After 10 years of watching opposing teams travel to Lawrence, head coach Ray Bechard conceded that Nebraska might be the best he’s seen.

Bechard could only watch as No. 1 Nebraska used a prolific offensive attack to sweep Kansas 3-0 (30-18, 30-24, 30-18) and spoil the return of Kansas senior middle blocker Natalie Uhart.

“That’s what they do,” Bechard said. “They just grind you down and wear you out.”

Despite the loss, Uhart played her first game since Aug. 31. The Kansas Athletics Department released a statement during Wednesday’s game that said Uhart missed the last 10 games to receive treatment for a “congenital defect in her heart.”

Uhart finished with seven kills in her return.

“I’m just glad to put this all behind me,” Uhart said in the statement.

Bechard said he was glad to have her back.

“She raises everybody’s level,” Bechard said. “She’s a great teammate.”

But the real story on Wednesday was the play of the Nebraska offense. Nebraska totaled 53 kills and made only 16 hitting errors. Nebraska junior Jordan Larson led the Huskers with 17 kills, while last year’s American Coaches Volleyball Association National Player of the Year, senior Sarah Pavan, added 12.

“You’ve got a former player of the year in Pavan,” Bechard said, “and then tonight, the best player on the floor is Larson. They’re very balanced and very good.”

Game one

Nebraska used a red-hot offense to claim the game. Uhart had a kill on her first point back from injury to give Kansas a 1-0 lead, but Nebraska quickly gained control of the game. Pavan provided the punch for the Huskers with six kills, while sophomore Rachel Holloway added 11 assists. Uhart and senior setter Emily Brown led Kansas with three kills each in game one.

Game two

Kansas gained an early lead when a Uhart block on a Pavan kill attempt put Kansas up 4-0. Kansas managed to hold on to the early lead through the first half, but after a kill from Larson tied the game at 16, the Huskers began to pull away.

Larson had nine of her match-high 17 kills in game two and recorded the play of the match. With Nebraska leading 28-24, Larson retreated back toward the baseline and unleashed a fade-away kill from 25 feet behind the net. Nebraska closed out game two, 30-24, on the next point.

Game three

Nebraska cruised through game three in systematic fashion. The Huskers never trailed and closed out the match with a 30-18 win.

Kansas freshman outside hitter Jenna Kaiser led Kansas offensively with eight kills, while sophomore setter Katie Martincich had 11 digs to lead the defense. Kaiser said that playing against Nebraska could only help Kansas, but don’t expect Kaiser to want to see much more of Nebraska.

“They’re the best I’ve ever seen,” Kaiser said.

— Edited by Chris Beattie