OMAHA, Neb. - It's the biggest day in college volleyball history as the Mavericks are set to face off with Nebraska in front of a crowd of over 90,000 at Memorial Stadium this Wednesday. The event, dubbed Volleyball Day in Nebraska, is expected to become not just the most attended volleyball match in history, but the most attended women's sporting event ever.

Then, after Wednesday's match, the Mavericks will have a quick turnaround as they head down south to play another Power 5 opponent in Kansas State just two days later.

This Week's Slate

• Wednesday, August 30, Omaha at Nebraska at 7 p.m.
• Friday, September 1, Omaha at K-State at 6:30 p.m.

Quick Hits

• In the opening week of the season, the Mavericks faced off against two formidable Power 5 opponents, Texas A&M and Kansas, in the Omaha Invite presented by Sarpy County Tourism. The Mavericks were defeated 3-1 in their first ever meeting with the Aggies and were later downed 3-0 by the Jayhawks.
• Shayla McCormick and Kali Jurgensmeier each ended the weekend with 20 kills. Both had double-digit kills vs. Texas A&M, with McCormick also totaling 14 digs and three blocks overall and Jurgensmeier finishing with 12 digs and two blocks.
• After four years as an outside hitter and middle blocker, Rachel Fairbanks has now transitioned into being the team's primary libero. Over the weekend, she recorded 14 digs and two service aces in her new role.
• McKenna Ruch is off to another solid start up front with eight total blocks (1.14 blocks/set) and 13 kills through the first two matches. The AVCA All-American Honorable Mention racked up 145 blocks (1.24 blocks/set) and 305 kills (2.61 kills/set) last season.
• Now the team's primary setter for the first time in her career, Olivia Curry has already put up a career single-game best with 35 assists in the season opener vs. Texas A&M. She currently sits at 61 on the season.
• Newcomers Amanda Hardt, Anika Ivester, Erica Fava, Emily Huss, and Olivia Tukuafu all made their Mavericks debuts last week. Fava currently leads the team with 15 digs and three service aces, while Hardt is first among the newcomers with 13 kills and four blocks. It was Ivester, though, who had the biggest kill of the season so far when, during the second set vs. Texas A&M, she knocked one down the line to win the set 27-25 for Omaha. This was the first kill of her career.
• The Huskers will be the third-straight Power 5 opponent the Mavericks face to begin the season. After the K-State match later in the week, the team will play three home games against Long Beach State, No. 18 Creighton, and Iowa State to continue their stacked non-conference slate.

Scouting Nebraska
The Huskers are off to a 3-0 start to their season after sweeping Utah State, Lipscomb, and SMU, all in three sets. Last year they advanced all the way to the NCAA regional semifinals, falling to Oregon in five sets.

Huskers to Watch
Junior libero Lexi Rodriguez is coming off her second consecutive AVCA All-American honors and currently has over 1000 career digs (4.272 digs/set). In three matches this season she has compiled 33 digs.

Sophomore middle blocker Bekka Allick was named AVCA North All-Region as a freshman with 77.5 blocks, 189 kills, and 10 service aces last year. So far this season she has 11 total blocks and 12 kills.

Freshman outside hitter Harper Murray currently leads the Huskers on offense with 33 kills and five aces. Defensively, she also has 21 digs and six blocks on the season.

Series History
Nebraska leads the all-time series at 26-3. The two teams last met in 2021, when the Mavericks went to Lincoln and took the Huskers to five sets, ultimately falling 7-15 in the final set. Omaha's last win in the series came in a five-set victory in 1986.

Scouting Kansas State
The Wildcats are also 3-0 to start their season, notching wins against Portland State, San Diego State, and Cal State Fullerton.

Wildcats to Watch
Five wildcats have already topped 20 kills on the season, with senior outside hitter Aliyah Carter leading the way with 25. The two-time AVCA Midwest All-Region selection had 238 kills (2.78 kills/set) and 132 digs (2.11 digs/set) last season.

Junior setter Izzi Szulczewski has eclipsed 100 assists on the season through the first three matches, recording 41 in the season opener. She also has 38 digs, eight blocks, and five service aces this year. 

Fifth year middle blocker Sydney Bolding is also off to a hot start with 16 blocks and 20 kills so far. An AVCA Midwest All-Region Honorable Mention last year, Bolding totaled 207 kills, 141 blocks, and 38 service aces in 2022.

Series History
Omaha is 6-13 against K-State and has lost 13 in a row in the series, most recently losing in four sets in Baxter Arena back in 2021. It was in 1976 that the Mavericks last beat the Wildcats.