NU Set for Husker Games Against Kansas
Apr 25, 2025 / NU Athletics
Photo Credit: NU Athletic Communications
MATCH PREVIEW
• The Nebraska volleyball team begins a new era under head coach Dani Busboom Kelly with a spring exhibition match on Saturday. The Huskers will take on Kansas at 7 p.m. in John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center as part of Husker Games Presented by FNBO.
• The match will be televised on Big Ten Network and streamed on FoxSports.com. Larry Punteney and former NU head coach John Cook will be on the call.
• Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations, on Huskers.com and on the Huskers App.
• The Nebraska volleyball team begins a new era under head coach Dani Busboom Kelly with a spring exhibition match on Saturday. The Huskers will take on Kansas at 7 p.m. in John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center as part of Husker Games Presented by FNBO.
• The match will be televised on Big Ten Network and streamed on FoxSports.com. Larry Punteney and former NU head coach John Cook will be on the call.
• Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations, on Huskers.com and on the Huskers App.
ABOUT THE HUSKERS
• Nebraska finished the 2024 season with a 33-3 record and reached the NCAA Semifinals for the second year in a row and seventh time in the last 10 years.
• Nebraska won its 36th all-time conference title and fifth Big Ten title with a 19-1 record in Big Ten play, sharing co-champion honors with Penn State. The Huskers went back-to-back as Big Ten champions for the second time, also accomplishing that feat in 2016 and 2017.
• The Huskers’ 33 wins tied for the most victories by a Husker team since the 2000 national championship team went 34-0.
• Nebraska went 8-1 against top-10 teams in 2024. The Huskers’ eight wins against top-10 teams tied the school record, as the 1995 national championship team also had eight victories against top-10 opponents.
• The Huskers ranked sixth nationally and first in the Big Ten in opponent hitting percentage at .143. NU led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in 2022 and 2023.
• Nebraska enters 2025 campaign with 1,499 all-time victories and is looking to become the first Division I volleyball program to reach 1,500 all-time wins.
• Nebraska finished the 2024 season with a 33-3 record and reached the NCAA Semifinals for the second year in a row and seventh time in the last 10 years.
• Nebraska won its 36th all-time conference title and fifth Big Ten title with a 19-1 record in Big Ten play, sharing co-champion honors with Penn State. The Huskers went back-to-back as Big Ten champions for the second time, also accomplishing that feat in 2016 and 2017.
• The Huskers’ 33 wins tied for the most victories by a Husker team since the 2000 national championship team went 34-0.
• Nebraska went 8-1 against top-10 teams in 2024. The Huskers’ eight wins against top-10 teams tied the school record, as the 1995 national championship team also had eight victories against top-10 opponents.
• The Huskers ranked sixth nationally and first in the Big Ten in opponent hitting percentage at .143. NU led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in 2022 and 2023.
• Nebraska enters 2025 campaign with 1,499 all-time victories and is looking to become the first Division I volleyball program to reach 1,500 all-time wins.
SCOUTING REPORT: KANSAS
• Kansas went 25-5 (15-3 Big 12) in 2024 and fell to Florida, 3-2, in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
• The Jayhawks’ top four point scorers and starting setter from 2024 all graduated.
• Sophomore middle blocker Reese Ptacek is the top returner, earning All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season. Ptacek averaged 1.81 kills per set and hit .307 with 1.26 blocks per set in 2024.
• Former Oregon coach Matt Ulmer is in his first year as head coach at Kansas, replacing the recently retired Ray Bechard.
• Sophomore setter Cristin Cline followed Ulmer from Oregon to KU. Cline averaged 10.26 assists per set at Oregon in 2024 and was on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
• Kansas went 25-5 (15-3 Big 12) in 2024 and fell to Florida, 3-2, in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
• The Jayhawks’ top four point scorers and starting setter from 2024 all graduated.
• Sophomore middle blocker Reese Ptacek is the top returner, earning All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season. Ptacek averaged 1.81 kills per set and hit .307 with 1.26 blocks per set in 2024.
• Former Oregon coach Matt Ulmer is in his first year as head coach at Kansas, replacing the recently retired Ray Bechard.
