If there’s one thing the Nebraska volleyball women’s team hasn’t experienced this Big Ten season—it’s losing. Seriously, these ladies are on a roll, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. With a jaw-dropping 13-0 record in conference play and 23-1 overall, they’re currently sitting on a 20-game winning streak. Talk about impressive. Whether they’re at home (15-0), away (7-1), or neutral sites (1-0), these Huskers just keep getting the job done. But before they can focus on the big Oregon challenge ahead, one of their rising stars, Kennedi Orr, just found herself in the spotlight.

Orr, a 6-foot setter with a knack for serving, has been a key part of the Nebraska volleyball’s success this season. Her teammates couldn’t help but sing her praises, especially on her birthday, when they took to X to shower her with love. Lexi Rodriguez summed it up perfectly in a press conference, saying, “I think she has a huge impact, more than just going in, serving and playing defense. She’s just such a consistent person who’s gonna work her b*tt off and make everyone around her better, day in and day out and I mean, I think she pushed a lot of people, she supports a lot of people and it’s definitely, she’s a vital part of the team.”

Rodriguez further added how many pass critical comments like, “Oh, she goes in, serves, plays great defense,” however, the teammate clarifies, “She [Kennedi Orr] adds so much more than that than most people see.” This was backed by Merritt Beason, who then added, “I mean there’s a lot of things that Kenna does for this team, but I mean how you see her on the court, just like light-hearted, really joyful, really excited to be here, that’s how she is off the court.” 

Beason continued to add that the Nebraska volleyball star, Kennedi Orr, can also be trusted to bits: “There’s never been a moment where I have been like I can’t go to Kenna or anything like that.” Beason agreed that Kennedi’s always been a great teammate first and that’s what makes her special, regardless of her position. Interestingly, even Beason touched on Kennedi being consistent and showing up every day, no matter what.

Off the court, Kennedi’s been racking up some serious academic achievements. She’s earned the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar award two years running (2022 and 2023), and she’s been named to the Academic All-Big Ten list three times. Her commitment to both volleyball and academics is undeniable, and it’s no wonder her presence has helped switch up the team’s playing style this season. Talk about a well-rounded player!

Here’s a quick peek at her stats from last season: Kennedi played in 29 matches as a serving sub, notching 39 digs, seven aces, and three assists. Her best performance came in her season debut, where she posted five digs against Long Beach State. And she didn’t stop there—she served an ace in seven different matches. This girl does it all. So yeah, it’s pretty clear—Kennedi Orr has been a game-changer for the Nebraska volleyball team this season. And they’re cruising through the competition with yet another win.

Nebraska Volleyball’s late-night win against the Ducks

The Nebraska volleyball team sure knows how to handle a challenge—especially when it’s against a powerhouse like Oregon. In a high-energy, late-night showdown at Matthew Knight Arena, the No. 2 Huskers proved why they’re unbeaten in Big Ten play, sweeping No. 12 Oregon 3-0 (25-12, 26-24, 25-18). Talk about a statement win! The crowd of over 8,500 fans was treated to a spectacle, but it was the Huskers who were the real showstoppers.

Nebraska volleyball came out strong, taking an 11-6 lead with a quick 5-0 run in the first set and cruising to a 25-12 win thanks to a dominant defense, including a key block from Andi Jackson. Set two got a bit spicy as the Ducks tried to rally, but Nebraska wasn’t fazed. A clutch ace from Harper Murray and a successful challenge by John Cook flipped the momentum, with Murray sealing the set at 26-24. The third set was a little tighter at first, but a 6-0 run and a huge block from Rebekah Allick helped the Huskers pull away, finishing off Oregon 25-18 to complete the sweep.

Harper Murray and Taylor Landfair were the driving forces, combining for 26 kills, with both hitting over .400. Murray also added 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season, while Landfair delivered 13 kills. Lexi Rodriguez made history with 14 digs, passing Kayla Banwarth for second on Nebraska’s all-time digs list. With this win, Nebraska improves to 23-1 overall and stays perfect at 13-0 in Big Ten play. Up next: a road showdown with Washington. The Huskers are on fire, and they’re proving they’re the team to beat!