No. 1 Nebraska rallies for reverse sweep over No. 7 Kentucky

NASHVILLE, Tn. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Despite a dominant start from Kentucky, top-ranked Nebraska battled back from a two-set deficit to complete a reverse sweep on Sunday afternoon.

The Wildcats came out strong, taking the first set 26-24 behind the powerful hitting duo of Brooklyn DeLeye and Eva Hudson. It marked Kentucky’s first set win over a No. 1 ranked team since 2017.

Kentucky carried that momentum into the second set, securing a 25-20 victory while hitting above .230 through both opening frames.

But Nebraska refused to go quietly. In the third set, first-year head coach Dani Busboom Kelly made key adjustments to the Huskers’ lineup, helping them regain control and take the set 25-19.

The fourth set was tightly contested, but Nebraska edged it out 25-23 to force a decisive fifth. The Huskers dominated the final frame 15-8, capping off a gritty comeback to take the win.

DeLeye led Kentucky with 23 kills, while Hudson added 19. Setter Ava Sarafa dished out 43 assists, along with two aces, two kills, and six of the Wildcats’ 12 team blocks.

Kentucky finished the match hitting .168 overall.

Nebraska ended the match with a .221 hitting percentage, holding Kentucky to a negative percentage in the fifth set on 14 total attacks.