DePaul University Athletics
Friday, September 4
Chicago, Ill.
5 p.m.
DePaul University
vs
Nebraska
DePaul Hosts No. 1 Nebraska at Wintrust Arena
9/3/2026 5:08:00 PM | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Blue Demons play first-ever volleyball match at home of DePaul men’s and women’s basketball programs
CHICAGO – In what DePaul anticipates will be the all-time single-match attendance record for collegiate volleyball in the state of Illinois, the Blue Demons welcome No. 1 Nebraska to Wintrust Arena on Friday night for the marquee match of their regular season. First serve is set for 5 p.m., with Sloane Martin (play-by-play) and Emily Ehman (analyst) on the call for FS1.
"At 4-0, this next match asks even more of intelligence and grit in us," said head coach Marie Zidek. "Every tough moment so far has built our game and fueled our confidence - we grow week by week, in our game, and in our decisions. There's no better test than the top team in the country. We will need service pressure and patience in long rallies. I can't wait to feel this crowd tomorrow. We're ready for the next gear and to meet this moment."
DePaul enters the match riding a 4-0 start to the season, its best under ninth-year head coach Marie Zidek, after a 3-1 comeback win over Portland State on Wednesday at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Trailing for the first time all year after dropping the opening set, the Blue Demons rattled off their two largest set margins of the season, holding Portland State to nine and 11 points in the second and third sets, respectively, en route to the 22-25, 25-9, 25-11, 25-18 win.
Kendall Timme led the way with 17 kills and 11 digs for her first double-double of the season, hitting .304 for the match. Isabela Tavares-Salomon added 13 kills, and Jade Epps was nearly unstoppable at the net, tallying 12 kills on just 19 swings for a .579 clip. Leonor Polezzi ran the offense to a season-high 40 assists, while Nora Mannion paced the defense with 23 digs.
Blue Demon Bits
Cornhusker Watch
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
Stay up to date with all things DePaul Volleyball at DePaulBlueDemons.com. For real-time updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram, and Facebook, or sign up for email updates and text alerts.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season ticket memberships are now live for the 2026 DePaul Volleyball season! Season ticket memberships include access to all 15 anticipated regular season matches at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Lincoln Park, plus an opportunity to purchase tickets for the Wintrust Arena match against Nebraska. Season tickets are available beginning at $79 for general admission and $129 for courtside seating! Want to bring your team to the match? Group ticket deposits are also available for parties of 10 or more. Visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets to reserve your seats today!
Tickets for DePaul's Sept. 4 matchup against Nebraska at Wintrust Arena are also on sale now. Courtside seating, premium options and group packages are available. Fans can purchase tickets through the DePaul Ticket Office or visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets for more information.
"At 4-0, this next match asks even more of intelligence and grit in us," said head coach Marie Zidek. "Every tough moment so far has built our game and fueled our confidence - we grow week by week, in our game, and in our decisions. There's no better test than the top team in the country. We will need service pressure and patience in long rallies. I can't wait to feel this crowd tomorrow. We're ready for the next gear and to meet this moment."
DePaul enters the match riding a 4-0 start to the season, its best under ninth-year head coach Marie Zidek, after a 3-1 comeback win over Portland State on Wednesday at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Trailing for the first time all year after dropping the opening set, the Blue Demons rattled off their two largest set margins of the season, holding Portland State to nine and 11 points in the second and third sets, respectively, en route to the 22-25, 25-9, 25-11, 25-18 win.
Kendall Timme led the way with 17 kills and 11 digs for her first double-double of the season, hitting .304 for the match. Isabela Tavares-Salomon added 13 kills, and Jade Epps was nearly unstoppable at the net, tallying 12 kills on just 19 swings for a .579 clip. Leonor Polezzi ran the offense to a season-high 40 assists, while Nora Mannion paced the defense with 23 digs.
Blue Demon Bits
- Ranks second in the Big East in kills per set (14.10) and assists per set (12.90), third in hitting percentage (.271) and digs per set (15.40), and fourth in blocks per set (2.50)
- Leonor Polezzi leads the Big East in assists per set at 9.30; Jade Epps tops the conference in blocks per set at 1.70
- Isabela Tavares-Salomon (3.90 kills/set) ranks third in the Big East, Kendall Timme (3.70) sixth
- Nora Mannion ranks second in the conference with 4.80 digs per set
- Mannion set career highs with 20 digs and six assists against South Dakota on Aug. 30; Martina Diana posted a career-high four blocks to go with 14 digs against Milwaukee on Aug. 28
Cornhusker Watch
- Enters unbeaten and ranked No. 1 nationally after sweeps of UNLV, No. 2 Texas and South Dakota State to open the season
- Hits .298 as a team while holding opponents to a .068 attack percentage, with 10-plus team blocks in each of its last two matches
- Setter Bergen Reilly was named Big Ten Setter of the Week on Aug. 31 after earning MVP honors at the Players Era Showcase, posting a double-double against UNLV (32 assists, 10 digs) and 30 assists against Texas
- Reilly moved into fifth all-time in program history in career assists during Wednesday's sweep at South Dakota State, passing Nikki Stricker (1990-93)
- Teraya Sigler posted a season-high 10 kills on a .320 clip in the SDSU win; Skyler Pierce added a career-high seven kills
- Nebraska's win at South Dakota State drew a program-record 5,113 fans — the 17th time in four seasons a host has set an all-time attendance mark against the Huskers
- Nebraska continues its Chicago road swing Sunday against Missouri at Wrigley Field as part of the Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
Stay up to date with all things DePaul Volleyball at DePaulBlueDemons.com. For real-time updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram, and Facebook, or sign up for email updates and text alerts.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season ticket memberships are now live for the 2026 DePaul Volleyball season! Season ticket memberships include access to all 15 anticipated regular season matches at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Lincoln Park, plus an opportunity to purchase tickets for the Wintrust Arena match against Nebraska. Season tickets are available beginning at $79 for general admission and $129 for courtside seating! Want to bring your team to the match? Group ticket deposits are also available for parties of 10 or more. Visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets to reserve your seats today!
Tickets for DePaul's Sept. 4 matchup against Nebraska at Wintrust Arena are also on sale now. Courtside seating, premium options and group packages are available. Fans can purchase tickets through the DePaul Ticket Office or visit DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets for more information.
Players Mentioned
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/ WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
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