• Sophomore setter Cristin Cline followed Ulmer from Oregon to KU. Cline averaged 10.26 assists per set at Oregon in 2024 and was on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
SERIES HISTORY
• Nebraska is 88-0-1 all-time against Kansas.
• The last meeting was a 3-1 Husker win on Dec. 2, 2022 in the NCAA Tournament Second Round in Lincoln.
• Nebraska is 88-0-1 all-time against Kansas.
• The last meeting was a 3-1 Husker win on Dec. 2, 2022 in the NCAA Tournament Second Round in Lincoln.
ROTATION RUNDOWN
• Junior outside hitter Harper Murray was an AVCA Second Team All-American last year, leading the Huskers in kills with 3.40 per set and a team-high 39 service aces. Murray is a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection and two-time AVCA All-American.
• Junior setter Bergen Reilly is the first player in Big Ten history to win Big Ten Setter of the Year as both a freshman and sophomore, and she is coming off her second straight AVCA All-America Second Team honor. Reilly averaged 11.08 assists per set in 2024 while leading the Huskers to a .284 hitting percentage, their best since 2016.
• Junior middle blocker Andi Jackson had a breakout year in 2024, earning AVCA All-America First Team and All-Big Ten First Team. Jackson averaged 2.62 kills per set with a .439 hitting percentage, which ranked sixth in the nation. She also put up 1.18 blocks per set.
• Senior middle blocker Rebekah Allick recorded 1.82 kills per set in 2024 with a career-best .357 hitting percentage. She had a team-high 1.43 blocks per set, which ranked third among Big Ten players and 14th nationally. Allick ranks sixth in school history with 415 career blocks entering the 2025 season.
• Senior outside hitter Taylor Landfair returns after starting 20 matches in 2024, averaging 2.49 kills per set.
• Maisie Boesiger, Laney Choboy and Olivia Mauch all return in the back row for the Big Red. Mauch, a sophomore, had 196 digs and 21 aces in her first year as a Husker last season. Choboy, a junior, had 185 digs and 36 set assists. Boesiger, entering her senior season, played in nine matches as a serving sub in 2024.
• Skyler Pierce will look to make an impact at outside hitter after redshirting in her first year at NU. Pierce had an accomplished prep career at Olathe Northwest in Kansas and was the MVP of the Under Armour All-America Game in 2024.
• Junior outside hitter Harper Murray was an AVCA Second Team All-American last year, leading the Huskers in kills with 3.40 per set and a team-high 39 service aces. Murray is a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection and two-time AVCA All-American.
• Junior setter Bergen Reilly is the first player in Big Ten history to win Big Ten Setter of the Year as both a freshman and sophomore, and she is coming off her second straight AVCA All-America Second Team honor. Reilly averaged 11.08 assists per set in 2024 while leading the Huskers to a .284 hitting percentage, their best since 2016.
• Junior middle blocker Andi Jackson had a breakout year in 2024, earning AVCA All-America First Team and All-Big Ten First Team. Jackson averaged 2.62 kills per set with a .439 hitting percentage, which ranked sixth in the nation. She also put up 1.18 blocks per set.
• Senior middle blocker Rebekah Allick recorded 1.82 kills per set in 2024 with a career-best .357 hitting percentage. She had a team-high 1.43 blocks per set, which ranked third among Big Ten players and 14th nationally. Allick ranks sixth in school history with 415 career blocks entering the 2025 season.
• Senior outside hitter Taylor Landfair returns after starting 20 matches in 2024, averaging 2.49 kills per set.
• Maisie Boesiger, Laney Choboy and Olivia Mauch all return in the back row for the Big Red. Mauch, a sophomore, had 196 digs and 21 aces in her first year as a Husker last season. Choboy, a junior, had 185 digs and 36 set assists. Boesiger, entering her senior season, played in nine matches as a serving sub in 2024.
• Skyler Pierce will look to make an impact at outside hitter after redshirting in her first year at NU. Pierce had an accomplished prep career at Olathe Northwest in Kansas and was the MVP of the Under Armour All-America Game in 2024.
