Breaking Down the MB Serving Battle

In her most recent interview on The Huskers Radio Network podcast, senior Rebekah Allick made a comment that sparked my intrigue regarding the middle’s serving battle, stating; “it's a pretty good draw between me and Andi right now – either one of us behind the line is a really good pick – but I’m not gonna shy away from wanting that.” Having a middle serve has become somewhat unconventional for Nebraska, who has utilized a serving sub for the majority of the past few seasons, so it’s exciting to see the coaching staff putting faith in two players who have more than owned their respect. We have seen glimpses of what both middles can do from behind the line, and both have the potential to be very capable in the role; here is my analysis on who will get the nod.

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Rebekah Allick served the majority of her freshman season, but was widely inconsistent – either seeming to get an ace or sail it long. After two years of sparse chances, she was able to show off her prowess at the service line during the Ord match. She strung together a 4-0 run, which included a diving dig, two out-of-system sets, a block cover, and an ace. Four years at Nebraska have made her a seasoned veteran, and her all-around game is polished and capable. This offseason, she has emphasized working on improving her serve through intentional reps, and that she “lives for floor defense” – so it’s exciting that she will get an opportunity to fight for that role. Rebekah always gives it her all on the court, and that doesn’t change whether she’s in the front or back row. 

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Andi Jackson is a freak athlete, so naturally she is a menace from the service line. We have yet to see much of her doing so, but in the few chances she has received – she’s made the most of them. A rally comes to mind from the Louisville match last season where she was playing left back defense after serving, not only did she dig DeBeer, but laid on the 7ft line to save a tip shot. While she didn’t get the last swing, which has hammered at her again down the line, if Andi’s pure athleticism and natural instincts were enough to keep the rally alive, it’s scary to imagine her with more defensive training. While Nebraska does do lots of ball control exercises, she is still constrained to her role as a middle blocker, and serving is the only time she has to play backrow. We have already seen that she can be utilized as a sneak attack on the C ball, it’s just a matter of whether her serve can be consistent.

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Both middles bring a different look to the game from the backcourt; Rebekah with her defensive hustle and Andi with her instincts and as an offensive threat. I don’t want to look past the implications of the coaching staff entrusting this role to these players, rather using serving subs to fill in the weaker gaps. Both women have more than proved themselves as valuable assets to the team and deserve chances to contribute in different ways and expand their array of skills. As to who I think will earn the spot, it will come down to consistency and more so – who can deliver in crucial moments. Serving is a mental game more than anything, and the ability to remain stable in a clutch point could be the difference between win and loss. Regardless, I'm excited to see their long frames laying out for pancakes and a sneak peak of what Andi Jackson six-rotations will look like. 

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