number one Jordan Poulter six to senior out of Aurora Colorado the coast center of the year in the Big Ten Conference with Samantha seliger Swenson yep and she's she wasn't as decisive as she could have been on those attacks but I like her doing that it takes some pressure off Jacqueline Quaid who has to carry so much of the offensive load for Illinois nice little mini run here for Illinois that ball set tight and missed out of bounds on the tip by Jaz sweep Nebraska coaches looking for a touch they will not use one of their three allotted challenges three challenges ball in or out ball off a player net violation three meter line violation service line foot fault a ball up or down terms a pancake or four contacts three nothing run for the Illini nice up Oh ball no set way too tight and Illinois pays the price but a good run by the Illini to get back into this opening set here in Minneapolis second semi-final who's going to play Stanford will it be Nebraska or the Illini NCAA women's volleyball championship coverage continues with the national championship match that's coming up Saturday December 15th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time over on espn2 for more information on the NCAA women's volleyball championship visit ncaa.com here is the bracket for you Stanford the number one overall seed into the championship match for the 16th time in their storied history a three sets to none convincing win over the number four seed BYU Cougars coming out of the timeout Nebraska leading by one Quaid again nice high flat shot no question about it using the top of the block nice kill like Wade Paul one of the things I've been impressed with so far is the serving pressure that Illinois is bringing when you could tell it's a tough serve when it doesn't cross the net by more than a few inches very flat doesn't have a lot of spin on it and they're being aggressive with it that one had too much spin that's a shank past as they go after number 10 Lexie son but Quaid on one side Lexie son on the other are the main targets less efficient passers so the server's want to attack both of them plus it makes their work tougher if you're having it make the first contact you're not so free to go and start your approach attack there's a mistake going to Maloney she's the second best set passer in the entire country statistically yeah big mistake you gotta get to keep the ball away from Kenzie Maloney part of that package deal like coach cook calls them the common denominator and they are the two players who've led Nebraska to something they've never done before make four straight national semifinals defensive specialist Megan Miller on deserved and nice play Ally Bastian LA able to come through with the kill number five in white in a hit for 60 in the regional weekend when they took out Wisconsin you see her blocking against McHale effecti or sorry hitting against McHale effect that's something Nebraska likes to do leaves their hitters one-on-one against the slide Becky having to work awfully hard to get after that short tip poulter going right side ripped down the line but a tough a touch off the edge of the block Mikayla feng so Ashland Fleming coming through with the kill and now it's Illinois leading 1816 [Applause] touch off the edge of the block that time of Makayla fetch in Nebraska is forced to call a timeout Illinois on a 72 run and Jacqueline clay digging her share of balls carts and also really good in transition so far she sure has been they they run that backcourt set down the middle that's one of the six or seven spots or locations on the court that she'll attack but they just she and Jordan Poulter have such a good connection between setter and hitter that they don't leave a lot of time the bowl is not in the air very long before she makes contact with her strong arm no question that she was going to carry a big load and has done so as advertised ABC has a bowl game doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon with the air force reserve celebration Bowl between North Carolina A&T and Alcorn State and then at 3:30 it's the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl between number 21 Fresno State and Arizona State both of course are streaming live on the ESPN app all the other interesting thing is Makayla Becky's taken almost 15 swings only three kills Illinois has defended her very well you see a lot of soft blocks that are coming on their side last week we saw a lot of those going into the fifth row like she just had so much heat on the ball it was bouncing off the block and out of bounds quickly down to the sidelines to Holly Rowe has more on the all-american Center Jordyn Poulter well guys you're seeing so many great connections Bulger has with Jacqueline Quaid you know she almost thought about transferring from Illinois when they the Stanford job she kind of was opening her eyes there was about three week time period where they were waiting for a new hire but Chris Thomas got the job and he was an all-american setter at Pacific in 2003 she said we had a very frank conversation he said I think I can make you better you're telling on some of your set she's like oh all right that opened my eyes if he's gonna tell me the truth I think I can stay and work with him and he has turned her into a very good all-american center yep we can make this thing work and it has certainly all the way to the national semifinals and he was very familiar with Illinois because he was in charge of scouting for Nebraska as an assistant so he had been looking for all the little not only the strengths but the weaknesses so he knew them so well he was able to convince them look if you fixed these things you guys could be really good and here they are in the national semifinals free ball coming to Illinois [Music] or really good soft block touches right now by Illinois dug on the BIC [Music] [Applause] lexy son into the cross port that time finding some space inside Fleming what a good swing by son we've seen her getting stronger and stronger as the season has worn on gotten over that injury after having to shut things down and having very little activity came up with some big kills against Oregon in the regional final last week right here in Minneapolis she's now four of seven no errors hitting a cool 571 yeah much more efficient than Becky [Music] tied on the overpass and where are ill annoys blockers they got a no Hammes is in the front row timeout called by Illinois and a nice little mini run by Nebraska to recapture the lead will step aside second semifinal here in Minneapolis poor hands coverage from the NCAA women's volleyball championship log on to the ESPN app and check out the volleyball championship data center you can follow real-time stats and see extended camera angles both in addition to what everyone else is seeing at home back to Carter I'm Paul Sunderland Holly Rowe on the sideline Illinois back in the NCAA semifinals for the first time since 2011 and Nebraska making it for the 15th time overall and incredibly the fourth straight Stanford has moved on they beat BYU the number four seed three sets to none and Stanford into the championship match for the 16th time Nebraska on a three nothing run leading now 1918 [Applause] Schank past Michaela Becky historically one of the best setters in Nebraska history that's now 44 aces against only 46 errors exactly one of the best servers she brings a lot of heat she Lexie son Kenzie Maloney coach cook gives their bro lots of credit for service pressure also that ball deflected the Fister that time by Lexie son out of the reach of Nebraska and a much-needed side out for Illinois as Poulter will go back to the line working on Becky nice play into the cross-court bet Prince number eight in white able to put the ball to the floor and tied at 20 [Applause] good service pressure from Poulter she's going cross-court looking for fecking nice touch by Quaid [Applause] lexy son through the block and down five kills on eight swings for son this is about as confident as I've seen her all season Paul taking some swings finding the daylight between blockers better than she was a month or two ago as she's getting more fit and getting more used to being part of the Husker program there is dens burger Suns numbers way up in the tournament compared to the regular season nice dig by fecking but Nebraska not there to follow up let's go over to Holly Sun really coming alive for Nebraska and you know it's interesting she was the best player in America went to Texas decided to transfer and when she came in the conversation with John Cook was we have got to reinvent you as a player if you want to be a six rotation player and play along the back row you're not good enough to play for us like that right now and she to her credit was very humble said I'll do whatever it takes they have breaking her break broken her game down from scratch and now she is that set rotation player and playing very well for Nebraska Jacqueline played hammer and down the line and here comes Illinois now taking the 22 21 advantage timeout called by Nebraska John cook and the Cornhuskers went on a three nothing run to recapture the lead but then Illinois has answered right back mentioned that Nebraska their last loss was to Illinois since then they've won 12 straight and seven of those the last seven have been all in sweeps as mentioned they haven't lost a set yet in the tournament Illinois just looked like they've settled down to you car to a lot of ball handling errors at the very beginning of this all-important first set yeah earlier Jordan Polster was having a little trouble locating hitters her hitters too close and gave it away some free points but she's given them some space now and continues to connect with kick Wade that's the excuse me the biggest connection that has led them to a 17 and three really strong second place finish in the Big Ten look at Jacqueline Quaid a kills on 19 swings only been stopped once the SPN has a tripleheader of bulls on Saturday 2:00 p.m. Eastern time the Mexico Bowl North Texas versus Utah State then at 5:30 the Raycom media camellia bowl and then concluding the evening 9:00 p.m. the R and L carriers new old New Orleans Bowl Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State College football bulls all day Saturday on ESPN national championship match will be at 9:00 Eastern on espn2 be sure and join us on Saturday stanford against uh-uh Illinois or Nebraska Paul how about this crowd remember a lot of these people were probably hoping Minnesota would be playing in this match had the way set up for them but lost in the regional semis to Oregon I'm having trouble finding any empty see there aren't an awesome they were sellout 18,000 plus fantastic and they were selling standing-room-only and saturday is already sold out not the person you want to serve Kenzie Maloney drip into the cross court does nicely by O'Brien son again did she get a piece of the block no missed it out of bounds now Illinois extending their lead late two points away from the first set what a nice cross-court by Morgan O'Brien the bro the Liebherr Oh for Illinois reading in just inside that inside hand and another nice up plenty of time for Jordan Poulter to get there back to fecking maybe in the pipe mode Alexei Sun and also missed it out of bounds back to back turns down the line hit wide and now it's three set points for Illinois [Applause] lexy son again nice dig in the cross-court corner [Applause] lexy son hammer and down away from O'Brien one set point saved Illinois has three hitters in the frontcourt got to think that the prime target is to set out to their left side Jacqueline Quaid the finisher perfect pass in system there it is out to Quade touched off the top of the block and Becky