SIX FRESHMEN SIGNED FOR 2025
• Nebraska has six freshmen signed for the 2025 season, though only four are on the spring roster.
• The four freshmen already enrolled at Nebraska are Campbell Flynn (6-3, Setter), Ryan Hunter (6-2, Opposite Hitter), Keri Leimbach (5-4, Libero) and Teraya Sigler (6-3, Outside Hitter).
• The other two who will join this summer are Kenna Cogill (6-4, Middle Blocker) and Manaia Ogbechie (6-3, Middle Blocker).
• Nebraska has six freshmen signed for the 2025 season, though only four are on the spring roster.
• The four freshmen already enrolled at Nebraska are Campbell Flynn (6-3, Setter), Ryan Hunter (6-2, Opposite Hitter), Keri Leimbach (5-4, Libero) and Teraya Sigler (6-3, Outside Hitter).
• The other two who will join this summer are Kenna Cogill (6-4, Middle Blocker) and Manaia Ogbechie (6-3, Middle Blocker).
BUSBOOM KELLY DEBUTS AS NEW HEAD COACH
• Nebraska native Dani Busboom Kelly was named the fourth head coach in program history on Jan. 29, 2025 by Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen.
• Busboom Kelly succeeds her former coach and mentor, John Cook, who announced his retirement following the 2024 season after 25 seasons as Nebraska’s head volleyball coach.
• A Husker national champion player and assistant coach, Busboom Kelly spent eight years (2017-24) building Louisville into a national power. The Cardinals reached two NCAA Championship matches, three NCAA Semifinals, five regional finals and won four ACC titles.
• Busboom Kelly compiled a 203-44 (.822) record in her eight seasons at Louisville, including a 120-15 (.889) mark from 2021-24, which was the second-best winning percentage in the country during that span. In 2024, the Cardinals reached the NCAA Championship match for the second time in three seasons.
• Busboom Kelly was the starting libero on Nebraska’s 2006 national championship team, and she was an assistant coach when the Huskers won the 2015 national championship in Omaha. She took the helm at Louisville late in 2016 after being named AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year in her final season as a Husker assistant, and she guided the Cardinals to heights the program had never experienced.
• In her first season at Louisville in 2017, Busboom Kelly took over a program coming off a 12-18 season and led UofL to a 24-7 record, an ACC title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Picked eighth in the ACC preseason poll, she coached two players to major conference postseason awards, ACC Setter of the Year (Wilma Rivera) and ACC Defensive Player of the Year (Molly Sauer). For her efforts, she was named the AVCA East Region Coach of the Year for the first of four times at Louisville. Following her first season, Busboom Kelly was named the head coach of the U.S. Collegiate National Team Europe Tour, leading them to the gold medal in the European Global Challenge.
• The Cardinals continued to improve each season, reaching the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 2018 and the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional Final in 2019. During the shortened 2020-21 season, Busboom Kelly’s Cardinals went 15-3 and won the ACC Championship, and she was named ACC Coach of the Year.
• Louisville broke through in a big way in 2021, winning 32 straight matches to begin the season before finishing the year in the NCAA Semifinals for the first time in program history. Busboom Kelly was again named ACC Coach of the Year as well as AVCA National Coach of the Year, as the Cardinals achieved their first No. 1 ranking in program history. She became the first woman in NCAA history to coach an undefeated regular season, and two Louisville players (Tori Dilfer and Anna Stevenson) earned the program’s first-ever AVCA All-America First Team honors.
• The Cardinals finished 31-3 in 2022 and reached the NCAA Final for the first time in school history, falling to top-seeded Texas. Busboom Kelly was the ACC Coach of the Year for the third year in a row, as the Cardinals won their third straight ACC title. Claire Chaussee was voted ACC Player of the Year, and Amaya Tillman won the NCAA Elite 90 Award for having the best cumulative GPA at the NCAA Championship.
• After going 27-5 in 2023 with another regional final appearance and another ACC Player of the Year honor (Anna DeBeer), the Cardinals began the 2024 season with pressure to get back to the NCAA Semifinals, which were being played at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville. Not only did the Cardinals qualify for the NCAA Semifinals in their own city, they also impressively turned aside top-seeded Pittsburgh, 3-1, despite losing their top hitter DeBeer for the tournament early in set four.
