Set to play in one of the world’s most iconic sports venues this Sunday, the No. 1 Nebraska Volleyball team can’t afford to let that anticipation ruin its two-match trip to Chicago this weekend.
After a brief stop for a sweep of South Dakota State in the home state of Bergen Reilly — who also earned Big Ten Setter of the Week honors — the Huskers venture into the Windy City in what feels like a Harlem Globetrotters-like tour of the Midwest. Before enjoying the friendly confines and adding another iconic venue to its list of accomplishments, NU heads to Wintrust Arena where they’ll face a young, middle-of-the-pack Big East team in DePaul.
Here’s all you need to know for the first of two matches in Chicagoland for the Cornhuskers.
How to Follow Along
Matchup: No. 1 Nebraska (3-0, 0-0 B1G) at DePaul (3-0, 0-0 Big East)When: Friday, Sept. 4Where: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Ill.Time: 5 p.m. CDT Watch: FS1Listen:Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates
DePaul Scout
Head Coach
- Marie Zidek | Entering 9th Season at DePaul & as Head Coach
- 107-119 (.473) at DePaul & as Head Coach
- 2x NIVC Apps
- Previous assistant at USA Volleyball, San Diego, Buffalo & DePaul
2025 Finish
- Did not qualify for the postseason.
2025 Record & Awards
- Record: 14-13 (7-9 Big East, T-6th)
- Conference Awards: Big Eas Co-Freshman OTY
- All-Big East: 1x First Team & 1x Freshman Team
All-Time Series
- First Meeting
2026 Preseason
- Preseason Poll: 5th of 11 teams
- Preseason All-Big East: OH Kendall Timme (Unanimous)
Key Returners
- Kendall Timme | OH | Soph | The only DePaul player to receive any postseason accolades last season as a true freshman when she led the Blue Demons with 312 kills and 3.27 per set; named 2025 BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year, All-BIG EAST, BIG EAST All-Freshman and was an animous choice for 2026 Preseason All-BIG EAST.
- Isabela Tavares Salomon | RS | Soph | Another standout sophomore with a starting role, the Brazilian produced 112 kills in just 10 matches last year and now leads the Blue Demons with 39 kills in just three contests in 2026.
- Martina Diana | OH | Soph. | Starting next to Timme, the Italian outside hitter owns 31.5 points in three matches this season after appearing in 14 matches last season.
- Morgan Stewart | OH | Soph. | Started as a true freshman last year alongside Timme and finished her first college season ranked second on the team in both points (316) and kills (257), but lost her starting spot with the emergence of Diana.
- Jade Dudley-Epps | MB | Jr. | A former San Jose State transfer, the six-foot middle blocker ranked third in the BIG EAST last season with 1.18 blocks per set and the junior is now averaging 1.70 in 10 sets so far this season.
- Nora Mannion | L/DS | Sr. | Heralding from San Francisco, Mannion missed all of 2025 due to injury, but has returned to lead DePaul with 48 digs (4.80 per set) as the team’s starting libero.
- Amanda Saeger | S | Jr. | Another player from California, the San Diego native paced the Blue Demons with 8.84 assists per set in starting 25 of her 27 appearances in 2025.
- Eva Hurrie | L/DS | Soph | With Mannion hurt, the true freshman stepped up for the Blue Demons with 369 digs and 4.05 per set as the starting libero in 2025.
Impact Transfers/Newcomers
- Leonor Polezzi | S | Sr. | Originally from Italy, Polezzi spent her first two college seasons at North Carolina A&T where she was a Second-Team All-CAA pick in 2025; leads the Blue Demons offense with 9.30 assists per set and is tied for the team high in aces with six.
- Catalina Alvizuri | MB | Fr. | The San Diego native has totaled 19.5 points in her first three career collegiate matches, including a .297 hitting percentage on 37 swings as well as eight blocks.
Key Departures
- Katelynn Oxley | MB | Graduated | The 6-foot-4 Lincoln, Nebraska native and Lincoln Lutheran graduate started in all 27 matches for DePaul last year and ranked second in blocks (109) and fourth in total points (277).
- Meghan Scholz | MB | Transfer | Primarily serving as the team’s third middle blocker in 2025, Scholz transferred to San Diego over the offseason after recording 97 kills and 38 blocks in 24 of the team’s 28 matches.
Outlook
With four season of her eight seasons ending with single digit wins, DePaul moved on from head coach Nadia Edwards to make way for Marie Zidek — a former Blue Demons assistant that helped the San Diego volleyball program dominate the WCC. While there’s been no breakout season under Zidek, who’s going into her ninth season, the Northern Illinois graduate has stabilized the program with a 107-119 career record, two NIVC appearances and winning records in five of her last six seasons. That earned her a second contract extension in three years to keep her charge through the 2030 season…