can't get there and Illinois takes this opening set over Nebraska the first set that Nebraska has lost since November 16th at Purdue back and forth Illinois overcame a pretty shaky start and Jacqueline Quaid as expected was the offensive star the Illini one set to none over Nebraska [Applause] [Music] obviously familiar with the program and how things are ran over there and you know it took a lot with me when I came to Illinois this makes me feel a little old cuz now I'm every week you know I'm going against a former assistant part of the luxury of being the Big Ten that's having those battles night in and night out I have a lot of pride in that our former coaches I go through our program are playing in these big matches against us first head coaching job for Chris Thomas in his second season with the Fighting Illini taking on one of his mentor's very interesting he and his wife Jen Thomas had committed his assistants to stay with Nebraska but then the Illinois job opened up and coaching jobs in the Big Ten are as rare as can possibly be in John Cook said look you've got to go for it shank pass here in the opening point goes to Illinois Illinois in the number three overall seed taken on Nebraska meeting for the third time this year came back to take the opening set 25 22 yeah he told that his coach cook told Thomas look you are ready for this you you have been with us long enough and Thomas learned huge lessons one of them is to be a really well-rounded team that's what Nebraska is and very focused on tough serving like you're seeing from Jordan Poulter right now good blocking good defense defense winning championships that's a tough serve a serve right in the seam away from Kenzie Maloney and Illinois takes the quick three nothing lead I don't think John Cook will wait very long to try to sort out his serve receive Poulter really dangerous from the service line yeah he's trying to get to Kenzie Maloney he's switching the passing formation to get Lexy Sun over to the left side where they can set her and there she misses the line again that's the fourth third or fourth time this match I did not think that John Cook would break very long well the way it is over and early timeout called by Nebraska in trouble against Illinois [Music] just moments ago human touch in the center of your screen the head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers received his trophy and plaque for being inducted into the international volleyball Hall of Fame that happened during a match that his team was going to play against Purdue all the plans were made his mother was flying in from Australia his sister from London but he just couldn't leave his team but a great recognition the sellout crowd got to its feet to recognize the accomplishments of humic uh chin tight set slammed ink to the floor that time by Beth Prince and coach cook in the Illinois staff are wondering look how long do you get to hold on to this vault woo woo that's yeah apparently you get to hold along that long exactly that long do we ever we we didn't need to stopwatch on that I think we needed a sand tiger and that is not something that can be challenged that is a judgment call and a shank pass here by Lexie son and Nebraska trailing six nothing John Cook has already used both of his available timeouts out of timeouts in this set the rest of the way for the defending national champions what has turned it around for Illinois because they looked really shaky to start this match as John cook gets in with Lexie son I think it's the service pressure of Illinois and it's some unforced errors Lexie son had some good looks at it but has hit several balls out of bounds a couple to end the first set one or two more to start the second and jodan Poulter's just putting lots of pressure in the bresca can't find a formation that's allowing them to stop her service run Chris Thomas the coach brilla noise said look the team that can avoid giving up runs of points is going to have a huge advantage in this and that was a big focus for him Nebraska now bleeding points and on the season Nebraska was the top defensive team in the country holding opponents doing only 136 average but tonight hitting 283 righted about their season average well we've got a time out NCAA women's volleyball championship coverage continues with a national championship match this Saturday on the 15th 9:00 Eastern Time over on espn2 for more information on the NCAA women's volleyball championship visit ncaa.com your home for all 90 championships back with USA team head coach cart secure I now Paul Sunderland let's go over to Holly well guys frustrated frustration is starting to mount for this Nebraska team they've called several quick timeout and John Cook was really getting on his team right there he's like they're ripping off our hands we're not ripping it off there's he really feels like they have settled back and they are not being aggressive they're being passive right now several mistakes from Lexi son Kenzie Maloney actually jumped up in front of her team in that huddle and put her hands to her temples like start thinking she's very frustrated with the focus level of this team right now and Paul they haven't set Mackenzie sorry McHale effect you know a long time I touch on that one I was thinking they might look for feck you out of the back row just so they could break this service runs Mikayla faqih Becky now comes to the net that's where Nebraska wants her both for her attack and for her blocking and Lexi son has really got to settle down both attacking and receiving she got out to a nearly perfect start but has now hit three balls out of bounds and been blocked once Schwarzenberg out of the middle missed it wide Wow big opportunity by the board that time for Nebraska and that's why you never want to aim for the sideline when you're swinging Paul you gotta aim three feet in and then if you miss it a little you still have a margin for error missed it by inches Carolyn Welsh five foot a junior out of Marietta Georgia on to serve and play defense for Illinois Illinois up one set to none they won the first 25 22 oh that was an impatient swing good set to the outside down the line and missed out about that time by Megan Cooney I'd much prefer to see somebody use all three contacts on their side didn't like that choice by jazz sweet to give the ball over easily on the first contact an example of Nebraska being a little unnerved yes and sweets been through plenty as part of these championship teams including last year for Nebraska what a good save that time for Poulter but missed out of bounds down the line by Quaid a rare miscue by number seven and white lots of what we would call unforced errors it's not like the either team is just stuffing getting a lot of stuff blocks like Stanford did with 17 in that first match hitters are just missing the court is getting a little contagious Kenzie Maloney with the surface air and going back to the line is the transfer again from the university of pacific filling a big hole in the Illini starting lineup ashlynn Flemming she had made 61 starts for Pacific it's a very very experienced quality transfer good pass by son or at least better nice off blocker up Quade took 22 swings from the opening set that is a heck of a pace [Applause] ball set a little bit wide in that time the Calif Becky got in the way of Maloney behind her give the kill to number 7 Quay and that was off the set from Fleming who is on the court one of your middles will usually serve and the bro can't come in for her she came in hit a tough serve there's another one and made the set that ball jumped through the block and down by Mikayla Becky [Applause] [Music] Megan Miller now on to serve for Nebraska getting the serving signals from the sidelines to Quaid again oh nice set by Poulter going against the flow ball set a little bit tight but cracked by number 15 nicely done Cooney oh I thought she was going to net on that but you'll see her swing she stops it see how her hand stops just before it contacts the net good body control on a set that went too close to the net Cooper now serving for the Illini oh that ball might have been out of bounds Maloney asking for some help free ball coming to Illinois nice dig by Sun right on the sidelines quickly again Jacquelyn played now with 11 kills for Illinois and Illinois liking the matchup Quade against the smaller blocker setter Nicklin Haynes rather than against the Nebraska opposite jazz sweet setting what we call a repeat they said her twice in a row because of that matchup for one run now for Illinois good block by Bastian Ellie reading that time on Hames 11 4 is the advantage for Illinois and remember Nebraska's out of timeouts got to give huge credit to Illinois bringing so much serving pressure that is Nebraska's bread and butter but it's coming at them the ball crosses the net by only a few inches they're hitting it hard there's another one through the block and down from Mikayla Becky so Nebraska's got to serve better it's one of the cornerstones of their offense and the Nebraska players always look over to the sidelines to get instructions from their head coach on the area that he wants them to attack yup he's signalling area one right there that is across the net the left to McHale effect so she was aiming for the corner that she just missed it by a few inches but that's the zone for her it would be the deep cross-court corner to her left that ball just a little bit long and wide for fakie and then here assistant coach Alfie reffed was showing a signal he gives a number two but they signal a little differently they go for seams and so that was at a scene between players Lauren stiffens the 64 sophomore first-team all-american at a Scottsdale Arizona getting a rare opportunity because Nebraska has not been passing the ball on target looking for the signal again area one again deep and that's where Quaid is standing but missed it that would be what we'd call the middle of the back court zone six lexi sun looking for the line once again and gets this one just inside the ED line and here are the zones you were talking about charge yeah so you started basically your first server would be in right back then the next one two three four five and six counterclockwise around the court so the main signals you'll see from Cook are one six or five the deeper ones but when he broke out some twos and fours last week it gave Oregon tons of trouble and disrupted a very potent offense overpass and Lexus unable to get that ball to the floor number ten with the stuff block on the overpass here comes Nebraska Illinois won the opening set and then got out to the 7 to 11 for lead and now Nebraska is still looking up at a 13-8 deficit still going at zone one deep cross-court deep left corner hope that's an easy play Becky out of the back row touched by Bastion le and Prince but nobody able to follow up [Applause] Nebraska returning the favor you can see how much better their block and defense gets as soon as they bring service pressure Becky now with six kills make it seven kills on 19 swings close to another overpass nice play by dense burger combination play on the pick the back row quick touch off the block that time and give clayed another kill wait now with a dozen she's already taken carts 30 swings and it's 14 to 9 in the second and that ball barely goes up maybe three or four feet out of Poulter's hands so little time you can see there's just about a half a blocker they're just running with such speed that ball missed out of bounds by the freshman Kelly Schwartz andhaka another hitting error wide we saw her miss to her left crossbody that time missing the other sideline sinks balls hit out of bounds by Nebraska shank Pass here gonna be a free ball for Illinois