Series preview: Gophers volleyball at Nebraska

Friday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. • BTN

U will be No. 4 Nebraska's first ranked opponent

Gophers update: The No. 5 Gophers (8-0) face their first top-five opponent of the season in fourth-ranked Nebraska (6-0). Four of the Gophers' victories have come against ranked teams, including two wins last weekend over No. 8 Penn State. The Gophers have been pushed to five sets in three matches this season, winning all three; they are 16-2 in their past 18 five-set matches. Stephanie Samedy, the reigning Big Ten player of the week, is second in the Big Ten in kills per set (4.29) and contributed 42 kills and 27 digs in the Penn State series. CC McGraw ranks second in the league in digs per set (4.29).

Nebraska update: The Huskers have played only unranked opponents this season, winning two matches each over Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers. Their series against Northwestern on the second weekend of the season was postponed because of COVID issues with the Wildcats. Nebraska has lost only two sets this season and ranks second in the Big Ten in kills per set (14.75) and assists per set (13.2). Senior Lexi Sun leads the team with 3.80 kills per set and has a team-high 10 aces; senior Lauren Stivrins tops the Big Ten with a .518 hitting percentage.

Rachel Blount