For the first time since 2016, No. 1 Nebraska and No. 2 Texas will face off in the regular season, going head-to-head on the final day of the Players Era Showcase.
The two powerhouses of college volleyball have a long-standing history, with Big Red holding a narrow 25-23 all-time advantage in a feud that dates back to 1981.
The last meeting between the two squads came in 2023, when the Longhorns swept Nebraska in the national championship match.
Before first serve, let’s take a look at what you need to know about both programs.
No. 1 Nebraska
The Huskers opened up their 2026 season with exhibition wins over No. 11 SMU and No. 17 Florida in the Spikes Under the Lights showcase before an official sweep over UNLV yesterday. Harper Murray led Nebraska with 11 kills on .364 hitting while Bergen Reilly orchestrated her offense to a .414 clip. S
o far, Big Red is living up to the preseason hype with three All-Americans decorating the starting lineup in Murray, Reilly and Andi Jackson. This squad looks pretty unstoppable.
No. 2 Texas
It took a second for No. 2 Texas to find its footing, opening the season with a loss to No. 12 Arizona State and a five-setter win over Marquette. But the Longhorns bounced back in their sweep over No. 18 TCU yesterday. OH Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears will pose threats to Nebraska’s wall up front, however UT will be without Abby Van Der Wal after an injury in yesterday’s match.
But this is your reminder to never count Texas volleyball out, as the Longhorns have won their last two matchups when facing the No. 1-ranked team (No. 1 Nebraska, 2023, No. 1 Wisconsin, 2020).
that’s ✋🤚 kills for Torrey 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/28fwItfQsx
— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball) August 30, 2026