Defending champion Nebraska dropped the first set but rallied for a 3-1 win over Florida.
EUGENE, Ore. - The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team topped No. 10 Florida, 3-1 (25-27, 25-15, 25-16, 25-21), to begin the 2016 season at the VERT Challenge at Matthew Knight Arena on the University of Oregon campus on Friday night.
The Huskers (1-0) rallied from a first-set defeat to take the next three sets convincingly for their 17th straight win dating back to last season. The Huskers were balanced offensively with four players recording double-digit kills. Kadie Rolfzen led the charge with 16 kills, seven digs and four blocks. Mikaela Foecke had 15 kills and hit .538 with just one error on 26 attacks. Andie Malloy had 12 kills and six digs, and Briana Holman had 10 kills and a match-high seven blocks in her Husker debut. Amber Rolfzen added seven kills and two blocks.
Setter Kelly Hunter coordinated the comeback with 47 assists, 13 digs, seven kills, two aces and two blocks. Justine Wong-Orantes had a match-high 21 digs.
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The Huskers hit an efficient .385 and held Florida (0-1) to .260 hitting. NU had a 5-1 edge in service aces and 9.5 to 4.0 advantage in blocks. The Huskers also outdug Florida, 68-57.
Alex Holston had 18 kills and nine digs for the Gators. Carli Snyder had 16 kills and 16 digs.
Nebraska faces No. 2 Texas on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (CT) in a rematch of last year's national title match.
#Huskers close out the match, taking Set 4.@BigBuckHunter3 with 47 assists, 7 kills & 13 digs.#GBR
— Husker Volleyball (@Huskervball) August 27, 2016
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