“This was a tough loss, but it’s also a learning experience,” said Nebraska head coach John Cook. “We need to go back and watch film and see what we can do better.”

The Mustangs, who entered the match with a 5-3 record, were led by outside hitter Morgan Heise, who had a match-high 18 kills. SMU also benefited from a strong blocking performance, with middle blocker Jadyn Bauss recording six blocks.

Nebraska, which had won its first six matches of the season, struggled to find their rhythm against SMU’s relentless defense. The Cornhuskers hit just .174 as a team and were out-blocked 11-8.

“We were just a little bit off tonight,” said Nebraska libero Kenzie Knuckles. “We couldn’t get into a flow and couldn’t seem to find our timing.”

The loss is a setback for Nebraska, which was ranked No. 4 in the country coming into the match. However, the Cornhuskers will have a chance to bounce back quickly, as they host Iowa State on Wednesday night.

“We’re going to put this behind us and learn from it,” said Cook. “We have a lot of talented players and we’re still capable of great things.”

Nebraska has been one of the most dominant teams in college volleyball in recent years, winning five national championships since 2005. The Cornhuskers entered the 2022 season with high expectations, but their loss to SMU is a reminder that they are not invincible.

The loss to SMU is a wake-up call for Nebraska, who will need to make some adjustments if they want to reach their ultimate goal of winning a national championship. The Cornhuskers will also likely drop in the national rankings after this loss.

In other college volleyball news, Penn State defeated Ohio State in four sets on Saturday night to improve to 6-0 on the season. The Nittany Lions are now ranked No. 1 in the country, while Ohio State has fallen to No. 5.

Nebraska fans were disappointed with the loss to SMU, but they are still confident in the team’s ability to rebound. The Cornhuskers are still one of the most talented teams in the country and they have a lot of experience playing in big games.

Nebraska will host Iowa State on Wednesday night in a match that will be televised on ESPNU. The Cornhuskers will then travel to Minnesota on Saturday night for a match against the Golden Gophers.