Gophers volleyball falls to No. 1 Nebraska, awaits NCAA fate

As Maturi Pavilion heaved, as the Gophers volleyball team sent a sold-out crowd into a frenzy, one simple question was answered: Minnesota can compete against the best teams in the country.

That the Gophers lost their regular-season finale to No. 1 Nebraska 25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 25-23, leaves another question unanswered: Will they get to try again in the NCAA tournament next week?

It would seem they have done enough — winning 10 of their final 14 matches to finish fifth in the Big Ten, but it will depend on what the NCAA selection committee decides ahead of Sunday's 5 p.m. announcement of the field of 64.

"They're ready, should they get the opportunity," Gophers coach Keegan Cook said. "They're ready to compete in any venue against any team."

Nebraska put the finishing touches on a dominant regular season, its only loss coming Friday at Wisconsin. The Big Ten champion Cornhuskers are undeniably boisterous and confident with a swirling defense that is unafraid of any slip in play.

The Gophers faced Nebraska for the second time this season, and for the second time, they brought every ounce of effort they had. It was just not enough.

Cook said this weekend would mirror the NCAA tournament: solid competition on Friday in Illinois, one of the best teams in the country on Saturday in Nebraska. Minnesota (16-12, 12-8 Big Ten) passed the first test. The second was thrilling in its attempt.

Long rallies swayed with growing tension, ending with bombs on the attack from the Gophers' Taylor Landfair or Merritt Beason of Nebraska. The Gophers crowd stayed on top of things, pointing out Nebraska faults moments before the refs made the call and roaring when the Gophers won those rallies.

The first two sets were a showcase of Nebraska's floor coverage as they tallied 37 digs. The Cornhuskers showed their relentless effort, making the Gophers seem out of system even when they were in system.

"Extremely high level against a very good defensive team," Cook said. "I challenged them to win long rallies, to win plays at the net, to not stop playing."

The third and fourth sets were an answer to that challenge.

Minnesota trailed Nebraska 17-13 in the third when Zeynep Palabiyik, the freshman defensive specialist out of Turkey, hit a dig that soared over the net for a kill. She stood up, swung her arms in the sky and lit the Pavilion on fire.

The fourth set seesawed with that same energy. The Huskers ultimately showed why they have lost just once all season, as they found the tiniest of cracks in the Gophers defense and soared for a block on Landfair's attack at 24-23 to win in four.

For the match, Nebraska hit .235 with 61 kills compared to 50 kills on a .185 hitting percentage for the Gophers. How tight was the defense on both sides? Nebraska had 69 digs, Minnesota 68.

"Minnesota is much improved from the first time we played them," Nebraska coach John Cook said. "They played at a really high level tonight and we had to play at a really high level. ... I'll be shocked if they're not in the tournament."