Connect with us
https://yoursportsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/call-to-1.png

Sports

Past, Present and Future of Nebraska Volleyball Converge in 2025 Alumni Match

Published

on


The past, present and future of Nebraska volleyball converged on Terry Pettit Court during the program’s Alumni Match on Saturday night.

The current squad took down the collection of former Huskers 3-1 in front of a sold-out Devaney Center crowd, with all 17 players seeing the court once again.

“I thought it was great, and pretty much everything we had hoped for,” Dani Busboom Kelly said. “The alum were excited to play, they played great, and then we got tested and kind of felt some pressure, which was amazing going into next week. We got to see a lot of different players too, step up in that pressure, and I think it really helped us figure out who we’re going to start and what realistic changes we can make.

“I think it made me a lot more comfortable going into next weekend, so big thank you to the alums for showing up and playing great.”

The Huskers took the match 25-21, 25-14, 17-25, 25-22 behind strong offensive showings from Harper Murray (12 kills on .476 hitting) and Andi Jackson (11 kills on .389 hitting). Bergen Reilly started three sets and played in all four, totaling 37 assists, eight digs and two blocks. Laney Choboy played the first two sets at libero and finished with five digs and an ace while Olivia Mauch donned the black jersey for the last two sets and recorded a team-best nine digs.

Busboom Kelly said the usual suspects impressed her in the face of the aforementioned pressure, highlighting three juniors.

“I thought Harper played great and was a huge voice,” Busboom Kelly said. “I thought Bergen had an awesome match, and you can really just feel the team steadied when she was in there. I thought Laney, sometimes her play is not super, super smooth, but her presence just helps us a ton.”

Other standouts included Virginia Adriano, who started the first two sets at opposite hitter and finished with six kills on 10 errorless swings and two blocks, and Manaia Ogbechie, who started the last two sets and totaled six kills on nine attacks and three blocks.

On the other side of the net, Ally Batenhorst (13 kills on .242 hitting) and Lindsay Krause (12 kills on .474 hitting) led the alumni, while assistant coach Kelly Natter got the chance to show her players what she’s capable of, amassing 46 assists and six digs.

“In practice, we’ll chirp each other because sometimes Kelly will step in, and we always heckle her a little bit on the other side of the net, just because she’s our coach now, and you do — not necessarily forget, but she was such a great player here, and now she’s a coach, so you just get used to seeing her in her coach form, not her player form,” Jackson said. “So getting to play against her and actually see her in her element, she was doing really well. I was really impressed with her. She was flowing and running a great offense, so she was great.”

Before the match, Nebraska recycled old player intro videos for the alumni, and the Devaney Center crowd gave them each a warm welcome. Busboom Kelly said she felt immense pride watching it play out — and even said she was going to train so she can play in next year’s match.

“It was great,” Busboom Kelly said. “I got a little bit teary-eyed just seeing all those alums come back and I know they were excited to get the standing ovations and get that feeling back. Some of them haven’t played in years, and that was really fun to see them out here. Some of them I recruited really hard and didn’t get to finish out their careers as their assistant, so it was just really great to get to connect with them again.

“I think it’s really important for our players to get that feeling too, that when you leave, this place is still really special and once a Husker, always a Husker. They saw that truer than ever tonight.”

The first set saw 13 ties as the Alumni jumped ahead early. Both teams hit for a high clip, but the current Huskers settled in late and surged ahead, taking their first lead at 20-19 and closing the match on a 7-2 run overall.

On game point, Choboy made a diving dig that led to a Taylor Landfair winner, closing out the first frame in style. The Huskers hit .467 with Murray terminating on six of her eight swings. The Alumni hit .375.

The second set saw three ties and two lead changes, all in the first nine points. After that, it was all 2025 Nebraska as the Huskers used a 7-0 run with Murray at the service line to take control.

With the Huskers up 15-8 midway through the set, Busboom Kelly began substituting liberally, sending in most of the reserves over the back half of the set. Despite the rotation, the Huskers didn’t miss a beat, cruising to the 11-point win.

Nebraska hit .440 while holding the Alumni Team to .071, a big defensive improvement from the first set. Jackson led the way with four kills on five attacks.

Busboom Kelly continued the youth movement in set three, but the Alumni locked in and fought back, flipping the script to extend the watch with a dominant showing. They opened the set with a 4-0 run and stretched the lead as high as 10, out-hitting the younger Huskers .350 to .065.

