There was no revenge to be found in Kansas City for Penn State. Only heartbreak.

The top-seeded Nittany Lions came into their national semifinal contest against Nebraska with an opportunity to avenge their heartbreaking NCAA Tournament loss to the Huskers from a season ago, and their only loss of this season back in September.

Instead, Penn State once again suffered a defeat at the hands of Nebraska on Thursday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Nebraska won a hard-fought opening set and withstood a Penn State rally on its way to another victory over the Nittany Lions (25-18, 23-25, 24-26, 28-26, 15-11).

The loss marks just the second defeat of the season for the Nittany Lions, both coming to the Cornhuskers. This is also the eighth straight time that Nebraska has defeated Penn State, with the last victory for the Nittany Lions coming all the way back in 2014.

In her final game as a member of the Nittany Lions, Simone Lee was a bright spot Penn State in the loss.

Lee continued her string of dominance in this year’s tournament, finishing with 11 kills, 15 digs and hitting .270 for the match. She was aided by fellow senior All-American Haleigh Washington, who added 13 kills of her own, while hitting .273.

The first set was a back-and-forth affair as both teams had periods where they looked like the superior side.

It was Penn State that made the first move, scoring five straight points to take an 11-8 lead midway through the first set. However, Nebraska would rebound and went on an 8-1 run of its own to take a 17-12 lead as the set neared its conclusion.

From there, the Cornhuskers had all the momentum and the Nittany Lions looked a little discombobulated on both sides of the ball. Nebraska had no trouble putting away its rivals and took the first set by a score of 25-18.

The second set looked like it was going to be an exact replica of the first, but things were different this time around.

Penn State jumped out to an early lead before the Cornhuskers closed the gap to 11-8. Unlike the first set, however, the Nittany Lions held their nerve and held off multiple runs from Nebraska to see off the set and even the match at one set apiece.

In the all-important third set, it was a tale of two halves.

The first half of the set was all Penn State, as the Nittany Lions got off to a great start and lead 10-4 as the set neared the midway point. However, Nebraska rebounded once again to take the lead at 14-13.

As the set winded down, both teams traded leads before Penn State was able to control a key extended rally with the score tied at 24. That point proved to be the difference in the set as the Nittany Lions closed out the third on an 8-2 run and took the frame 26-24.

Buoyed by its emotional third set win, Penn State started the fourth set with a purpose, and it was clear the Nittany Lions had all of the momentum.

The Nittany Lions started the frame on a 7-2 run and it looked as if Penn State was going to cruise through the set.

But, Nebraska wouldn’t let up and responded with a 11-6 run to tie the set at 13. From that point forward, both teams had periods of momentum, but Nebraska was able to persevere and win a thrilling fourth frame.

In the fifth and final set, each team looked a bit nervous at the onset as neither side was able to take control early.

However, it was Nebraska that managed to stay calm and collected in the big points on their way to another victory over the Nittany Lions.