Wow Wade out of the back row again and Nebraska is really out of rhythm right now they are missing digs they are missing passes missing serves who we just haven't seen them over the course of this 12 match winning streak and they're leaving Quaid alone because of the speed they're just not giving anybody and they have no timeouts to make any adjustments Schwartz and bucks nice dig in the backcourt by who else Quaid did Prince get a piece of the block no that missed out of bounds but Illinois still looking at a very comfortable lead here in the second 16 10th as a team Nebraska only hitting 203 Illinois at 281 yeah Illinois right at there or just just under there season average you wouldn't expect that from them number one defense in the country in Nebraska dug by Fetty but out of bounds I'll tell you the combination between Poulter and Quade on the left side out of the middle in yesterday in our meeting with Chris Thomas he told us that they want Quade to hit the ball in about six different positions on the court and really getting the job done so far now with 14 kills and when they have her hitting out of the backcourt down the middle of the court it's and it's that low there's very little time for the wing blockers of Nebraska to help good soft touch again by the Illini down the line dug by Maloney nice up by Poulter handling the heat that ball dug right on top of the net tapped down by number eight Beth Prince look at Illinois 18 to 10 advantage John cook might be hoping that there's a questionable play so he can use a challenge to try to slow things down Schwartz and Bock finally able to get a kill Nebraska in real trouble here lexy son has been one of their more effective servers see if she can launch a few and pull Nebraska back within four or five with a mini run that's a pretty easy one when it has backspin like that it's gonna be a double contact on bolter easy play to call ball transferred from right to left double called by the first referee and a timeout called by Illinois taking no chances in spite of the fact that they're still up by half-a-dozen the interesting thing about that timeout is it gives Nebraska some time to make adjustments last year the storyline for John Cook and Nebraska was why not us it was a very different team and they do a lot of mental work and team work building work in the offseason and their theme this year is brought up by the entire team was we over me everything is always about the team first look at that the crowd is certainly adopted their mantra but it is being tested right now you look at the body language for Nebraska and they look tight and I'm surprised by that and they haven't been controlling the ball enough to get it to Mikayla fecking nearly as much sheet when she gets two or three kills she energizes this Nebraska team but the last swing she took which was a rocket to her left Jordyn Poulter came up with it Becky's just not been able to be much of an offensive factor in this match so far which is very very unusual let's go over to Holly Rowe you're talking about we is greater than me it's on the back of their shirts they talk about it all the time with this Nebraska Cornhuskers team but the other thing they change with their mentality is Mikayla Becky and when they came in they had kind of a complaining culture kids are complaining about practice complaining what the coaches make him to do and they decided they were gonna change that they have changed their mindset they don't complain about anything they're grateful it's gratitude they're excited to be at practice and that positive mindset shift mindset shift has really put them into a better frame of mind but they need to shift it now let's see some tired faces people getting down a little bit on the bench they've got to change their mindset right this minute absolutely Holly they got a downshift and put it into overdrive a little bit get back in the second set working on prints in the cross court off the edge of the block and down nicely done by number eight [Applause] Beth prints very quietly five kills on 16 swings the offense is all about quade but as a team very very efficient so far for Illinois yeah when these two teams split matches Illinois's offense was running for a total of about 175 so they're over a hundred points over that efficiency wise handling this defense of Nebraska much better and it starts by controlling the service pressure of Nebraska here's Maloney stabbed by Sun Becky's gonna get a swing nice up jazz suite down the line O'Brien with the staff nice play but Illinois cannot quite follow proof on the chase yeah sweet with a kill off the right side her like Lester you son numbers much higher in the NCAA tournament nice hustle by number 21 Welch trying to track down that ball shank pass and jazz Swede able to tap that ball down ruled that just a sliver of the ball was on top of the net 1915 Nebraska is out of timeouts Illinois has one remaining Maloney doing a good job of doing and really what is the trademark of the Nebraska team tough serving creating themselves some chances and three straight digs Lowell you got to call that if you're gonna call the Poulter set double contact called against Becky and she knew it right away boy that is a big break for Illinois they were having some trouble in that rotation Becky's such an experienced player she had to know that that was a risky play I would have used a different contact than the overhead there so far really out of the personality for Nebraska they look unnerved making very unusual mistakes played missed that ball out of bounds no touch no challenge boy did Allah Noi let Nebraska off the hook on that play remember that one Paul if Nebraska comes back and win this set that was a really easy play to turn into a quality swing and that serve is missed a break right back at you by Megan Miller still lots of time for Nebraska to come back but they're gonna have to do it with no breaks from a timeout maybe one from a challenge his difference in fekir front look it's difference numbers she's only gotten three sets so far in the match because of the poor passing shot into the cross-court deep corner missed by Becky and the elite is 22 to 16 in their loss effect II hit only 145 when Illinois was able to go into Nebraska's home gym and notch the win on the overpass easiest kill the night so far for Quaid number seven two points away from a two sets to none lead over Nebraska this should be very familiar very comfortable territory for the stars of Nebraska their fourth straight trip to the national semifinals but they look like the nervous team Becky is blocked Poulter along with Bastian Elie set points eight of them for Illinois Wow are you shocked by this karch I am shocked that I thought the team that would be bringing far more service pressure is Nebraska but it's Illinois all the way they're serving grenades across the net set point for the set best in LA down the line and the Fighting Illini have a two sets to none lead over the defending national champions from Nebraska 25 22 and also went that one easily final score of 25 to 16 five nothing run for Illinois to close out the second set let's go down courtside Holly Rowe with Jordan Colter well Jordan your team got off to a little bit of a slow start and set one but what happened where you guys finally found your rhythm yeah no I think in any new environment it takes a little bit to get adjusted and I think once once we got on our serve pass game I think it turned into a whole different game for us our serving a passing has been great our bastards are working hard out there keeping us in system alright the connection between you and Jaclyn Quaid is just something beautiful to watch what is it like when you feel that she's in a rhythm and you're getting her the ball oh it's incredible you always hope that your hitters are on the route that I know that Jacqueline's always on her round so it's easy to find her and it's easy to see the holes and she's she's able to capitalize on a lot of balls in the front row in the back row alright thank you so much thank you what a solid start for Quade Poulter and all of the Fighting Illini stunning two sets to none lead over Nebraska and they've made it look easy so far how will the Nebraska just welcome back to the twin cities first time for these semifinals and finals in 30 years this is the NCAA women's volleyball championship Nebraska trailing Illinois two sets to none Illinois loose out on the court Nebraska nowhere to be seen John cook immediately the head coach took him into the locker room with karch Kiraly on Paul Sunderland well what do you think coach cooks message is as he took Nebraska out of sight so he could talk to him well I think he's got to be stunned at how passively and soft they're playing this is not the burette Nebraska we know that has only one loss in the last four years of NCAA tournaments combined with Kenzie Maloney and of course McHale effect leading the way so very surprising at how soft they're playing getting out served out passed out played in every face well give a lot of credit to Illinois they are hitting at about their season average and they're doing a wonderful job defensively and Jordan Poulter who we heard from is really doing a good job keeping her team together intact and getting the ball to Quaid an awful lot along with Prince she sure is and they just don't give much time to their opponents running a faster offense that often gets only one block in front [Music] and Jacqueline Quaid is so tough and you can't you just cannot leave her alone as much as Nebraska has we'll see what adjustments they make one of the things they could do is just put different blockers in front of her by changing their their first server and spinning spinning the team around so we'll see what they come out with Nebraska looks like they're starting the same they're not changing anything they still have nickel in Hames who's ready to be their first server just as she was in the first set weight picking up right where she left off 25 kills versus Wisconsin last weekend to advance to the national semifinals the fourth time ever for Illinois it's the 15th appearance for the Nebraska Cornhuskers all Nebraska so far you mentioned the record there they are there in the captains Mikayla Becky and Kenzie Maloney are 20 and 1 in the NCAA tournament you talked about serve and pass and aces don't tell much of the story but 0 service errors for Illinois and still applying all that pressure to go along with it against Nebraska aims to start things off third set must-win situation for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and there's that combination to 20 and 1 in the NCAA tournament and in the months of November and December they are a force 51 and to Nebraska though only passing in system that is putting their setter in a good spot 45% of the time less than half the time far below Nebraska season average Wade is stuck by Aleksey son on the outside [Applause] that is just the second time played has been blocked in 37 swings Nebraska four blocks as a team for Illinois eight Stanford won their semifinal earlier this evening three sets to none over BYU that ball served out of bounds and that'll happen Paul Nebraska knows they have to bring stronger service pressure but with it comes maybe a few more errors and that was their sixth service error but Nebraska feeling the pressure to hit the serve harder like that Becky looks to go over the top and miss down the line defensively by Taylor Cooper Mikayla Becky not having a very Becky esque that a word I just Becky asked well I'll go with that one that man you don't exactly what no I like that one she has been so good for them in November in December her whole career as her career is now winding