• Prior to her time at Louisville, Busboom Kelly played a vital role on the Husker coaching staff, assisting with Nebraska’s setters, liberos, outside hitters and recruiting. Regarded as one of the best recruiters in the nation, Busboom Kelly helped Nebraska’s resurgence to the forefront of college volleyball, as the Huskers captured the 2015 NCAA Championship at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, the same place Busboom Kelly won the national title as a player for the Huskers in 2006.
• Nebraska native Dani Busboom Kelly was named the fourth head coach in program history on Jan. 29, 2025 by Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen.
• Busboom Kelly succeeds her former coach and mentor, John Cook, who announced his retirement following the 2024 season after 25 seasons as Nebraska’s head volleyball coach.
• A Husker national champion player and assistant coach, Busboom Kelly spent eight years (2017-24) building Louisville into a national power. The Cardinals reached two NCAA Championship matches, three NCAA Semifinals, five regional finals and won four ACC titles.
• Busboom Kelly compiled a 203-44 (.822) record in her eight seasons at Louisville, including a 120-15 (.889) mark from 2021-24, which was the second-best winning percentage in the country during that span. In 2024, the Cardinals reached the NCAA Championship match for the second time in three seasons.
• Busboom Kelly was the starting libero on Nebraska’s 2006 national championship team, and she was an assistant coach when the Huskers won the 2015 national championship in Omaha. She took the helm at Louisville late in 2016 after being named AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year in her final season as a Husker assistant, and she guided the Cardinals to heights the program had never experienced.
• In her first season at Louisville in 2017, Busboom Kelly took over a program coming off a 12-18 season and led UofL to a 24-7 record, an ACC title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Picked eighth in the ACC preseason poll, she coached two players to major conference postseason awards, ACC Setter of the Year (Wilma Rivera) and ACC Defensive Player of the Year (Molly Sauer). For her efforts, she was named the AVCA East Region Coach of the Year for the first of four times at Louisville. Following her first season, Busboom Kelly was named the head coach of the U.S. Collegiate National Team Europe Tour, leading them to the gold medal in the European Global Challenge.
• The Cardinals continued to improve each season, reaching the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 2018 and the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional Final in 2019. During the shortened 2020-21 season, Busboom Kelly’s Cardinals went 15-3 and won the ACC Championship, and she was named ACC Coach of the Year.
• Louisville broke through in a big way in 2021, winning 32 straight matches to begin the season before finishing the year in the NCAA Semifinals for the first time in program history. Busboom Kelly was again named ACC Coach of the Year as well as AVCA National Coach of the Year, as the Cardinals achieved their first No. 1 ranking in program history. She became the first woman in NCAA history to coach an undefeated regular season, and two Louisville players (Tori Dilfer and Anna Stevenson) earned the program’s first-ever AVCA All-America First Team honors.
• The Cardinals finished 31-3 in 2022 and reached the NCAA Final for the first time in school history, falling to top-seeded Texas. Busboom Kelly was the ACC Coach of the Year for the third year in a row, as the Cardinals won their third straight ACC title. Claire Chaussee was voted ACC Player of the Year, and Amaya Tillman won the NCAA Elite 90 Award for having the best cumulative GPA at the NCAA Championship.
• After going 27-5 in 2023 with another regional final appearance and another ACC Player of the Year honor (Anna DeBeer), the Cardinals began the 2024 season with pressure to get back to the NCAA Semifinals, which were being played at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville. Not only did the Cardinals qualify for the NCAA Semifinals in their own city, they also impressively turned aside top-seeded Pittsburgh, 3-1, despite losing their top hitter DeBeer for the tournament early in set four.
• Prior to her time at Louisville, Busboom Kelly played a vital role on the Husker coaching staff, assisting with Nebraska’s setters, liberos, outside hitters and recruiting. Regarded as one of the best recruiters in the nation, Busboom Kelly helped Nebraska’s resurgence to the forefront of college volleyball, as the Huskers captured the 2015 NCAA Championship at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, the same place Busboom Kelly won the national title as a player for the Huskers in 2006.
