Nebraska heads to Ann Arbor on Friday looking to keep its unbeaten season rolling after a clean sweep of UCLA and USC at home last weekend. The top-ranked Huskers, still perfect at 20-0, now turn to a road trip that starts against Michigan before a Saturday stop at Michigan State in Lansing.
Friday’s matchup is set for 5:30 on Big Ten Plus.
Michigan comes in at 13-8 and has put together a mixed October, going 4-4 with wins over USC, Iowa, Illinois, and Northwestern and losses to UCLA, No. 13 Oregon, No.
21 Minnesota, and No. 6 Wisconsin.
The Wolverines reached the NCAA tournament in 2025 with an at-large bid, their first appearance since 2021, beat Xavier 3-0 in the opening round, and then fell to Pitt in the second round.
This series has been heavily one-sided for Nebraska. The Huskers have won 26 of 29 meetings with Michigan since 2002, including the last 18 straight dating back to 2011, when Nebraska joined the Big Ten.
Michigan’s offense runs through junior outside hitter Ella Demetrician, who has 319 kills this season, tops in the conference, along with a 4.14 kills-per-set average that ranks third in the Big Ten. Senior outside hitter Sydney Schnichels has added 179 kills and 23 aces.
At setter, Morgan Burke brings the attack together. The senior from Omaha and Skutt Catholic graduate has played 500 sets this season and is 52 assists shy of 3,000 for her career. She also leads the Wolverines with 29 aces.
On the defensive side, sophomore middle Ece Senyapici and junior middle Jenna Hanes have been the main shot blockers, with 80 and 61 blocks, respectively. Freshman libero Meredith Martin leads the Big Ten in digs with 310 and in digs per set at 4.03.
Nebraska’s roster for the trip features Harper Murray, Campbell Flynn, and Gabby DeVita among the returnees heading back to Michigan. The Huskers’ listed lineup includes Bergan Reilly, Virginia Adriano, Laney Choboy, Kenna Cogill, Olivia Mauch, Teraya Sigler, Mania Ogbechie, Andi Jackson, Keoni Williams, Ryan Hunter, Jayden Robinson, Skyler Pierce, and the rest of the deep front-line group that has powered the No. 1 team all season.
Michigan’s roster includes Jaden Jones, Cymarah Gordon, Ece Senyapici, Lydie Johnson, Ellie White, Morgan Burke, Leni Stanton-Parker, Ella Demetrician, Carly Greskovics, Megan Ingersoll, Jenna Hanes, Meredith Martin, Hannah Brady, Camille Edwards, Kapri Garnett, and Sydney Schnichels.
In Other News...
Ryan Walters Just Handed Nebraska Fans More Fuel For Memorial Stadium
Ryan Walters may have done Nebraska a favor without meaning to. The Washington defensive coordinator and former Purdue coach revisited Memorial Stadium in comments that acknowledged the places passionate fan base and the way it can go quiet when the Huskers make plays, a reminder of just how much the environment matters when Nebraska is at home.
Given Walters history with the program and his previous critical remarks, it is no surprise his latest take has landed in Lincoln. Nebraskas athletic department now has fresh material to work with, and fans can probably expect those comments to be hanging around the stadium atmosphere when the next game kicks off. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Gets A Timely Boost As Washington Injury Questions Grow
Matt Rhule said Riley Van Poppel will be back for Nebraskas game against Washington after missing the last two contests with an injury, a welcome development for a defense that can use all the help it can get heading into a tricky matchup. The latest injury report still leaves some moving parts, though, with Gunnar Gottula ruled out and Vincent Shavers listed as questionable.
The timing matters for more than just Saturdays lineup. Nebraska is also set to host more than 50 recruits this weekend, including five-star offensive tackle Antijuan Wilkes Jr., giving the program a big-stage chance to sell its momentum in person while the Huskers try to keep stacking positive news on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Colandrea Just Changed Nebraskas Entire Offseason Plan
A quick round of retention talks ended with Nebraska locking down a major piece of its future, as quarterback Anthony Colandrea agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Lincoln through the 2027 season. The move comes after speculation around the transfer market, but Colandrea made it clear he wanted to stay with the Huskers, giving the program an important bit of certainty at a position that can shape everything else in an offseason.
For Nebraska, the timing matters just as much as the agreement itself. With Colandrea settled in, the coaching staff can turn its full attention to other roster needs instead of wondering whether it would have to replace its quarterback plan, and that kind of stability changes how the rest of the winter can unfold. It also gives the Huskers a clearer foundation heading into the next stretch, even if the bigger roster questions still have to be answered. [Read more 🡒]