Nebraska’s first Big Ten loss cost the Huskers some ground in the AVCA Top 25.
The Huskers slipped from No. 4 to No. 7 on Monday, as Texas, Minnesota and Kentucky all advanced past NU in the volleyball poll. Nebraska (14-4, 7-1) lost last Wednesday at Wisconsin before winning Saturday night at Purdue.
Nebraska returns home this weekend to play Northwestern on Friday night and Illinois on Saturday night at the Devaney Center.
There was change at the top as Penn State climbed to No. 1 and received 48 of 64 first-place votes. The 17-1 Nittany Lions’ only loss is to Nebraska.
PSU is followed by Stanford, Texas, Florida, Minnesota and Kentucky. Florida relinquished the No. 1 position with its first loss of the season.
Also Monday, Creighton (14-5) moved up one spot to No. 16.
Struggling to stay healthy, junior Olivia Boender decides to end Husker volleyball career
LINCOLN — Junior outside hitter Olivia Boender is retiring immediately from the Nebraska volleyball team because of ongoing health issues, NU announced in a release Monday.
Husker coach John Cook said Boender, from Waverly, Neb., will pursue a medical release. She has appeared in seven matches this season in a reserve role for the Big Ten co-leading Huskers.
“Olivia has been struggling this season to stay healthy, and between her and the doctors it’s been determined that she is going to take a medical release from playing volleyball and end her playing career,” Cook said in a press release.
An athletic department spokesperson said a medical release would allow Boender to continue taking classes at Nebraska, but her scholarship would not count against the Huskers’ limit of 14 scholarships next season. In the release, Cook said Boender is on track to graduate in May.
Boender’s last appearance for the Huskers was less than a week ago when she recorded a kill in a 3-1 loss at Wisconsin. She did not travel to West Lafayette, Ind., for NU’s 3-1 win Saturday at No. 17 Purdue.
“My dream of becoming a Nebraska volleyball player was a dream come true,” Boender said in the release. “Being a part of this program is something that will always hold a special place in my heart. I met some of my closest friends through this program and for that I am forever thankful. And I want to tell the fans that you are truly the greatest fans in the world and I can never thank you enough. My time here was something I’ll cherish forever.”
Boender, the 2013-14 Nebraska High School Gatorade Player of the Year, played in 26 matches during her NU career with several notable performances. Last season, she had a career-high 16 kills on .727 hitting in a win over Montana State and was a key part of the Huskers’ five-set comeback win at Michigan State, scoring eight kills off the bench.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015, Boender sparked Nebraska to another comeback win over Oregon in the VERT Challenge, with 15 kills to help NU rally after dropping the first two sets.
“Olivia has been a really valuable part of our program, and the energy she has brought to games and practices has been second to none,” Cook said. “I’ve loved coaching Liv and with her being from Waverly, watching her fulfill her dream by playing here at Nebraska, it’s unfortunate that it’s ending a little bit sooner than we all hoped.”
Boender’s absence will leave Nebraska with little depth at outside hitter for the rest of the season. True freshman Sami Slaughter, who has yet to record a collegiate kill in two appearances this year, will be the only reserve behind starters Mikaela Foecke and Annika Albrecht.
Nebraska, which was ranked No. 7 in Monday’s coaches poll, will face unranked Northwestern and Illinois at the Devaney Center on Friday and Saturday.