down that this is unusual there's it's there's a good reason why she's won most outstanding player of this tournament twice in the last three years Becky's numbers so far through the first two sets she just registered her eighth kill so the first two sets she was seven of 25 with three errors hitting about a buck 75 way below her she was hitting 420 in the tournament coming in Illinois has done a really good job fast Janelle a ball still alive good cover that was Poulter on the cover nice pursuit by Illinois that was Cooper keeping the ball alive outside to jazz sweet and bad look at this Jacqueline played on the outside with a spectacular block but a lot of credit to kick Taylor Cooper number three keeping the ball alive and some of that Paul has got to come from the fact that Chris Thomas used to coach for coach cook at Nebraska they talk about how defense is all about attitude and effort that was all Illinois keeping that play alive trying to establish stiffer ins and luckily off the top of the tape and down been very quiet offensively but middle blockers are reliant on their teammates for good passing and then the setting choices but you can see Nicklin Haynes the freshman setter for Nebraska as soon as she has that pass she's gonna set the middle as much as possible Illinois's got to take take note of that and stay stay more aware well students is hitting 409 on the year oops that's wide yeah tough chance blocked by Fekete Jost coming back to Becky through a seaman down have to expect an awful lot of Mikayla Becky here in the third I think it'd be a combination of setting their middles somebody like Lawrence difference when they have a good pass and when not set as much as they can to fekus been the inspiration for this team and that ball drifts out of bounds another service error that's number seven for Nebraska and for Illinois they have not missed one serve this entire semifinal and had put a lot of pressure on Nebraska's receivers and Paul if you're gonna miss one at least hit it that one that last one was easy nice pass by son Becki calling for the ball off speed over the top brands down the line but just out of bounds maybe maybe a challenge Prince thought that ball was in so we will have a challenge ball in or out called by Illinois yeah the lines been closed to us he's looking at his linesman's his partners in myself a little bit well we'll see soon enough take another look this is illinois' first challenge we'll be able to see it block oh that looked the end yeah that ball little Sam that's on the line yeah this is gonna be overruled that's a little tougher look it'll look along that's that end line or that side line sorry here we'll get a good look yep yep yep Paul's gonna be overturned good use of the challenge by Chris Thomas the first time head coach in his career after spending several years at Nebraska you know what I found I feel like the video challenge has made referees better they can be a little more assertive and know that if they make a wrong call it'll it'll get corrected but I generally find them missing less calls now with that system in place I think it's good for the game that the players are determining the call more the referees less it's different successfully over the top off speed and Becky will go back to serve Illinois in my opinion has done a really good job with one of the game's best servers at the line Becky has not been able to hurt Illinois serve receive until right now she was waiting for you to say something well we've watched Mikayla Becky for a long time and she has become such an effective server and it just credit to Illinois that they've done a good job in this rotation yep and and there and Becky's favorite serve is cross court that happens to be to the best passer Morgan O'Brien for Illinois beckons going for a little bit too much and missed it off the top of the tape third set must-win situation for the defending national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers they were the seventh seed this year came here to Minneapolis thought they would play Minnesota in the regional final Oregon had other ideas upsetting Minnesota that ball off the block and out of bounds nice play by Haines off of Fleming policies having a quiet game but I like how Nicklin Haines is holding up the the only center of these four semi-finalists not to be a first team all-american the only one to be a freshman the first starting freshman ever for Nebraska and she's in a tough spot but it's really been her passers that have put them in a tough flemming coming right back nice delivery by Poulter but nickel and Hames the only one not to be an all-american give it time exactly there is haimes five-foot-ten freshman out of Knoxville Tennessee and coach Kirk gives her so much credit for making better choices she learned that you can't get away with things in the big 10 that you could get away with in club or in high school so once they got past that five losses in seven matches in October she has got them rolling Wade up into the block still alive old Lexi Sun blocked what was going to be a free ball and then turned down the line bad choice to block that just gave the ball back to Illinois let's go over to Holly is so resilient out there her namesake is her great-great grandmother Alice Nikola was one of the few female survivors of an 1890 shipwreck in Queensland Australia the Quetta went down and her great-great grandmother survived lived to have a great life and her mom said I wanted her to have the name of the woman who knew the Lib when things got tough so Nicklin became it was a surname but now it is her first name her mom Christine said I'm pretty sure she's the only person in the world names Nicklin but I love that that her shipwreck surviving great-great-grandmother has given her a lot of resilience in her namesake gonna need resiliency now you mentioned her mother Chris was her high school coach and obviously did a very good job that ball off of aims nice killed by the opposite Megan Cooney Cooney's had a nice year just under three kills per set hitting 281 out of Topeka Kansas and Nicklin Hames was crashing almost lost her head on that play big arm swing and that's why you want to get balanced and not running around a lot on defense just pick a position and then respond from there what a tough serve but just over the end line that the first first service error and it wasn't by much and it was very clean flat and clean and if you to ask exactly if you'd ask coach Thomas you know if you'd have been serving this tough and only have one error at this yeah I'd say no way we'd probably have at least five or six superb performance from the service line by Illinois and shank Pass working on played so McHale effect he has got an ace in this set and so does alexei sun and nebraska leading 11 9 that remember Quaid has taken on a lot more responsibilities including receiving serve that time she didn't get out of the way of the ball at caught her high now she steps forward she's not in the passing formations Wade looking for some hands missed that and here comes Nebraska taken advantage of unforced errors by Illinois coach Thomas wondering whether to burn a timeout or try to hold off until the media timeout at 15 perfect pass by O'Brien good dig by Haynes and sweet off the edge of the block and down and the Brassica run continues yep you can't wait any longer that was a good call karch the media timeout if none is called before 15 will come man but Illinois could wait no longer Nebraska must win set to keep their hopes alive for another championship lead 13 to 9 the Illini faithful getting a little antsy here with Nebraska coming back and leading 13 to 9 a look at some of the numbers the Aces evening out Illinois has been absolutely superb Jacqueline Quaid putting up big numbers cards but I just checked her in the timeout she's old for her last five son now for Nebraska [Applause] michaela Becky and nickel and Hanes both close in on that ball and neither one able to get a hand under it nice off-speed that time bike away trying to get a whole stack of pancakes under there but they didn't have enough butter and syrup one hand each the grill was very crowded with sausage and bacon there were bodies flying real close to that Becky is rejected by Poulter remember Poulter got her at set point in the second and another huge move by Poulter she's putting her six foot two height lets taller than the average setter to great use getting those hands over and taking away that seam that Becky likes to attack the 12 block now for Illinois a rare service error just the second for the Illini Illinois had a marvelous season 32 and 317 and three all their losses coming in the Big Ten Conference and there is no shame in that Wisconsin Illinois Nebraska Minnesota Purdue bastian LA off the edge of the block and out of bounds [Applause] Bastin le who is the one who's been a little more quiet in this third because of the passing troubles of Illinois I haven't been able to get her the ball with her improved offense four kills eight swings for Bastian eller short sir ghosts in the ACE Wow nice placement that time by Quaid she took a little off it and that's a tough ball to read until it was too late for son Illinois back within one [Applause] sweet down the line away from prince number eight a nice swing by jazz sweep mentioned along with Lexie son numbers really going up 205 on the year 273 for her efficiency in the tournament probably should have taken a little more line on that play once the ball goes outside the side line you don't want to give a hitter any line to attack Nebraska really working on Quade right now as a receiver Becki another tough swing turns that down the line and gets it past Cooper for the store Illinois has been giving Becky more line than I would expect in their defender in the backcourt being a little surprised playing coupley too far inside the sidelines to make a good play on that Becky now in double figures in terms of kills with ten while set way too low and Nebraska was late to it but Nicklin Haynes how smart was that play by the freshman getting her team out of trouble you're right not a great first contact but she saved it by pushing it she really nobody was in any position to take a swing she was the one who was in best spot 1713 is the advantage here comes Miller again defensive specialist ball pass tight I stick by Miller down the line holding her ground and another tip Becky's starting to find some rhythm as is Nebraska at the defensive end remember this Nebraska team on the season was the best defensive team in the country and here come the defending champions timeout called by Illinois Nebraska leading 1813 [Applause] [Music] well we have a moment we want to reach out to our dear friend our lead producer drew Irvine is unable to be with us this weekend due to the passing of his brother-in-law Christian overland our thoughts and condolences are with Drew Ashlee and their entire family at this time drew you were missed and all of us are extending a hand in our hearts and our prayers right now to you and your entire family in this difficult time which turned it around carts for Nebraska serving pressure it's their trademark it's their home markets it's the bedrock that they build their defense on and they're finally starting to break down the passing the passers especially Jacqueline Clavin for Illinois something they were unable to do enough in the first and second sets let's take a look at the numbers Nebraska way below their season average of about 270 in the first couple of sets credit Illinois but kicking it up to 455 in Illinois going in the other direction - very very good defensive teams when Chris Thomas took over the program at Illinois the message was that we are