REGENTS APPROVE NAMING OF JOHN COOK ARENA
• The home of Nebraska Volleyball will now officially bear the name of one of the legendary coaches in the history of the sport, as the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the naming of John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
• Cook retired in January following a remarkable 25-year run as the Huskers’ head coach. He guided the Huskers to four national championships, 12 NCAA Semifinal appearances and 14 conference championships. Cook achieved a career record of 883-176 (.834), the fifth-best winning percentage all-time for a Division I volleyball coach. His record of 722-103 at Nebraska is the best winning percentage (.875) for any DI program over the last 25 years.
• In addition to the naming of John Cook Arena, the project also includes a bronze statue honoring Cook on the north side of the Devaney Sports Center. Nationally recognized sculpture artist and Nebraska native George Lundeen has been commissioned to produce the life-size tribute to Cook and his career.
• The court inside John Cook Arena will continue to hold the name of Terry Pettit Court to recognize Cook’s predecessor and fellow Hall of Famer. Additionally, the full athletics complex will continue to be named the Bob Devaney Sports Center in honor of Nebraska Hall of Fame football coach and long-time athletic director Bob Devaney.
• The new John Cook Arena signage and the bronze statue will be unveiled later this year.
• The home of Nebraska Volleyball will now officially bear the name of one of the legendary coaches in the history of the sport, as the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the naming of John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
• Cook retired in January following a remarkable 25-year run as the Huskers’ head coach. He guided the Huskers to four national championships, 12 NCAA Semifinal appearances and 14 conference championships. Cook achieved a career record of 883-176 (.834), the fifth-best winning percentage all-time for a Division I volleyball coach. His record of 722-103 at Nebraska is the best winning percentage (.875) for any DI program over the last 25 years.
• In addition to the naming of John Cook Arena, the project also includes a bronze statue honoring Cook on the north side of the Devaney Sports Center. Nationally recognized sculpture artist and Nebraska native George Lundeen has been commissioned to produce the life-size tribute to Cook and his career.
• The court inside John Cook Arena will continue to hold the name of Terry Pettit Court to recognize Cook’s predecessor and fellow Hall of Famer. Additionally, the full athletics complex will continue to be named the Bob Devaney Sports Center in honor of Nebraska Hall of Fame football coach and long-time athletic director Bob Devaney.
• The new John Cook Arena signage and the bronze statue will be unveiled later this year.
ORD SPRING MATCH SET FOR MAY 3
• Nebraska will play a spring match against South Dakota State in Ord on Saturday, May 3 at 2 p.m. The match will take place at Ord High School. Tickets to the match sold out in 27 minutes.
• For the fourth consecutive year, the Huskers’ spring match will be televised statewide on Nebraska Public Media and streamed online on B1G+. In addition to television and streaming coverage, the match will air on select Huskers Radio Network affiliates and the official Huskers App.
• The trip back to Ord continues Nebraska’s tradition of touring the state for spring volleyball matches. Since 2007, Nebraska has played spring matches in North Platte, Scottsbluff, Grand Island, Norfolk, Wayne, Ogallala, Kearney and McCook.
• Nebraska will play a spring match against South Dakota State in Ord on Saturday, May 3 at 2 p.m. The match will take place at Ord High School. Tickets to the match sold out in 27 minutes.
• For the fourth consecutive year, the Huskers’ spring match will be televised statewide on Nebraska Public Media and streamed online on B1G+. In addition to television and streaming coverage, the match will air on select Huskers Radio Network affiliates and the official Huskers App.
• The trip back to Ord continues Nebraska’s tradition of touring the state for spring volleyball matches. Since 2007, Nebraska has played spring matches in North Platte, Scottsbluff, Grand Island, Norfolk, Wayne, Ogallala, Kearney and McCook.
AVCA SHOWCASE COMING TO PINNACLE BANK ARENA
• Nebraska will take part in the 2025 AVCA First Serve Showcase at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Aug. 22-24.
