Fifth-ranked Gophers volleyball team topples No. 3 Nebraska, alone in Big Ten lead

The fifth-ranked Gophers volleyball team picked up another notable victory, beating No. 3 Nebraska 25-20, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21 Saturday in Lincoln, Neb., to take sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.

In ending the Cornhuskers' 14-match winning streak, the Gophers (12-2, 6-0 Big Ten) picked up their third victory over a top-10 team in the Big Ten. They beat then-No. 4 Penn State and then-No. 5 Wisconsin last month at home.

The Gophers hit .280 to Nebraska's .194 and had four players with double-digit kills vs. the Cornhuskers (14-2, 5-1): Adanna Rollins (17), Taylor Morgan (13), Alexis Hart (11) and Stephanie Samedy (10). Samantha Seliger-Swenson had 45 assists, 14 digs and six kills.

Morgan hit .500 for the match and did not make an error in her first 20 attempts.

"Our unity is our strength," Morgan said in a television interview after the match. "We work every single day on tense moments, and it's prepared us for [matches] like this. We were prepared."

The Gophers racked up 77 digs, led by 18 from Samedy and 17 from Lauren Barnes.

"That gave us a few more swings, a few more opportunities to score," coach Hugh McCutcheon said. "Really proud of the defensive effort."

The only longer streaks are Minneota (48, 1986-89), Grand Meadow (51, 2013-17) and Stephen-Argyle (76 , 2003-08).

Caledonia moved past Minneapolis Washburn, which won 46 in a row from 1968 to '73.

JOEL RIPPEL

• The Gophers rowing team dominated three of four races in the Head of the Mississippi Regatta in their only home regatta of the season.

• Gophers senior Muyu Wu shot an even-par 72 and was tied for ninth in the Ron Moore Women's Intercollegiate in Highlands Ranch, Colo.