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Could Nebraska Volleyball Play More Matches at PBA?

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Dani Busboom Kelly has a unique and interesting vantage point.

The former player-turned Husker assistant-turned head coach is the nexus of the program’s past and its future. And she had a foot in both worlds last weekend when she officially began her tenure as Nebraska’s leader – a picture both unfamiliar, yet entirely fitting.

She sought out and hugged her former coach, John Cook, in a PBA hallway just minutes before taking the court for her debut match, not against an old Husker rival, but a former conference foe in Pitt, who her Louisville teams sparred with annually in a fight for the ACC title.

And then, there was the venue itself. Cook, who had pushed the program as a brand to new heights with the audacity of a match inside Memorial Stadium and endless sell-outs of the Devaney Center, resisted the city of Lincoln’s final worthy venue, Pinnacle Bank Arena, just as he initially held off moving the program from the NU Coliseum to the Devaney Center in 2013.

Nebraska Volleyball's Big Ten Championship banner from the 2024 season was unveiled during the Red-White Scrimmage.

Nebraska volleyball banners hang in the Devaney Center, which has become the country’s premier college volleyball venue. / Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Busboom Kelly embraced the opportunity as part of the AVCA First Serve Showcase, which had all the pomp and pageantry of the Final Four. And Tuesday, she made it clear she’d be excited to make PBA appearances more than just a one-time thing.

“I love it,” she said of playing more matches in the larger arena. “You get in a different type of environment. It prepares you for what you could face at the end of the year (at a Final Four). It allows more (fans) to get into games. Typically, in the bigger arenas, there’s more technology and different things you can do that enhance the experience.”

Credit goes to the AVCA for investing in the event. Fan – and press – reviews of the event’s in-game MC were mixed. But you can see the rationale of the AVCA trying to energize the non-Nebraska matches. The light-up bracelets for each match were an additional promotional touch.

The goal was to make last weekend more than a few matches. More like a capital-E ‘Event.’

“Teraya (Sigler) in the locker room after the game, she was the one that said ‘This was just a blast. Everyone on the court was lit,’” Busboom Kelly said. “That’s not my lingo. I’m repeating her. ‘The court was lit. The bench was lit. The crowd was lit.’ She was just saying the whole experience was fun.”

For Busboom Kelly, venues don’t seem to be sacrosanct. Maybe because Nebraska volleyball matches were always an event to her. She shushed the derisive giggles of Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly last week when she told them the Coliseum, where Busboom Kelly played for 2003-06, produced crowds so loud players couldn’t hear themselves on the court. 

Nebraska volleyball coach Dani Busboom Kelly met with the media Tuesday ahead of the Husker Games exhibition against Kansas.

Nebraska volleyball coach Dani Busboom Kelly hopes to play a couple of matches at Pinnacle Bank Arena each season. / Nebraska Athletics

Former Nebraska coach Terry Pettit compared the Coliseum to a stage or a boxing ring, where the crowd felt claustrophobic and the sightlines put all eyes on the center of the court.

The Devaney Center, NU’s current home floor, expanded the Coliseum’s capacity more than double, but still manages to maintain an intimacy through a renovation that prioritized the building for volleyball.

Busboom Kelly likes the bells and whistles of PBA for an occasional cameo, but also because coaching this program means having one eye on December. At Louisville, her teams were based out of the cozy L&N Federal Credit Union Arena, capacity about 1,000. But last season, Louisville played 10 matches at the larger KFC Yum! Center, including most of its postseason run to the Final Four.

A trip down Salt Creek Roadway once or twice per season would take the Huskers just minutes, but forces players out of their comfortable routine. They’d need to adapt to a new locker room, new practice schedules, and new sightlines that impact depth perception.

Nebraska Volleyball Season Central. Nebraska Volleyball Season Central. dark. Next

But there surely is an element of panache, too. A declaration that Yeah, we can pack this place, too.

You’re also usually playing a pretty good opponent there. Just like in a regional final or the Final Four. 

“It adds some very positive distractions, in my opinion. I hope we get to play there again,” she said on Tuesday. “I don’t know what that looks like yet from the university’s standpoint, but it seems like a no-brainer to move a game or two down there a year.”

Nebraska eyes Broadway Block Party

The Huskers earned two wins over top-10 teams last weekend in front of a decidedly partisan crowd at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Busboom Kelly said Tuesday that this weekend’s Broadway Block Party, where the Huskers will face No. 7 Kentucky on Sunday (11 a.m., ABC) figures to be more like a Final Four with more of a neutral crowd. 

“We’ll have our fans that travel, for sure,” she said. “But the majority of fans are likely just going to be the casual volleyball fan.”

Nebraska outside hitter Harper Murray

Nebraska outside hitter Harper Murray fires a kill, while Pitt’s Olivia Babcock and Ryla Jones defend during the first set of the AVCA First Serve. / Kenny Larabee, KLIN

The event is another sign of volleyball’s explosion as an appreciating brand. The Huskers and Wildcats face off inside the 20,000-seat Bridgestone Arena as the start of a three-match card. Purdue vs Tennessee will follow at 2 p.m., capped by Illinois vs Vanderbilt at 5 p.m. Each match will be televised on a different network.