• The 2025 AVCA First Serve Showcase will feature 10 of the nation’s top teams. Two matches will be played each day on Aug. 22, Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. To cap off the showcase, two matches will be played on Monday, Aug. 25 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
• Nebraska will face Pittsburgh on Friday, Aug. 22 and Stanford on Sunday, Aug. 24 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Match order and start times have not been set yet.
• Other matchups at Pinnacle Bank Arena will include Florida vs. Stanford on Aug. 22, Creighton vs. Penn State on Aug. 23, Kansas vs. Vanderbilt on Aug. 23, and Florida vs. Pittsburgh on Aug. 24.
• On Aug. 25 in Sioux Falls, Minnesota will face Texas A&M, and Kansas will play Penn State.
• Nebraska will take part in the 2025 AVCA First Serve Showcase at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Aug. 22-24.
• The 2025 AVCA First Serve Showcase will feature 10 of the nation’s top teams. Two matches will be played each day on Aug. 22, Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. To cap off the showcase, two matches will be played on Monday, Aug. 25 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
• Nebraska will face Pittsburgh on Friday, Aug. 22 and Stanford on Sunday, Aug. 24 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Match order and start times have not been set yet.
• Other matchups at Pinnacle Bank Arena will include Florida vs. Stanford on Aug. 22, Creighton vs. Penn State on Aug. 23, Kansas vs. Vanderbilt on Aug. 23, and Florida vs. Pittsburgh on Aug. 24.
• On Aug. 25 in Sioux Falls, Minnesota will face Texas A&M, and Kansas will play Penn State.
HUSKERS TO PLAY IN NASHVILLE EVENT IN 2025
• Nebraska will participate in the Broadway Block Party, hosted by the Nashville Sports Council and ESPN Events, this upcoming season at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The event will feature three matches between Big Ten and SEC teams.
• The Huskers will take on Kentucky at 11 a.m. (CT) on Sunday, Aug. 31 on ABC. Purdue and Tennessee will play 30 minutes following the conclusion of that match on ESPN2. lllinois and Vanderbilt will square off to end the tripleheader on SEC Network.
• The non-conference matchup against Kentucky will be the fourth straight year the teams have met early in the season. In 2024, Nebraska beat Kentucky 3-1 at the AVCA First Serve Showcase in Louisville, Ky.
• Nebraska will participate in the Broadway Block Party, hosted by the Nashville Sports Council and ESPN Events, this upcoming season at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The event will feature three matches between Big Ten and SEC teams.
• The Huskers will take on Kentucky at 11 a.m. (CT) on Sunday, Aug. 31 on ABC. Purdue and Tennessee will play 30 minutes following the conclusion of that match on ESPN2. lllinois and Vanderbilt will square off to end the tripleheader on SEC Network.
• The non-conference matchup against Kentucky will be the fourth straight year the teams have met early in the season. In 2024, Nebraska beat Kentucky 3-1 at the AVCA First Serve Showcase in Louisville, Ky.
BIG TEN ANNOUNCES 2025 VOLLEYBALL MATCHUPS
• The Big Ten Conference announced its volleyball conference schedule rotation for the 2025 season on Feb. 27.
• Nebraska will play three opponents both home and away - Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State. Double-play opponents were determined with consideration for competitive balance, geography and rivalries.
• The Huskers will host Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, Maryland, Northwestern, Washington and Oregon.
• Nebraska will travel to Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA and USC.
• Each Big Ten school in the Central and Eastern time zone will make a single trip to the Pacific time zone during the season.
• The Big Ten Conference announced its volleyball conference schedule rotation for the 2025 season on Feb. 27.
• Nebraska will play three opponents both home and away - Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State. Double-play opponents were determined with consideration for competitive balance, geography and rivalries.
• The Huskers will host Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, Maryland, Northwestern, Washington and Oregon.
• Nebraska will travel to Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA and USC.
• Each Big Ten school in the Central and Eastern time zone will make a single trip to the Pacific time zone during the season.
RODRIGUEZ WINS AAU JAMES E. SULLIVAN AWARD
• Former Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez made history on April 15, becoming the first Nebraska volleyball student-athlete to win the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, presented annually to the most exceptional athlete at the collegiate, Olympic, or other similarly elite level in the United States.