Busboom Kelly went to a mix of starters and reserves to start the fourth set. The Alumni continued to roll, jumping out to an 8-2 lead. After the Huskers pulled within one, the veterans fired off a 5-0 run to stretch it back out.

However, Jackson sparked a comeback from that point, not at the net but from the service line. She served back-to-back aces during a 7-1 Husker run to tie it at 15-all then another during a 4-1 finish to the match.

“I think it’s every middle’s goal to serve, so it’s really exciting to be in this position,” Jackson said. “I’ve worked really hard on it, and this summer, I really have worked on new techniques, Coach Brennan [Hagar] and I, we just tried a few different things, and I think what I’m doing right now is most consistent for me. So just keep working at that, and then hopefully continue to grow from there.”

Allie Sczech closed out the match with a solo stuff on Husker legend Larson. Murray led the way with five more kills after sitting the whole third set. The current squad hit .250 and led the veterans to .135.

The alumni match took some work to put together, but those that returned to compete hope to see it become a fixture of Nebraska’s preseason.

“I think they should do this every year,” Batenhorst said. “It was super cool and it brings everyone together again. Just seeing former teammates, you just get to experience what it’s like to be a Husker again, and after years of playing pro, it’s really cool to be able to come back and push the current Huskers and just relive it.”

“I don’t think Nebraska can get enough volleyball, so I feel like this will repeat itself, hopefully, many, many years,” Gina Mancuso-Prososki added.

YouTube video



Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

NCAA Tournament Central: Colorado – Indiana University Athletics

Published

on


BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A trip to the NCAA regional semifinals is on the line Friday (Dec. 5) evening at Wilkinson Hall. Fourth-seeded Indiana and fifth-seeded Colorado will meet in Bloomington at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ to determine the first berth in the round of 16 this season.

 

The Hoosiers worked an impressive sweep of Toledo on Thursday (Dec. 4) to open their first NCAA Tournament journey since 2010. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles led the way with 12 kills while freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager recorded a double-double on 11 kills and 10 digs.

 

Below is a list of notes to know ahead of Friday’s second round match at Wilkinson Hall.

 

Gameday Info

vs. (5) Colorado (Friday, December 5th, 2025 – 6 p.m. ET)

Live Video:
bit.ly/3MkznXp

Live Stats:
bit.ly/3MF39WS

 

Notable

PROGRAM RECORD: The Hoosiers made program history this week in Bloomington after Thursday’s win over Toledo. IU broke a single-season program record for wins (24) in the NCAA era, passing the former mark of 23 from 2010. It will have a chance at a 25-win campaign on Friday against Colorado.

 

BALANCE ON THE PINS: Indiana is the only Power Four program who has three different players averaging at least 3.22 kills per set this season. On 10 different occasions this year, all three of IU’s pin hitters have gone for 10+ kills each. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles leads the team with 3.49 kills per set.

 

POSTSEASON BALL: For just the sixth time in program history, IU is playing in the NCAA Tournament. It’s IU’s first appearance since going to the regional semifinals in 2010. The Hoosiers broke one of the longest postseason droughts (15 years) of any power four program. IU is hosting for just the second time in school history.

 

ALL-BIG TEN HOOSIERS: IU had three First Team All-Big Ten selections in 2025. Before this year, IU had never even had two players picked to the All-Big Ten First Team in the same year. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles, senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and freshman setter Teodora Krickovic all made the team this season.

 

STRONG AT HOME: The Hoosiers have been fantastic at Wilkinson Hall over the last four years. Dating back to 2022, IU is 39-15 on the home court. For the first time since 1998-2000, IU has won 10-or-more home games in three-straight years. IU hasn’t lost at home to an unranked team since Nov. 12, 2023.

 

VIC STEPPING UP: When freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray gets the ball, she’s been especially lethal. During the month of November, her game was at a new level. In nine games last month, she hit .416 with 52 kills. Her best game was a career-high 12 kills against Purdue to end the regular season.

 

BIG TIME AVRY: Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum has loved the big moments during her IU career. She had 10+ kills in nine of 13 matches against teams that made the NCAA Tournament. In two games last week, Tatum averaged 3.86 kills per set while hitting at a .396 clip.

 

POWER DUO: IU is 26-8 over the last three years when senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles and senior opposite Avry Tatum each record 10 kills in the same match. It last happened in a dominant win at Illinois (Nov. 26). On the season, the Hoosiers are 7-1 in conference play in 2025 when this occurs.

