LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – No. 5 Nebraska made quick work of No. 2 Stanford by defeating the Cardinal 25-17, 25-22, 25-14 Wednesday night in Lincoln.

The win is Nebraska’s first over Stanford at the Devaney Center.

“You’re always looking for games that make you believe and show you how they can play,” John Cook said. “They proved it tonight.”

Lindsay Krause and Andi Jackson each contributed nine kills, with Merritt Beason adding eight. Defensively, the Huskers held Stanford to just a .100 hitting percentage throughout the match.

Nebraska jumped out to a 9-2 lead on kills by Krause, Jackson, Beason, Harper Murray and an ace by Lexi Rodriguez. The Cardinal would never get within five points for the rest of the set. Beason hit a haymaker for the set point kill, giving the Huskers the win, 25-17. Nebraska hit .406 in the frame, holding Stanford to .114.

Stanford played a close game in the second set. Nebraska struck first again, with an 8-2 run, but the Cardinal countered with an 8-0 stretch to take the lead. Trailing 18-16, the Huskers used the momentum of back-to-back kills from Jackson and a service error from the Cardinal to take a 20-18 lead. Beason came through again with set point to give Nebraska a 2-0 set lead, 25-22.

Set three started like the previous two, with the Huskers opening up a healthy 8-4 lead. The Cardinal showed little fight as Rebekah Allick recorded a kill and two assisted blocks to put Nebraska ahead 12-6. Back-to-back aces from Harper Murray extended the Huskers’ lead before Lindsay Krause delivered match point to seal the sweep, 25-14.

Nebraska now heads on the road for another Top 5 battle, taking on No. 4 Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

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