• Rodriguez was announced as the winner of the 95th AAU Sullivan Award at the New York Athletic Club. The other finalists were Trey Augustine (Ice Hockey, Michigan State), Cooper Flagg (Basketball, Duke), Ashton Jeanty (Football, Boise State), Lee Kiefer (Fencing, USA) and Ilia Malinin (Figure Skating, USA).
• As well as honoring athletic excellence, the AAU Sullivan award also recognizes the chosen athlete’s character and honors their quality of leadership, citizenship and sportsmanship.
• A native of Sterling, Ill., Rodriguez joins a renowned list of recipients. Last year, Caitlin Clark became the first two-time winner of the award. Other prior winners include Michael Phelps, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michelle Kwan, Peyton Manning, Simone Biles, Carl Lewis and Carissa Moore. Rodriguez is just the third volleyball player to earn the award, joining Lauren Carlini (2016) and Kathryn Plummer (2018).
• Rulon Gardner (2000) is the only other University of Nebraska student-athlete to receive the award. Four other Nebraska volleyball players had previously been finalists for the honor: Kelsey Robinson (2014-15), Mikaela Foecke (2016-17 and 2018-19), Kelly Hunter (2017-18) and Annika Albrecht (2017-18).
• Rodriguez finished her Husker career in December as a four-time AVCA All-American, a four-time All-Big Ten selection, and a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. She was an AVCA National Player of the Year finalist and a Honda Sport Award for Volleyball finalist in 2024, and she became the first-ever libero to be named AVCA Region Player of the Year.
• Rodriguez is Nebraska’s all-time career leader in digs with 1,897. She is also a three-time Academic All-American, including two first-team accolades. Rodriguez completed her first professional season with LOVB Omaha, as they finished as runner-up in the inaugural season of League One Volleyball.
• Former Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez made history on April 15, becoming the first Nebraska volleyball student-athlete to win the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, presented annually to the most exceptional athlete at the collegiate, Olympic, or other similarly elite level in the United States.
• Rodriguez was announced as the winner of the 95th AAU Sullivan Award at the New York Athletic Club. The other finalists were Trey Augustine (Ice Hockey, Michigan State), Cooper Flagg (Basketball, Duke), Ashton Jeanty (Football, Boise State), Lee Kiefer (Fencing, USA) and Ilia Malinin (Figure Skating, USA).
• As well as honoring athletic excellence, the AAU Sullivan award also recognizes the chosen athlete’s character and honors their quality of leadership, citizenship and sportsmanship.
• A native of Sterling, Ill., Rodriguez joins a renowned list of recipients. Last year, Caitlin Clark became the first two-time winner of the award. Other prior winners include Michael Phelps, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michelle Kwan, Peyton Manning, Simone Biles, Carl Lewis and Carissa Moore. Rodriguez is just the third volleyball player to earn the award, joining Lauren Carlini (2016) and Kathryn Plummer (2018).
• Rulon Gardner (2000) is the only other University of Nebraska student-athlete to receive the award. Four other Nebraska volleyball players had previously been finalists for the honor: Kelsey Robinson (2014-15), Mikaela Foecke (2016-17 and 2018-19), Kelly Hunter (2017-18) and Annika Albrecht (2017-18).
• Rodriguez finished her Husker career in December as a four-time AVCA All-American, a four-time All-Big Ten selection, and a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. She was an AVCA National Player of the Year finalist and a Honda Sport Award for Volleyball finalist in 2024, and she became the first-ever libero to be named AVCA Region Player of the Year.
• Rodriguez is Nebraska’s all-time career leader in digs with 1,897. She is also a three-time Academic All-American, including two first-team accolades. Rodriguez completed her first professional season with LOVB Omaha, as they finished as runner-up in the inaugural season of League One Volleyball.
FLYNN NAMED GATORADE NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Freshman Campbell Flynn was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year on Jan. 10.
• Flynn, a 6-3 setter from Oakland, Mich., was a two-time Gatorade Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year. She recorded 730 assists and 180 digs in her senior season for Mercy High School, leading the Marlins to a 31-3 record and the Division I regional semifinals in 2024. Flynn also compiled 131 kills, 52 blocks and 36 service aces while posting a .394 hitting percentage at net.