 

SERVING TOUGH: IU went for 10 aces in Thursday’s win over Toledo. It’s the fifth time this season that the team has gone for double-digit aces. Since November 14th, IU has recorded 52 aces and is averaging 2.26 aces per set in that seven-game stretch. Six different players tallied at least one ace in the first-round victory.

 

BIG BLOCK GRAY: Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray became the first freshman to record 100 blocks in a season after her four-block night against Toledo. She’s had 14 different matches with at least four blocks this year. The Hoosiers have also had 14 matches with at least nine blocks as a team this season.

 

First Round Notes: Indiana 3, Toledo 0

• With a win on Thursday evening, IU set a single-season program record for wins (24) in the NCAA era. The 2010 team won 23 contests but this year’s squad has officially passed that mark. IU will go for its first 25-win season tomorrow night against Colorado.

• Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles moved into ninth in program history in career kills. She recorded 12 in the win over Toledo, passing Katie Pollom (2001-04) in the process. Thursday’s win was the 72nd time she’s recorded double-digit kills in her career.

• Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager recorded the sixth double-double of her young career on Thursday evening. She provided 11 kills and a team-high 10 digs in the victory over Toledo. It’s the seventh time this season she’s recorded at least 10 digs. Jager matched a career high with three aces.

• IU will play Colorado tomorrow night at Wilkinson Hall with a shot at the NCAA regional semifinals. The Hoosiers have made it to the round of 16 just once in program history (2010). These two teams haven’t met since 1993 but will play at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ tomorrow in Bloomington.

• Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray shared the team lead with four blocks. She became the first IU freshman since Ashley Benson (2007) to record over 100 blocks in a season. Since the beginning of the 25-point rally-scoring era, no freshman has more blocks in a single season than Gray (102.0).



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Campbell Falls to No. 3 Texas A&M in 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship Opening Round

Published

on


Campbell Falls to No. 3 Texas A&M in 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship Opening Round

Bookmark and Share




COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Despite a valiant defensive effort, the Campbell volleyball team saw its season come to an end after falling to No. 3 Texas A&M at the 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championship in straight sets (20-25, 10-25, 13-25) inside Reed Arena on Friday evening.
 
The Camels finished the season with a 23-7 record. Hannah Pattie and Bella Illig battled on the back line, each reaching double figures in digs with 11 and 10 apiece, respectively. Abbie Tuyo notched a team-best nine kills on Friday.

The CAA Champions kept pace with the Aggies (24-4) in the opening set, going point-for-point before taking an early 7-6 lead on a tandem block from Tuyo and Aley Clent. Texas A&M surged shortly after with a 9-2 run halted by a slam by Campbell’s Gwen Wolkow. The Camels did not go away quietly with an 8-1 stretch of their own, starting with a kill from Maja Daca and finishing with a Clent and Tuyo stuff on A&M’s Kyndal Stowers at the net to pull within three, 23-20. The Aggies went on to capture the first set two points later, 25-20.

Campbell’s Daca helped her team to a 3-3 tie to start the second frame after earning a kill and painting the end line for a service ace. The Aggies pulled away after seeing Logan Lednicky register four kills and a solo block on the team’s 10-1 run to close out the set, 25-10 win.

The Camels’ Illig fought off heavy swings from the Aggies’ attackers all evening, but her impressive defensive abilities were on full display to start the third set. The graduate libero saved a floater from hitting the floor and dug out two more attacks before setting up Tuyo for the kill, tying the score at two early in the third set. Texas A&M proved to be too much and secured a 25-13 win in set three.

Follow #CAAVB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get up-to-date information and learn more about CAA member institutions and their volleyball programs.

 





Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Watch Wisconsin volleyball in NCAA tournament tonight; time, TV

Published

on


Dec. 5, 2025, 2:21 p.m. CT



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

No. 3 Volleyball sweeps Florida A&M, 3-0, to advance in NCAA Tournament

Published

on


AUSTIN, Texas. — The No. 3 Texas Volleyball team improved to 42-0 in the NCAA First Round after sweeping Florida A&M (25-11, 25-8, 25-14). The Longhorns improved to 24-3 on the season behind Emma Halter’s historic night on defense. 

Halter moved up to No. 8 on the all-time Texas digs list with 25 tonight, making it a 1,282 total. Halter also broke the Texas record in three-set matches with 25 digs. She’s now the fourth Longhorn to record 25, joining Dariam Acevedo (2006), Adrian Greenmail (2001) and Carrie Busch (1995). 

