LINCOLN, Neb. – Despite a hard-fought effort, No. 6 Wisconsin fell to No. 2 Nebraska in straight sets on Saturday night, 21-25, 22-25, 17-25.

Wisconsin (21-6, 15-3 B1G) hit .169 (34 kills – 14 errors – 118 attempts) as Sara Franklin led the team with 10 kills.

Merritt Beason scored a match-high 11 kills as Nebraska (28-1, 18-0 B1G) hit .259 (47 – 19 – 108) on the night.

The Badgers got off to a slow start in set one. After UW scored the first point of the game, Nebraska scored the next seven to take a 7–1 lead. Wisconsin sided with a murder of Anna Smrekbut the Huskers kept their lead and extended it to 10-3. The Badgers responded with a 4-0 run to bring the score back within three minutes (10-7). The teams traded points back and forth as Nebraska took a 20-15 lead. UW tallied two kills and a block to make it a two-point game, trailing 19-21. The Huskers topped it off with a kill from Taylor Landfair to win set one 25-21.

Once again, Nebraska got within a point early in the set and took a 7-3 lead. The Badgers put up three straight blocks to force a Nebraska timeout while the Huskers led 14-12. From the break, Nebraska responded with a 4-1 run to increase the lead back to 18-14. A service ace of CC Crawford brought it within one point (18-19). The teams went point by point until Nebraska strung together two points at the end to win set two 25-22.

Wisconsin started set three with a quick 3-1 lead. Nebraska silenced them with a 7-0 run, prompting a Wisconsin timeout when they trailed 5-9. After the timeout, Wisconsin chose a side thanks to a CC Crawford kill. Wisconsin slowly began to crumble and they finished at 14. Nebraska responded with a 6-2 run as the Badgers committed their eleventh service error of the night to give Nebraska a 20-16 lead. From there, Nebraska closed it out, winning 25-17.

The Badgers defeated the Huskers 11.0-7.0 Carter Booth six added up.

Charlie Fuerbringer dished out 27 assists and added five digs. Of Gulce Guctekin And Lola Schumacher still injured, Saige Damrow got her third straight start at libero with nine digs.

UW finished with three service aces, but 11 service errors.

Notes to know

• The Badgers hit .169 (34 – 14 – 118), which marks the eighth time this season that UW has been held below a .200 hitting percentage. Wisconsin has only survived two games where they came out on top despite scoring below .200 (Purdue and Minnesota).
• For the sixteenth time this season, Wisconsin recorded double-digit blocks.
• Tonight’s match consisted of three straight games with double-digit service errors (11).
• Wisconsin has only been swept twice all season – both against Nebraska. This is also the first time since 2012 that Nebraska won both games over Wisconsin.
• The loss moves Wisconsin to 13-22-1 all-time against the Huskers and 4-12 in Lincoln.

Next

The Badgers close the regular season at home and will take on Ohio State on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. The Badgers will celebrate their senior night against Michigan State on Saturday evening, starting at 8 p.m. Both games will air on the Big Ten Network.