going to build ourselves like Nebraska did and it starts with defense when he first got there he didn't have enough players to scrimmage so they just would go in the gym and they would work on serving serve receive and defense yet they with nine players he said look to get to the next level we're not gonna do any blocking we've got to take care of the fundamentals and they only got two blocking like five days left in spring training [Applause] Becky high up into the block that's going to be a double contact called on Maloney pretty good dig that time by Miller in the right back but a very very quick back road transition to Quaid and we've not seen but one or two of those in this set lots of success earlier in the match for it'll Illinois on that play that's an easy serve that's not what Illinois has been doing first contact by Hames out of the back row again nice dig by Miller Oh a nice up by Maloney techies getting some very difficult chances out on the left side good read by stiffer ins finally Becky got one right in her window and hammered that ball into the cross-court did you see her cheer she looked up to the heavens like I finally got a kill to put that ball away but Miller keeping that play alive let's see if we can see the celebration yeah reaching up like what do I have to do to get the whole new floor here needs a little better set she had some very tough chances outside the Prince roll shot covered easily by Sun [Applause] tip down the line nice cover by Cooper for Illinois son going off speed in the balls to the floor what a perfect composed set by Kinsey Millhone Nebraska leading 20 to 14 and right now Nicklin Haynes is out setting Jordyn Poulter even as a freshman compared to a senior just locating her hitters better we see more off-speed more tipping from Illinois because the sets aren't having the right speed the right the right height until then it was a 6-1 run for Mikayla Becky and the corn Huskers Illinois still got time trailing by five Illinois 1 the opening set after a slow start 25 22 and then dominated Nebraska 25 16 in the second a serve against Miller time to cover in front of Becky yeah Boulter's one of her better serves his cross-court Nebraskan with the quick timeout john cook the head coach for the nebraska cornhuskers calls a timeout to talk about serve receive there is still time nebraska trailing two sets to none Illinois trailing in the third looking for what would seemingly be an unlikely sweet for Illinois over Nebraska Nebraska leading 20 to 16 michail effect certainly started to heat things up karch in the third set yeah it was tough to get much going you can see that defender for Illinois staying way inside off the sidelines but then they're gonna miss plays like that and that when they stand their defender stands ten feet in from the sideline let's go over to Holly Rowe for more on Michaela pecking well Nebraska has a tradition in their program that they have this big heavyweight looking belt you know like a boxer might win if they win a big bout and it's called that every day MS belt I'll let you decide what the MS stands for but in this case I believe it stands for Michaela Becky because they peers get to award the belt the players decide who has had the best every day all week long and Michaela faqih is the current holder of the everyday mf'er belt and I think it's perfect because ms Michaela Seki is having one heck of a match right now nice try Holly nice try nice try selling but selling every day Michaela sake come on okay I'm down I'm down Becky and Nebraska back out on the court yeah she said it became a lot more meaningful when the players took over awarding when it comes from a peer it's something special when your peers vote you thee every day well we'll call it hardest worker Poulter again son playing pretty conservatively just turning that ball down the line but then an unforced error here from played that was a big miscue for Illinois when you're trailing Nebraska by four late you've got to be nearly perfect a bad second contact at the took the ball 20 feet off the net and then a bad third contact under the net difference Schwartz and box got to put that ball away and out of bounds looking for a touch and got one so a break here for Illinois it looked like it was going to be a sure score on the overpass but Kalle Schwarzenberg unable to get that ball to the floor against Illinois yeah she's got to put more space space on that when you get an overpass and you don't have anybody in front of you just make a hole in the floor with it here is Carolyn Welsh Sun a lot of off-speed very conservative and that's rejected but a net violation is going to be called against Nebraska that was Schwarzenberg yes Sun does not look like she's going up prepping to swing hard at all if I were the Illinois defense I'd be looking for all off-speed right now Illinois back within three gotta watch for Fekete of the back row [Applause] son again missed it down the line Wow Wow and we saw that in the first set two or three of those timeout called by Nebraska I'll be stunned at this ball assuming a halfway decent pass doesn't go to Mikayla Becky out of the pipe the middle back row timeout called by Nebraska want to remind everybody football season full season particularly doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon with the air force reserve celebration bul North Carolina A&T taken on Alcorn State and then at 3:30 it's the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl between Fresno State and Arizona State both of course streaming live Stanford earlier in the first semi-final an easy win over BYU they're into the finals for the 16th time in their illustrious history and are trying to break the tie with Penn State for the most ever NCAA titles both Penn State and Stanford are sitting on 7 Nebraska has won five Illinois still looking for their first 21 to 19 Illinois taking full advantage of some unforced errors by Nebraska and we're seeing on the screen that comeback that Nebraska had in early September that was a match that I think set the largest regular-season crowd in NCAA history 14,000 22 people went to watch that Omaha match Creighton versus Nebraska assistant coach for Illinois Alfea reft formerly borough of the US Men's National Team really working hard with his receivers and defenders right now along the Illinois sideline 21 to 19 going for seen three between the passers away from Maloney going at Becky or Miller got it into that proper seam and took Becky out of the pattern as far as hitting out of the back row another good soft touch Flemming out of the middle Illinois back within one [Applause] looking for space around thicky still [Applause] good pass still the Sun on the outside can't get it to the floor dug by O'Brien Illinois looking for the time Wade off the block and off of Becky tied at 21 did you see how Jordan Poulter was pointing and telling her teammates set Jaclyn out to that left side what direction [Applause] maybe this time Paul Becky with a lack row I'm surprised there hasn't been yet there it is and there's the result no question about the touch I'm surprised Nebraska didn't go to fetch for serves ago well remember most of those passes were not in a very good location for that finally they had it when your when your setters pushed way over that's a tougher one to set Mikael effecti able to stop the hemorrhaging for a moment Nebraska on top by one we're not serving way down the line I'm surprised that is the tenth service error for Nebraska Fleming back to the line tied at 22 Nebraska must win this set Nebraska has half a dozen service errors in this set Wow Wow and you know Fekete could be available in this she's coming to Bick dug by Poulter while well off the net Quay taking a whack at it covers herself I save Nebraska must put this ball to the floor Davis's Doug davus down the line and out of bounds and she's in just to make that kind of kill so they're gonna switch back out jazz suite comes in that's a tougher play for her to make as a left-hander on the left side Illinois takes the lead Wow but there were a couple of other opportunities to go to fecking there as well outside hitters other than Becky really struggling here good pass by Maloney Schwartz and Fogg able to come through with a kill tied at 23 what a clutch pass by Nebraska that was a tough serve absolutely had to have it Schwarz and Bach with a rare kill Lexy Sun back at the line for the Cornhuskers tied at 23 got a win by two a chance for Nebraska one captain to the other was there any doubt where that ball was going did you hear how loud she was screaming for that ball idea that's this December set point for Nebraska oh where they're gonna get a look at it on top took Becky a net violation pulled against Illinois and Nebraska stays alive by taking the third and the Calif Becky is the first player over to the other side to gather her team around her Nebraska wins the third clutch play by Makayla Becky back with a fourth set right after this Nebraska powers their way back into this match with a crucial win and started almost 30 years ago and the football team all of the Husker sports use it but volleyball made it their own they've added the standing vertical trunk the vertical approach and the 10-yard dash and the pro agility run over the years 2000 points by the time that they graduate the number one player in this in their history of their program is Kenzie Maloney as a senior she has been top in every area every single time that she's been tested he said by far she's our number one all-time best overall athlete in the program but it's a wonderful program that they use to measure how athletic they are how much they're improving and it has helped Husker power be very powerful on the court Moloney five-foot-eight a senior out of Louisville Kentucky made the tournament all-star team last year when Nebraska won the championship over Florida first team all-big ten thirteen all-american this year as voted by the AVC a the American volleyball Coaches Association Jordan Poulter will start things off for Illinois Nebraska on the board winning the third 25:23 and Mikayla Becky is really stepping it up karch first couple of sets way below her season average hit 389 in the 3rd 7 kills 17 swings just one error and expect a lot more of Becky for the rest of this match Illinois still leading two sets to one remember Illinois and Nebraska split the two regular season meetings [Applause] right side Schwartz and Bob that's about as much heat as I've seen from number 25 all season long working on Husker power and she should be bringing the heat there was no block utter confusion on the Illinois side so you've got free rein hit anymore on the court Ames the first server from Nebraska once again as she has been through the first three sets boy only one blocker up in a careless play for Nebraska wow that's something that they should have had an opportunity to convert Megan Cooney taken a very tough swing number 15 and white for Illinois Illinois had a marvelous season 32 and 3 second place in the Big Ten Conference at 17 and 3 the Big Ten Conference was absolutely the toughest conference in the country 7 teams into the NCAA tournament five of those ranked in the top 10 all season long nice dig by Maloney Oh Capri Davis very very tight to the net and a couple of ball handling mistakes by the Cornhuskers maloney coming up from point-blank range most of Defense is just getting it in a spot where you can get hit by the ball nice play by number nine Capri Davis would like to have that one swing back that she missed late in the third but it turned out not to hurt the Cornhuskers Maloney now with 11 digs [Applause] tied at two just underway here in the fourth boy nice rhythm to the outside that's