Ayden Ames matched her career high with eight blocks, leading the Longhorns to tally nine total. Ramsey Gary also recorded a season high three aces for a match high. The Longhorns recorded 42 kills to the Rattlers 15, holding them to a -.027 – the lowest opponent hitting percentage of the season. 

Set One: Texas dominated the opening set 25-11, limiting the Rattlers to a .000 attacking percentage while hitting .414 themselves. Torrey Stafford led the charge with five kills and a .455 hitting percentage. Swindle recorded nine assists and Halter registered 10 digs. The Texas defense totaled four and a half blocks in the first set. 

Set Two: The Longhorns held the Rattlers to only eight points, tying their opponent season low in the second set. Stafford added six more kills out of her 13 total, while Texas put up four team blocks behind Ames’ four. 

Set Three: The Longhorns saw Cari Spears add four kills and Whitney Lauenstein add one of her five kills in the third. Lauenstein also totaled four blocks on the night and hit for .571. 

Up next Texas will face off against No. 25 Penn State in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+. 



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Volleyball sees season end in NCAA DII Second Round

Published

on


WINGATE, N.C. – Another successful Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball season has come to an end. The Bears fell 3-1 to #3 seeded Anderson in the NCAA DII Tournament second round on Friday, closing their season at 23-8.  

Emmaleigh Allen led the team with 13 kills while Emmie Modlin and Alicia Barbarito combined for 38 assists.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Anderson 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 1 (29-27, 20-25, 25-9, 25-18)

Records: Anderson (23-7, 16-4 SAC), Lenoir-Rhyne (23-8, 14-4 SAC)

Location: Wingate, NC | Cuddy Arena

STORY OF THE MATCH: 

  • Down early on, the Bears went on a late 4-0 run to tie the score at 22 in the first set.
  • Lenoir-Rhyne had set point at 26-25, but a 4-1 run from Anderson gave the Trojans the 29-27 set victory.
  • Hadley Prince produced back-to-back service aces to help Lenoir-Rhyne win the second set 25-20.
  • Anderson dominated the third set 25-9, finishing with a .317 hitting % and just four attack errors.
  • Lenoir-Rhyne responded early in the fourth set, jumping ahead 6-3.
  • The Trojans did not look back after tying the match at 7, keeping the Bears an arms length away the rest of the set. 

STATS OF THE GAME:

  • Anderson finished with an advantage in kills (59-to-46), hitting % (.276-to-.127), and assists (57-to-43).
  • There were a combined 38 block assists and solo blocks between the two teams.
  • Kayli Cleaver and Averie Dale combined for 11 total blocks
  • Hadley Prince led the team with 19 digs while Addison Vary collected two service aces.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

  • This was the fourth meeting this season between the Bears and Trojans, with each team winning twice.
  • Emmaleigh Allen generated her sixth double-double this season after finishing with 13 kills and 16 digs.
  • Kayli Cleaver finished the season as the team leader in kills (363) and kills per set (3.36) for the second straight season.
  • The 2025 Lenoir-Rhyne Volleyball Team finished with the second highest hitting % in school history at .235, just .05 away from the record held by the the 1998 squad.
  • Averie Dale finished with a .399 hitting %, which ties the program’s individual season record held by Michelle Baity in 1999.
  • The Bears produced their third straight season with 20 or more wins and set a new program record winning 13 matches at home. 
  • Nicole Barringer now holds an 87-35 record in four years as the Bears’ head coach. 
  • Barringer is the first coach in program history to lead the team to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. 





Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Volleyball’s Season Ends In Round Of 32 to No. 3 Wisconsin

Published

on


MADISON, WISC – Carolina volleyball falls to No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers (25-14, 25-21, 25-27) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

The Tar Heels improved after each set, raising their hitting percentage from .146 to .317. Laynie Smith led the way offensively as she hit .400 with seven kills on only 15 attacks.

Carolina dropped the first set 25-14, but Bridget Malone was the bright spot as she came off the bench and hit above .444 with four kills.

The Tar Heels had a much better second set, putting together an impressive 7-2 run in the middle of the match that brought the score to 17-18. The Tar Heels continued to fight back against the top-ranked Badgers.

The Tar Heels battled back in the third set as the final set was tied 19 times and there were ten lead changes. 

Maddy May wrapped up her legendary Tar Heel career tonight. May played  in every single set (445) of every single match (118) over her four-year career. May currently sits third all-time in program history with 1622 digs. The senior closed out her time in Chapel Hill on a high note, as she was named Second Team All-ACC for the first time in her career.

 



Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending