No. 20 VB Battles, but Falls Short at No. 1 Nebraska

Friday, September 11

Lincoln, NE

7 p.m.

Baylor

5-2,0-0Big 12

Nebraska

6-0,0-0Big Ten

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Baylor	20	22	24	0
Nebraska	25	25	26	3

Baylor Celebrates a Point in a tight match at Nebraska

No. 20 VB Battles, but Falls Short at No. 1 Nebraska

9/11/2026 9:57:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

Bears become the first team this season to score 20 in multiple sets against the Huskers

By: Matt Roberts

LINCOLN, NEB. – No. 20 Baylor volleyball pushed top-ranked Nebraska Friday night, becoming the first team this season to score at least 20 points in every set against the nation's No. 1 team before falling, 3-0, at Bob Devaney Sports Center.

The Bears (5-2) gave the Huskers (8-0) their closest match of the young season, forcing Nebraska into extra points in the third set after the top-ranked team had allowed opponents to reach 20 points in just one of its first 15 sets entering Friday night.

Ksenia Rakhmanchik led Baylor with 18 kills, while Nadiya Johnson added seven and Bailey Warren finished with six. Victoria Davis was nearly flawless offensively, recording four kills on five attacks for an .800 hitting percentage, while Isabela Haggard directed the Bears with 22 assists. Morgan Madison led Baylor defensively with 15 digs.

RUNDOWN
Baylor came out swinging against the top-ranked Huskers, trading points throughout the opening stages of the first set. The Bears used kills from Warren, Rakhmanchik and Johnson to stay within striking distance, with the teams tied at 10-10. Baylor continued to battle, pulling within three at 20-17 and 21-18, but the Huskers answered with three of the next four points to reach set point before closing the frame, 25-20.

The Bears responded with their strongest offensive stretch of the match in the second set. After Nebraska took the opening point, Baylor scored four straight behind three Rakhmanchik kills, forcing a Husker timeout. Baylor continued to exchange points with the home-standing Huskers and held a 7-5 advantage before Nebraska flipped the advantage to 12-8. The Bears pulled back within one at 16-15 as Rakhmanchik continued to answer Nebraska's runs with nine kills in the set. Baylor closed within a pair at 23-21 and 24-22, but Nebraska finished the set on the following point to take a 2-0 lead.

Baylor saved its best fight for the third set, battling the Huskers point-for-point from the opening serve. BU built an early 5-3 advantage with a 3-0 run capped by an ace from Harley Greek to pull even. The Huskers gradually built themselves a 13-8 lead, but the Bears refused to go away. Baylor chipped away throughout the frame, highlighted by a Rakhmanchik kill to pull within a point at 22-21. BU took the 23-22 lead thanks to a 4-0 run punctuated by Rakhmanchik's 18^th kill of the night. Nebraska answered with four of the final five points of its own to escape with a 26-24 victory and complete the sweep.

GAME NOTES

Baylor moved to 5-2 on the season.
After Nebraska had allowed just one opponent to reach 20 points in 15 sets this season, BU hung 20, 22 and 24 in each of the three sets on Friday.
Isabella Haggard carded a pair of aces, one off her career high (3).
Rakhmanchik finished with 18 kills and has led the Bears in that category in all seven matches this season.
In the match, Rakhmanchik went over 100 for the season (112) and has 479 for her career.
Morgan Madison led Baylor with 15 digs.
Five of Baylor's seven matches this season have been sweeps, including each of the last four.
Nadiya Johnson has hit .375 or better in each of the last two matches.

WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor will then close the Ameritas Challenge on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT against New Mexico. Live stats available all season at BaylorBears.com/Stats.

Season and single-match tickets are on sale now for the 2026 season. You can find them at BaylorBears.com/tickets or by calling the Baylor Athletics Ticket Office at 254-710-1000.

To stay up to date with Baylor Volleyball all year long, follow the program on Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok: @BaylorVBall. Want to support the team? You can do so by giving to the One Way Club.

—Baylorbears.com—