Nebraska Cornhuskers Hold On Against Purdue Boilermakers
LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Cornhuskers secured a hard-fought victory against the Purdue Boilermakers on a thrilling night that ended with a score of 3-2. This win extends Nebraska’s impressive home win streak to an unmatched 35 games, the longest in the nation.
The tension in the arena was palpable as neither team was able to create any significant lead. Each set was closely contested, with the points margin being three or fewer in all four sets played. The Cornhuskers won the first set 25-22, showcasing their ability to take charge early on. However, Purdue bounced back, claiming the second and third sets by narrow margins of just a combined five points.
As the teams headed into the fourth set, Nebraska found the support of their home crowd crucial and won it 25-22, forcing the match into a decisive fifth set. In a dramatic turn, Purdue held a match point at 15-14, appearing poised to clinch the win. Yet, Nebraska showed resilience and rallied back, ultimately taking the final set 17-15.
Purdue, which now has a record of 12-4 and 3-2 in the Big Ten, boasted a commendable hitting percentage of .311 compared to Nebraska’s .242. However, costly mistakes, including 19 service errors, proved detrimental to their chances. Nebraska’s Merritt Beason stood out with a season-high 22 kills, contributing significantly to the win.
With this victory, the Cornhuskers improve to 15-1 overall and remain undefeated in the Big Ten at 5-0. The rivalry between these two teams continues, with Nebraska extending its dominance in Lincoln, where Purdue has not won since 2013.
