Nebraska Volleyball continues its remarkable 28-0 unbeaten run under head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. With the regular season winding down, the Huskers are inching closer to a perfect finish, as their final stretch features two games against Penn State and Ohio State.
However, the spotlight will be firmly on Friday’s clash with Penn State as the team gears up for the “Blackout” game. Even Busboom Kelly admits expectations are sky-high for what the environment will feel like inside the Devaney Center.
What Is Dani Busboom Kelly Expecting From the Blackout Game?
When asked about her thoughts ahead of the matchup, Busboom Kelly described the atmosphere as something special. While Nebraska fans always bring energy, she believes the experience will be elevated by thousands dressed in black. Notably, fans were asked to sport black outfits for the Friday clash.
Busboom Kelly added that Penn State brings a different level of intensity to any matchup. Their powerhouse status lends the game a big-time feel, making it one of the most highly anticipated clashes for fans.
In her pre-match media interaction, Busboom Kelly shared: “Well, I think it’ll be pretty great. I think it’ll be like it always is, but with everybody wearing black. So, I do think Penn State will be, you know, it’s fun to have it in a big name.”
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She then opened up on how she expects the crowd to look, adding, “A match where people are going to be fired up no matter what the opponent’s record is or what our record is. I think that’s always going to be a match people circle on their calendars. So, I’m pretty excited about it. I think it’s the first one ever. So, that’ll be a new sight in Devaney.”
Adding to Busboom Kelly’s excitement, her players, including senior Rebekah Allick, believe the matchup will be filled with energy.
How Does Rebekah Allick View the Rematch with Penn State?
On being asked what she’s looking forward to most about the Black Friday showdown, Allick didn’t hesitate to lean into the excitement. The 2024 AVCA First Serve Showcase MVP discussed the vibe around the game, saying, “Good old rematch. Penn State’s a great team.”
“Obviously, there’s a lot of lore there and we’re not one to shy away from fun conversation and so I think it’ll be a really good game. Just a really good atmosphere. The fans will be into it. Also, there’s a theme at play. Just a lot of hype around the match,” she added.
Allick went on to share that Nebraska knows how to handle these high-energy environments and believes the Huskers play some of their best volleyball when the stakes are high. Notably, in their previous clash this season, Nebraska swept the Nittany Lions 3-0, following a tough loss to them in last season’s NCAA Women’s Championship semifinals.