• Flynn was a member of the U.S. U21 Women’s National Team that won the gold medal at the NORCECA Championships in 2024 and was ranked as the nation’s No. 4 overall recruit and top setter recruit in the Class of 2025 by PrepDig.com. Flynn concluded her prep volleyball career, which included a state championship in 2023, with 1,973 assists and 737 kills. She also competed in the Under Armour All-America Game. Off the court, Flynn maintained a 3.94 GPA in the classroom.
• Flynn is the sixth Husker all-time to be named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The others are Harper Murray (2022-23), Ally Batenhorst (2020-21), Lexi Sun (2016-17), Mikaela Foecke (2014-15) and Gina Mancuso (2008-09).
• Freshman Campbell Flynn was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year on Jan. 10.
• Flynn, a 6-3 setter from Oakland, Mich., was a two-time Gatorade Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year. She recorded 730 assists and 180 digs in her senior season for Mercy High School, leading the Marlins to a 31-3 record and the Division I regional semifinals in 2024. Flynn also compiled 131 kills, 52 blocks and 36 service aces while posting a .394 hitting percentage at net.
• Flynn was a member of the U.S. U21 Women’s National Team that won the gold medal at the NORCECA Championships in 2024 and was ranked as the nation’s No. 4 overall recruit and top setter recruit in the Class of 2025 by PrepDig.com. Flynn concluded her prep volleyball career, which included a state championship in 2023, with 1,973 assists and 737 kills. She also competed in the Under Armour All-America Game. Off the court, Flynn maintained a 3.94 GPA in the classroom.
• Flynn is the sixth Husker all-time to be named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The others are Harper Murray (2022-23), Ally Batenhorst (2020-21), Lexi Sun (2016-17), Mikaela Foecke (2014-15) and Gina Mancuso (2008-09).
FLYNN, SIGLER EARN GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• In addition to being named Gatorade National Player of the Year, Campbell Flynn was named the Gatorade Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight year, while fellow Husker newcomer Teraya Sigler was named the Gatorade Arizona Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight time.
• Sigler, a 6-2 outside hitter from Scottsdale, Ariz., led Horizon High School to a 25-5 record and a fourth straight Conference 5A state championship in 2024. Sigler amassed 619 kills and 354 digs, including 33 kills and 20 digs in the state championship match. She also had 65 service aces and 28 blocks while posting a .398 hitting percentage.
• Ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2025 by PrepDig.com, Sigler was a member of the U.S. U21 Women’s National Team that won the gold medal at the NORCECA Championships in 2024. She concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,951 kills and 1,128 digs and competed in the Under Armour All-America Game.
• In addition to being named Gatorade National Player of the Year, Campbell Flynn was named the Gatorade Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight year, while fellow Husker newcomer Teraya Sigler was named the Gatorade Arizona Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight time.
• Sigler, a 6-2 outside hitter from Scottsdale, Ariz., led Horizon High School to a 25-5 record and a fourth straight Conference 5A state championship in 2024. Sigler amassed 619 kills and 354 digs, including 33 kills and 20 digs in the state championship match. She also had 65 service aces and 28 blocks while posting a .398 hitting percentage.
• Ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2025 by PrepDig.com, Sigler was a member of the U.S. U21 Women’s National Team that won the gold medal at the NORCECA Championships in 2024. She concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,951 kills and 1,128 digs and competed in the Under Armour All-America Game.
HUSKERS COMING OFF RECORD BEACH SEASON
• The Huskers set a school record for beach volleyball wins in 2025, recording 22 to beat their previous record of 16 set in 2024.
• After starting the season with three straight losses, the Huskers won 22 matches in a row over the course of a month. Eighteen of those 22 wins were sweeps.
• The Huskers set a school record for beach volleyball wins in 2025, recording 22 to beat their previous record of 16 set in 2024.
• After starting the season with three straight losses, the Huskers won 22 matches in a row over the course of a month. Eighteen of those 22 wins were sweeps.