beautiful offensive volleyball by Poulter outside the Quade and you could hear Quaid calling for it when you have a pass like that and things are lined up she was saying fast fast like she wanted even faster than the normal fast go no time for the Nebraska middle blockers off the top of the tape luckily down to the floor for a service ace played now with 19 kills on 53 swings da serve for Fleming and that ball drifts out of Bounce [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] maloney looking over to head coach John cook for the serving signals designating the area of the floor coach cook wants his team to go nice dig down the line by Hames chased down by Sun but to no avail point possession back to Illinois Nebraska 28 and six on the year went through a very tough patch in October righted the ship with a three sets to two win over Penn State 15 and five in the big 10 yeah that tough patch in October had them all doubting the middle blocker Givens was called cook at one point just suddenly what do we have to do we feel like we're playing not to lose instead of to win that ball hit out of bounds by play level feels like it's dropped a little bit on both sides of the net to start this fourth set Alfie Wraith coming over to talk to his star outside hitter both Poulter and Quade first team All Americans this year that was announced yesterday that ball tipped out of Bounce boy you could see that coming Poulter just missed it was right there for the six-foot to Center she had it defenders were crashing to the middle to defend the middle of the court she put it toward the sideline nobody was around but it went out tied at five still must-win for Nebraska that ball might have been going out of bounds dug by Miller different ripping on the slide yeah you ask cook before well how much do you want to set laura's different what kind of question is that every time do you see what she's inning Paul really Paul she's hitting 425 what do you want course we're gonna set her if they can get her the ball push it lucky bounce for Illinois but another hitting air out of bounds for Quade and now Nebraska running a couple and on top seven five here in the fourth those were errors we saw more from Nebraska late in the first late in the 2nd now Quaid with some miscues don't want to give many freebies to a team as good as Nebraska perfect pass that ball down inside it's difference kill off the right side by Bastian la [Applause] Wade has been really effective so far out of the back row attacking and that ball served out of bounds remember how clean Illinois sheet was early on four aces no errors through the first couple of sets well that has certainly changed Illinois now with five service errors they've upped their ace total to seven but their service pressure was relentless the first couple of sets yeah I don't think it was sustainable to serve that tough and keep all of those in there coming back down to earth Sun rippin down the line for the score that's a better line swing we want to saw her miss some out of bounds earlier but this time she swings a good five feet inside the sideline son working on a double double now 11 kills 10 digs [Applause] there is played on cue right out of the back row after a perfect pass by O'Brien now if I were the Braska I would actually try to serve Quade there and slow her down from that very approach if she has to make the first contact it's much more difficult to run a pattern that that quick [Applause] son off-speed and Nicklin Hames missed it just out of bounds a break for Illinois [Applause] uline I back within one good short serve tied now at nine [Applause] looks looking up at the scoreboard wondering if remember he called those two early timeouts in the second set to try to stop the bleeding son looking to go high hands and got the touch nice high flat swing by number 10 Lexi son [Applause] hailey dens burger coming on to play defense out his difference obviously given way [Music] [Applause] or to pass dens burger all over that son very short approach Doug nicely down the line by Illinois [Applause] son ripping into the cross court dug by the Libra or Brian another nice huh good read by Cooper in the right back for Illinois and over the top of the block and down for Alexi sons [Applause] [Music] [Applause] I sure liked it when she mixes in speeds you saw the hard driven ball she had earlier in that rally really didn't give Illinois a lot of trouble but if you mix speeds and locations keep that defense much more off-balance take a smart swing and get ahead in the point and then really get a quality opportunity in transition after the Miss serve Nebraska leading just by one [Applause] schwartz and ba just missed that it carried long unforced error there and so here come the Illini a lot of unforced errors in this set carts for Nebraska for both teams quite frankly tied at 11 now this is probably the lowest level of play of the four were set so far Sun Cup and back to the line gets that to go it was well in Chris Thomas talking to his blockers may be given Lexy Sun way too much lion guard well she just made a really smart shot a couple of plays ago I don't know if she had to work so hard to make something out of nothing on that just as he said create trouble and get to where you're winning within the rally when they call that shot out of bounds by Sun excuse me that one is good on the off-speed shot just out of the reach of Wade well I thought that first swing for a Lexy Sun was good I'm surprised that didn't get a challenge good set to the right side that Prince coming through number eight and white really good offense for Illinois Capri Davis comes back on this very specialized substitution to beyond just for the one swing or one side out in rotation number one if they'd like to have a right-hander come in the hitting shoulder is inside the court Schwartz and off nice play on the wrist away he is really an interesting story when she was just a sophomore in high school word got out at the easy stop on us 77 farmers used to gather their four cups of coffee and they said what have you heard about this young woman we hope sure shoot she sure goes to Nebraska they told some of the Nebraska coaches about it they couldn't really get her name rice but then sorted things out and now she it there she is starring you don't need a name when you see somebody six five right good set to the O dug by Maloney but cannot be controlled yeah the one on one that recruiting store is a so Nebraska from the tip comes from a farmer's daughter to a farmer to another farmer to that farmer's daughter who was the Annie bus Patel he hit to the head coach and there she is had a fantastic freshman season [Applause] set an all-time record dick Kali schwartzen-muth with a hundred and seventy blocks all-time record for any freshman in Nebraska history tied at 14 who's gonna make a move who's going to raise their level can Illinois close out Nebraska Nebraska force a pip set that ball missed out-of-bounds long no touch called and we've come to a timeout teams will head to the sidelines Illinois and Nebraska Nebraska still in a must-win situation to force a fifth set [Music] [Applause] [Music] we met last Nebraska huddle jong-kook talking to the players and saying that keep the pressure on Jacqueline played of Illinois they've been serving her trying to keep her too occupied to get into a rhythm hitting he said we think we're getting to her she's hitting it out she's having a hard time so see them continue to put the pressure on her Holly but Illinois comes back with a perfect pass good threat in the middle and Poulter with a nice choice going out to Quaid one-on-one yep it's in one of the rotations where Quaid does not have to stand in the serve reception formation much easier for her to attack when she doesn't have to worry about making the first contact good lineup for Illinois Bastian Ellie Quaid and Poulter but the service is missed by Cooper that's a big miss in that situation [Music] Illinois won the first set after a pretty nervous start 25 22 easy win here 25 16 in the second then Nebraska must win took the third 2523 shanked pass and a service winner for Nebraska Lexie son back there in the middle of it very nicely done by Megan Miller Miller having success right down the sideline defensive specialist at defensive specialist now and that ball served just out of bounds just a little bit long and John Cook leans back the Nebraska coach and takes a deep breath he just wants to give his block and deal and to Jeff this is the best defense in all of college volleyball outside defect he again high up into the block good soft touch by Illinois and there is played out in the back row on the big the back row quick in transition and that's what's so nice when Illinois can get Morgan O'Brien their libro to touch the first ball because then Quaid is free to run her offensive pattern that leaves almost no time oh no a good touch no not at all that ball read but a good block by stiffer ins here to get in front of way that was a break for Nebraska it sure was that should have been an easy call that is a tough place to hit that ball from because now Quaid is blind she's looking way to her right she can't see where the block is that's why that first touch is so important to put it closer to the net off-speed Maloney is there close to a lift on son [Music] [Applause] there's a good touch very nice contact on the dick a better block Lexy Sun stuffed by Poulter with some help from Bastian le now Poulter is one of the better blocking setters in the country and it helps to pick a good spot it also helps to be six foot two getting your hands way across the net tight pass looking for stiffer ins off the edge of the block and down nice play by six foot four sophomore Lawrence difference 19:18 dens burger on to serve for the Cornhuskers John cook signaling fist area six right down the middle good pass Lexi's son that's the first ball that she's really cranked on in a long time beautiful swing into the deep cross-court corner and it forces a timeout for Illinois and that's the kind of swing she finished the match against Oregon with in the regional final developing more confidence as this season goes along having gotten a late start with the injury Lexie son now with 15 kills matching Mikayla pecky for a team-high timeout called Nebraska on top 20 to 18 if this match this semifinal goes 5 sets the record so far Illinois a perfect 5 and oh when they have to go to the 15-point tiebreaker Nebraska is 2 and 2 so far on the year [Music] both teams still on the sideline this is so big when they come out ESPN has a tripleheader of bowls on Saturday the New Mexico bowl followed at 5:30 by the Raycom media Camellia Bowl and then wrapping up the night with the rnl carriers New Orleans bowl Middle Tennessee taken on appalachian state college football pulls all day Saturday on ESPN and of course be sure and join us at 9 o'clock Eastern time for the NCAA Championship match it will either be Illinois or Nebraska taking on the Stanford Cardinal who Viet kind adriana fitzmorris Morgan hints and Catherine Plummer were nearly flawless tonight in a three sets to none win over BYU [Music] [Applause] [Music] there's a quick reminder of the bracket Stanford was really impressive in a ways to go in this one Nebraska with a two-point advantage late in the fourth dens burger oh that ball missed out of bounds badly by Prince [Applause] [Music] fleming hitting left side prints on the right side and look for Quaid out of the back row you called it carts this might be a good time to serve Quaid and maybe even serve her short they miss her there watch the dump there it is boy you could see it coming yep but you have a freshman middle a lot of things coming at her and Kelly