Who is Nebraska’s biggest volleyball rival?

If you ask Nebraska Cornhusker fans who their biggest volleyball rival is, you might get a variety of answers.

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Some may say it’s the Penn State Nittany Lions since the pair have gone against each other in recent years for not only Big Ten titles but national championships, too. The rivalry got even more heated when Penn State defeated Nebraska on its way to winning its national championship last year.

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But old school Huskers fans may look to old Big 12 rivals, the Texas Longhorns. The last time the pair faced each other was in 2023, when they met up in the NCAA Tournament finals, and Texas swept the Cornhuskers 25-22, 25-14, and 25-11.

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Despite the Longhorns moving to the SEC last year and the Cornhuskers heading to the Big Ten, they continue to be hot on the heels of the Huskers, sitting at the No. 2 spot so far this season, and they look as if they aren’t going anywhere.

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Like the Cornhuskers, the Longhorns remain undefeated in conference play, ploying through the SEC so far. But unlike the Cornhuskers, they have dropped a set in conference, most recently to the up-and-coming Alabama Crimson Tide. The Cornhuskers have yet to drop a set in conference play.

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As this season moves along, it becomes more apparent that these two former Big 12 rivals are destined to collide in the NCAA Tournament, but first, the Cornhuskers have to get through the tough Big Ten, and as they found out last year, that may not be an easy task, especially during the postseason. 

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