The Colorado native hasn’t slowed down in Year 2. She has also been more consistent with her hitting, had success finishing quick sets from the middle and is progressing with her blocking.

Jackson has had a hitting percentage of .379 or better in all seven matches, including .778 against Montana State with seven kills on nine attempts with no hitting errors.

Assistant Kelly Hunter said the middle blocker appears to be handling her nerves better this season, too.

“I would say this year she almost has that swagger to her where it’s, ‘I’ve been here and I know what I’m doing now,’” Hunter said on Thursday’s Huskers Radio Network show. “She still has some of those moments where you can kind of see she’s thinking maybe about too many things. But just in general she just looks more poised.”

Jackson improved her vertical jump a few inches from last season, but she’s more than just a great athlete, Hunter said.

“Now it’s like, ‘I know where I want to hit this ball,’” the Husker aide and former All-America setter said. “I know what they’re doing on the other side, and I know what I need to do to be better. It’s been a really cool growth to see.”

Jackson is averaging 2.48 kills per set with a .505 hitting percentage, fifth in Division I.

More notables from Hunter’s appearance:

On Tuesday, fifth-ranked Nebraska (6-1) held on to beat No. 9 Creighton in five sets. It came after a bad fourth set, where Creighton won 25-16 and the Huskers had a negative hitting percentage.

During the huddle before the fifth set, the players were just as vocal as the coaches, Hunter said.

That includes senior right-side hitter Merritt Beason.

“A lot of it is Merritt Beason. She’s a captain,” Hunter said. “She’s not on the court for six rotations (like) she has been in the past, but I think she still has a huge impact with our team. Her leadership skills are unmatched in the way she has a really calming presence and how she can pump people up.”

Nebraska plays No. 14 Arizona State in a 7 p.m. Friday match televised on BTN.

And for the second consecutive match, the Huskers face an undefeated team.

In the first contest of the three-day Nebraska Classic on Thursday, Arizona State beat Wichita State 25-19, 25-12, 25-13.

Arizona State, which reached the Sweet 16 last season, ranks seventh in Division I in hitting percentage.

“Their offense is awesome,” Hunter said. “They mix it up and try and get you uncomfortable. It will be a big, big test for us to see if we’re disciplined or not.”