Schwartz Bach chitlins Horsham buck just couldn't get her eyes to the right things you'd never even saw a hand go up in the air to slow that down nice pass chance for Illinois and they get it Fleming out of the middle the transfer for Pacific right on time Illinois back within one well now the tables are returned to snow Braska go to Becky here out of the back row cart this is one of those rotations they had so much trouble if they can get any kind of pass but harden Poulter lets them off the hook that was a huge miss by Poulter there are certain rotations fall especially when Mikael effec is in the back row where you really want the serve to go in even if it's a little easier just because you have the advantage she can't swing as effectively out of the back row shank pass aims with the ace23 20 Nebraska timeout called by Illinois and the Nebraska fans who travel better than any program in volleyball history are starting to get very excited about the possibility of a fifth set Nebraska led the nation in attendance once again at over 8,000 at the beautiful Devaney Center all of the Big Ten just does a magnificent job of drawing fans because they win a lot of matches in the Big Ten once again seven teams in the tournament and all season long half of the top ten was teams from the Big Ten five out of the top eight yeah yeah five out of the top eight seats thank you for that and taking over from Hawaii I think it was in 2013 Hawaii had led attendance for over 20 years but never Aska has sold out close to 300 and straight home matches now mentioned that Lexie son was tied with Mikayla feck for the kill lead let's take a look at Sun the Texas transfer scored some really important points for Nebraska here late [Applause] yeah remember it was near the end of the first game a few unforced errors she's generally doing an improved job of making the other team play the ball if she doesn't have a swing on it and much cleaner really struggled like the rest of Nebraska Cornhuskers through the first two sets in particularly but remember we saw the numbers from Mikayla Becky in the third backs against the wall facing elimination from this tournament the last match of her career she goes seven of 17 with one air hits 389 does Becky two points away from forcing a fifth set tiebreaker seems like she wants to play one more meant one more night pass nice up by Maloney Maloney laid out and jazz sweet into the cross board beautiful play by Nicklin Hames yes Maloney with a great play and Haynes putting something hittable up for set points for Nebraska [Applause] sweet off the top not yet Bologna again lexi side through the block and down lexy son and nebraska go on a seven to run to close out the fourth and we're tied at two sets of peace Nebraska wins the fourth once again facing a must-win situation they take down Illinois 25 20 [Music] you you you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] you you you hard way they were well we're going five and you were looking at the stats cartoon talking to them talking to me about them and Illinois's numbers are trending in the wrong direction as this match has gone along yeah 269 efficiency in the first two 41 200 and then a meager 156 in the fourth every match every set less efficient than the last both of these teams playing in the big 10 are very experienced at going the distance Nebraska went 5 against Creighton carts you talked about that at Penn State at Wisconsin Penn State again that was the big match that they won in early November to really get themselves back on track and for Illinois they had a couple of five setters very early Colorado State in Northern Colorado then at Purdue two and two for Nebraska in five set matches and five and OH for Illinois remember playing to 15 start much more important in the short time a Corrine each team with one additional challenge Nebraska has yet to loot use a challenge in this match so they have four challenges left and Illinois has three Wow and Illinois chooses to get Jacqueline played at the net right off the bat she's in the Left Front they want to give her the most front row chances huge block back into Lexie son's head want to give Quaid the most offensive chances in this fifth and abbreviated tiebreaker set what a block by opposite number 15 Megan Cooney at 6-foot for just a sophomore working on son back to son again going off speed getting the ball to the floor this was right before the set started one of the two captains Mikayla Becky telling her teammates and take a deep breath I think they listen when she tells them what to do even when it means breathing could tell them anything and they're gonna listen right now by Becky demanding the ball instead outside to son waits first swing of the tiebreaker dug by Maloney [Applause] back to Quade nice up what a dig by Nicklin Hames oh the ball is missed played out of the middle Fleming was surprised by it shanked it out of bounds all errors are magnified in this tiebreaker 2:15 [Applause] nice stick by Nicola names twenty three double-doubles on the year new program record for the freshman setter and another day [Applause] Quade again through the blocking down [Applause] well that's not an easy kill for quid the Bo's coming from off the net so she's a little blind to this to the blockers as she's looking backward still finds the space around the block 25 kills 4 played the next highest is Prince well and Cooney with 7 apiece if she does dominate the offense Kylee brooder on to serve and misses that that's a tough situation that was brooders first time on the floor so far in the match came in that's a tough one teams will change sides at 8 you do get two team timeouts same format in terms of tos as if the match or the set I should say were played 2:25 Nebraska looking cross-court hit zone 5 perfect pass Maloney ran out of room really good offense Boyd Poulter was beautiful there with the delivery and she was wise because the Nebraska block was leaning toward their star they're all at first team all-american Quaid you see McHale effect he's just getting into the play they're very late because they were so focused on the ball going to the other sideline and back-to-back miss serves boy are those amplified and going back to the very beginning of this match when Illinois won the first couple of sets most of the reason that they had the advantage because Chris Thomas's team was magnificent from the service line Nebraska leading by one [Applause] while over-the-top and touched in the backcourt by lexi sun really smart shot over the top that might have been sailing along but the best thing to do on this is get to arms on that even if it goes straight up baloney will be chasing you behind and be able to make a play really good location by Bastian Ellie Wow three miss serves consecutively for Illinois Wow and you're seeing the inexperience of Illinois never having played in a none of these players ever having played in a national semis versus so many of the experienced players led by Mikael effecti and Kenzie Maloney for Nebraska prints rolling over the top cannot be kept alive that time defensively by Miller and now obviously this serves going to be in the court but it's probably because of the three previous misses it's going to be a lollipop here tied at five Illinois's got to be very happy absolutely tied five five with three missed serves pretty tough serve after those misses yeah given the circumstances that was pretty tough that ball might have been traveling out of bounds maybe the defender thought that there have been touch on the block and I don't think there was karch I don't think there was either it was definitely flying out that went well over the block and Quade couldn't get out of the way no there was absolutely no touch way over the top of the block six five Nebraska leading what a pass nobody up the delivery by poulter again what a save by Jordan Poulter that ball almost going over the net and rather than attacking right there she could have attacked but she chose instead to set it behind set down the line dug too tight Eames trying to keep the ball alive but cannot and Illinois survives three missed serves to take the 7-6 lead in the fifth and now it's Nebraska not taking care of some plays that are really not that difficult digging the ball right on top of the net there's a better touch got to go to stiffer ins no doubt about it in system go to your all-american middle blocker out of Arizona and how about the freshman center and then Clint Haines continuing to locate stiffens so consistently finding urn in her what we would call a hitter's window every time difference 8 of 15 no errors hitting over 500 teams will change sides after this point chance for Nebraska big sweat yep all set way too tight son off the top of the block and down side change here in the Twin Cities Nebraska leading eight to seven huge swing by Lexy Sun that's the kind of swing Nebraska is looking for from her assertive into the court I over the block with her big jump going right down to the wire here a timeout called here at the Target Center and earlier it was the Stanford Cardinal Tammy L Elad a leading the way a tremendous defensive performance in the backcourt but particularly just dominant blocking for the Stanford Cardinal 17 while stuff blocks their check the record book their average is about three and a half per set that would take them to about ten in a three-set match way over that I've got the record book I'll have it by Saturday Mary Ann I ain't got time I got time I need the number of blocks in a three-set match and I'll look that up Illinois know what wins all-time versus Stanford Nebraska playing I'm pretty even Stanford one of the two winningest programs seven NCAA titles along with Penn State and Nebraska up to five Nebraska and Stanford are the two teams that have more tournament wins than any other program in history the NC double-a volleyball tournament started back in 1981 USC was the first champion Stanford has a hundred and twenty three match wins now 124 in Nebraska has 111 Kevin Hamley second-year head coach after leaving Illinois for the Stanford Cardinal looking pretty relaxed right now [Applause] michaela fekir ially has yet to put her stamp on this fifth set overpass Sun against two blockers cross sport done by O'Brien yeah what enough by O'Brien Becky out of the back row off the edge of the block and down Mikayla Becky that is her first kill so far in the fifth set she had four for Nebraska in the fourth nine seven is the advantage for the defending national champions tight set [Applause] [Music] Doug by Becky on target son into the cross courts and off the top of the block what a beautiful swing by Illinois [Applause] now I agree with you Carson you said it earlier Illinois has got to look up at the board and go wait a minute we've missed so many opportunities we've missed three serves no only down by one got to be feeling really good about that then they have Quaid now back up to the front row Becky soon to follow tough serve tight for Sun Wow that ball has to come up absolutely Lexy Sun is just doing whatever she can to throw it and make some trouble I'm stunned it made that much trouble for Poulter son now with 18 kills Becky was 17 [Music] good serve Wade's going to get a look at this pretty good set a good look indeed through the block and down plus set clutch swing by Illinois what a set from 30 feet away [Applause] jerilyn wells coming up big for Illinois on that set Illinois trailing by one always serve what a tough sir by Fleming was a rocket timeout here for Nebraska you have two timeouts in this set to only 15 there it is I thought that might be coming what a rocket that time by Fleming we're gonna go right down to the wire it was Illinois winning the first two sets