Nebraska Volleyball’s thrilling comeback bid against Texas A&M in the NCAA Regional Final captivated a record-breaking audience, drawing the largest regional viewership in collegiate volleyball history. The Huskers entered the match as national title favorites, but their championship dreams slipped away as Texas A&M delivered a stunning, high-level performance.
Nebraska closed out its season with a 33-1 record, bringing its undefeated streak to an end. In the Big Ten, they posted a 20-0 record to win the conference title.
How Many People Watched Nebraska Volleyball’s Match Against Texas A&M?
The Huskers stormed through the NCAA tournament, sweeping LIU, Kansas State, and Kansas to reach the Regional Final. Against Texas A&M, they dropped the first two sets but clawed back, winning the third and surviving three match points to force a decisive fifth set. Their valiant effort fell just short, losing the final set 15-13.
In a post shared on X by ESPN, the viewership numbers for the 2025 NCAA Championship were revealed, with the match between Nebraska and Texas A&M attracting 1.2 million viewers, setting an NCAA regional record.
With renewed determination, the Huskers will chase the national title next season, fueled by the belief that they can command the court as they did this year. Despite reaching the Final Four and finishing as runners-up in the last three years, the elusive national championship has remained just out of reach since 2017.
Nebraska Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly Makes Feelings Known on Fifth Set Against Texas A&M
Several Huskers shone brightly against Texas A&M. Harper Murray unleashed a career-best 25 kills, while Bergen Reilly orchestrated the offense with 58 assists and 13 digs for a double-double. Rebekah Allick added 15 kills on 25 swings, hitting .480 and contributing four blocks to the effort.
In a post-match press conference, Nebraska head coach Dani Busboom Kelly expressed her thoughts on that fifth set, discussing the emotional impact it had on her players: (11:06 onwards)
“I felt pretty good going into the fifth. After fighting that hard to win the fourth, you have a lot of momentum. They weren’t rattled, though; they started strong, and giving up a couple points to a great team makes it really hard to come back. We did rally from a five-point deficit to tie it, so we felt pretty ready in the fifth,” she said.
In her debut season as head coach, Busboom Kelly has guided the Huskers with remarkable poise, stepping into the shoes of longtime leader John Cook. Her leadership has instilled a new sense of confidence, setting the stage for Nebraska to aim even higher in next year’s NCAA tournament.