and quite frankly Karthik arrived dominating Nebraska and then Nebraska with their backs against the wall win at 25 23 Mikayla Fekete with a lot of help from Lexie son forced the fifth and here we are after that serve tied at 10 really a perfect time out on that one only because that serve was so tough you don't want another one just like it to come you want to give her a minute to think about it then just like you would ice a free throw shooter your ice in the server Wow can fling come back out and do that again remember last year Fleming was playing at the university of Pacific where Chris Thomas was an all-american setter and she transferred after really a productive couple of years at Pacific to join the Fighting Illini and fill a huge hole in the middle Bastian le was there but Fleming has come on your coaching Flemming do you tell her to come back and just serve as hard as you can again or do you dial it back a little bit I tell her to hit the serve that she's been hitting all season I don't know if that last one was the first he said hitting Holtz you said you would hope so I don't know if you could hit it that hard and get it in nine out of ten that that would be our goal to get it in about 90% of the time if you're serving in every time you're not serving tough enough but that was an absolute rocket so I say hit your serve that you're comfortable with if that's her serve I'm looking for the notice that she has a hundred and forty seven aces nobody can pass that no no no Mikayla fetch is an expert passer and she was absolutely tied in knots tied at 10 yeah let's keep an eye on Flemming let's see how her routine holds up she takes a breath she hit a good one and that's another scoring opportunity for Illinois Oh ball set way too tight tipped over the top Capri Davis nothing over the top of the block number 9 in red what a clutch kill for Davis and she's in just to do that in left front checks out did her job she missed a couple of those earlier but that's huge 1110 Nebraska Becky is back in the left front for the Cornhuskers [Applause] 'we taking a tough swing down the line and good what a rip just slashing it down the line you still got a favor nebraska that's two plays where illinois' been in huge trouble their setters not touching the ball and they get a good set and Quaid saves them but that is not gonna cut it over the long haul the next five or six plays against the nation's best walk and be tied at 11 Swede over the top cross-court the platooning of that rotation in the opposite Capri Davis and then sophomore jazz sweet 1211 Nebraska [Applause] Quade Becki to extend the lead missed it out of bounds Wow tied at 12 perfect set the all-american and two-time most outstanding player of this championship just missed it wide and the quade for Illinois now in the backcourt if they get an easy dig look for her on that fast Bick timeout called by John cook and want to talk about all the possible scenarios not a timeout it is a challenge Thank You karch I would have thought it was a pretty good time out to talk about Quade being in the back girl pretty good timing but the challenge will suffice so challenging that Becky's cross-court attack caught a piece of Bastian Ellie I wasn't thinking it was that close to the block that's the Quaid swing I don't think it was that close to the block I thought the closer call might have been whether it was in or out cross-court on that sideline but let's see well remember that the video review system now has combined the one category of touch off the block or in and out yeah so it looks like they're taking a look at both O'Brien certainly thought it was out of bounds how big how big is this call Stevens the middle for Nebraska was calling for a touch but the two views we've seen I have not seen a touch on the on the Illinois middle blocker and rather unlikely both Illinois and Nebraska still have three challenges remaining I'm surprised in a match that has gone on this long another look let's see [Applause] well look at look at look at her left pinkie watch her left pinkie bastian Elly's left pinkie what do you think maybe maybe it got moved well but it has to be I'm glad I don't have to make this call it has to be 100% conclusive the initial ruling was no touch ball out of bounds how big is this I'm not sure I found that to be conclusive well they've already changed the score on the scoreboard in the arena cart to 13 11 and the Nebraska fans are loving that it still says 12 all we have yet to get the official announcement [Applause] [Applause] touch off the block kill to Fekete and it is 1311 for Illinois has really got to dig in right now that is a tough call just saw the left Fink little finger of Bastian Ellie moved the slightest amount and again the second referee decided that it was absolutely conclusive [Applause] Schank pass match point for Nebraska timeout called by Illinois Nebraska was down two sets to none earlier this year to a really good team from Creighton in front of 14,000 people not the kind of thing you'd wish for down two cents to zero the last match the last set potentially for the wonderful careers of Mikayla Becky and Kenzie Maloney and they found a way to pull this out or at least give themselves an opportunity 14 to 11 first of three match points and you know Paul that's one of the marks of a great team that you're not paying close to your best and you figure out a way to do it one point away from advancing not even close to Nebraska's best volleyball credit Illinois for absolutely of that particularly they're serving early what a record four straight national semifinals had never been done during all the years of tremendous success at the University of Nebraska 20 and one in the NCAA tournament 51 and two for fecund Maloney in the months of November and December match point for the defending champions good lineup you've got Becky sweet and stiffer ins up front and Maloney obviously a wonderful defender in a very very good server they got to be thinking Quaid all the way absolutely Illinois can do this but they have to they got to get it done here [Applause] weighed down the line dug by Hames Becki Nebraska comes back from two sets down what a performance by the Nebraska Cornhuskers struggling Illinois giving them not only a lot but more than they wanted through the first couple of sets and then Nebraska remember the third parts 25-23 the Nebraska again 25 20 and then that big reversal on the touch to give Nebraska the 1311 advantage and Mikayla pecky closes his out closes it out with her 19th kill she was really struggling early but look at where she finishes hitting 306 Nebraska in the championship for the ninth time the two winningest programs of all time in terms of match wins will play on Saturday for the championship celebration or relief both yeah yes wonderful season for Illinois tremendous career for number one Jordan Poulter Ali Bastian le to the national semifinals let's go to Holly Rowe what a night your backs against the wall down in the third set you had to rally back what were the moments your group together how did you survive I think our connection with one another really pulled us together in a tie and we went to fight we didn't want this to be our last game and you know we're really excited right before the fifth set you had your arms around everybody hands in the air touching each other and you asked everybody to take a deep breath how did your leadership in that moment help you guys find some confidence in that subset yeah we always try to go back to the zone and the zone is where we are best in so taking a deep breath usually gets us there and sometimes out to remind them to calm down a little bit you guys were not calm after the end that dog pile in the semi-final was like your dog pile in the national championship last year how relieved were you to survive in advance honestly I'm still proud of my teammates I mean it reminds me kind of AB last year playing Penn State and you know we definitely couldn't done it without each other and everyone pulled together and fought really hard so now for the third time in your career you're on to the championship match what is going to be important as you face a big Stanford team I think the biggest thing is just going to be coming together and playing as a team in one unit all right they call you miss December I think it's continuing the street thanks Mikayla thank you congratulations to Nebraska and the theme all season long has been we over me and it took all of the we you could possibly muster for Nebraska to pull this one out against a very very tough team from Illinois so the championship is set a number one seed Stanford let's take a look at champion area I should say match point once again Illinois was not gonna let this one go quietly and how appropriate Mikayla pecky over the top of the block and down to close things out let's go back to Holly Rowe the coach I think he was saying in your program every day Mikayla Becky I think every day she has shown up for you here in the NCAA tournament how did she kind of help take that match over and keep your team steady you know we talked about her inner confidence you know and even though we were down Oh - she just kept on like you guys we're gonna win this and she's been that way her whole career she believes and she makes plays and she's nothing nothing bothers her you have a freshman as a setter for the first time in Nebraska history and yet that kid out here critical dig critical ace how has she shown up for you well I was about ready to wring her neck the first two games but she really settled in and did a great job and you know we recruited her to be the setter here her freshman year replacing Kelly that is not an easy thing and she's a great competitor and you guys saw it tonight I wondered early in this match if there was pressure to repeat and now you find yourself in the championship against a good Stanford team do you absorb that pressure at all no this match tonight we knew it was gonna man you know it's gonna be a five-game ER and this is this is big ten baby it's like this every week in the big ten these five gamers back and forth and you know Illinois is a great team they've got great players and this is a really big win for us but this is like I said it's the big ten and now we'll rest up and get ready for Stanford all right we'll see you on Saturday coach thank you yes Thank You Holly congratulations to John Cook into the championship match once again well the conversation of course boils down to now there are only two we started a couple of weeks ago with 64 your thoughts looking forward to Stanford and Nebraska Stanford they have that group that won two years ago led by Player of the Year last year possible Player of the Year this year McHale effects sorry as Katherine Plummer against McHale effect and her crew what a great final this should be yeah in the two winningest programs in the history of college volleyball going at one another on Saturday night thanks so much for joining us here in Minneapolis as the national semifinals came back to Minneapolis for the first time in 30 years once again our final score Nebraska three sets to two over Illinois coming up next to SportsCenter be sure to join us on Saturday as I just mentioned 9:00 Eastern on espn2 for the national championship between Stanford and Nebraska for karch comp all good night from the twin cities

Channel: NCAA Championships

Views: 443,480

Rating: 4.8406749 out of 5

Keywords: NCAA, ncaa sports, college sports, nebraska volleyball, nebraska v. illinois, 2018 ncaa volleyball championship, women's volleyball, volleyball, full replay, full broadcast, ncaa volleyball semifinal

Id: EBp-i8NGVkU

Length: 148min 27sec (8907 seconds)

Published: Wed Nov 06 2019