The Huskers also scheduled a match with Lipscomb on Friday night at 6 p.m. The Bison are the preseason pick to win the Atlantic Sun Conference, and feature the league’s preseason Player of the Year in outside hitter Courtney Jones and preseason Setter of the Year Sophia Hudepohl.

Lipscomb went 19-11 last season.

“Lipscomb is a really good mid-major,” Busboom Kelly said. “This isn’t a team that hasn’t competed in NCAA tournaments or beaten Power 5 teams before. They’ve shown they can compete with a lot of Power 5 schools.”

The match is also a bonus, the coach said, for keeping the Huskers’ attention on a trip to a city that positions itself as the Bachelorette Party Capital of the U.S.

“Nashville’s a fun city. A lot of distractions, I know that,” Busboom Kelly said. “I’m glad we have that game on Friday against Lipscomb to keep us focused because the weekends in Nashville can be a blast.”

Reilly named Big Ten Setter of the Week

Junior setter Bergen Reilly’s outstanding weekend was rewarded on Tuesday when she earned the Big Ten’s first Setter of the Week honor for 2025.

The highlight was Sunday’s performance in the 3-0 sweep of Stanford, in which Reilly led the Huskers to a .385 hitting mark, the program’s highest attack percentage against a top-25 team since 2016.

Nebraska setter Bergen Reilly reacts after the Huskers scored a point against Pittsburgh.

Nebraska setter Bergen Reilly reacts after the Huskers scored a point against Pittsburgh. / Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Reilly, who was pushed in summer and preseason workouts by freshman Campbell Flynn, steered the Nebraska offense despite some shaky passing. The Husker serve receive produced a Good Pass Percentage of just 47.5 percent – below the team’s goal of 60 percent – which means Reilly put NU hitters in positions to score while having to set on the move.

Busboom Kelly said she’s been working on relieving pressure Reilly might feel to deliver perfect sets while Nebraska implements some new tempo and new patterns under the new coach.

“Just taking that weight off of her, and making sure the team knows we’re working on those things, not just the conversations between Bergen and I,” Busboom Kelly said. “If it’s not perfect, they know, ok, we’re going to figure this out, and if it doesn’t work, we’re going to stop doing it. But, for now, we’re going to keep working on it and keep expanding our range.”

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.



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Pride Collect Three GNAC Weekly Awards After Wesleyan Winter Invitational

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WESTON, Mass. — Hannah Griffin, Zoe Kirk, and Justin Thuotte each represented the Pride this week in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) weekly awards. Kirk earned her second Rookie of the Week honor of the season, while Griffin collected her first career Track Athlete of the Week award. Thuotte was named Field Athlete of the Week, marking his first honor of the season and the fifth weekly award of his career.

Zoe Kirk continued her strong rookie campaign with a pair of top-10 finishes. She placed third overall in the high jump with a mark of 1.50 meters, setting a new indoor program record and surpassing the previous mark of 1.46 held by teammate Grace Micklon. Kirk also finished ninth in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 9.93.

Hannah Griffin captured the top spot in the 800 meters with a time of 2:44.36, edging her nearest competitor by nearly one second.

Justin Thuotte delivered another standout performance at the Wesleyan Winter Invitational, winning the long jump with a mark of 6.70 meters to set a new indoor program record, besting his own previous mark of 6.65 from the last meet. He also placed third in the triple jump at 12.99 meters and rounded out his day with a 10th-place finish in the weight throw, posting a personal-best mark of 13.59 meters.

Regis track and field stays close to home this weekend, traveling to Brighton, Massachusetts, to compete at the Suffolk Ice Breaker at The Track at New Balance.



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Ella Parker to Join Milwaukee Volleyball as Newest Addition to Roster

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MILWAUKEE – Ella Parker has been announced as the newest addition to the Milwaukee volleyball roster, head coach Susie Johnson announced on Monday afternoon.
 
Parker will join the Panthers this spring after spending the last three semesters at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y., where she was a member of the Red Storm for the past two seasons.
 
“We are excited to add Ella to our team this spring,” said Johnson. “Having played in the Big East Conference, she has match experience and will bring a lot to our program in the Horizon League. We’re excited that she not only can score points for us but defend as well.”
 
This past fall, Parker played in 16 matches for St. John’s and recorded 138 kills, along with 10 service aces, 26 digs, and 15 blocks. She posted a season-high 16 kills on Oct. 4 at UConn while hitting .361 and later recorded a season-best .692 hitting percentage with nine kills without an error against LeMoyne earlier in the year.
 
As a true freshman in 2024, Parker saw action in three matches before an injury ended her season.
 
Originally from Corrales, New Mexico, Parker was a three-year member of the Cougar volleyball team at Cibola High School in Albuquerque. During her prep career, she earned AVCA Girls High School All-Region honors as both a junior and a senior and was named to the All-American Watch List.
 
A multiple-time All-State, All-Region, All-Area, and All-Conference selection, Parker was also chosen for the New Mexico Red and Green All-Start Team. She set Cibola program records for both most kills in a season and most kills in a match.
 
Parker played club volleyball for Duke City Volleyball Academy and competed in beach volleyball with the Albuquerque Beach Volleyball Academy. Away from the court, she was also a competitive swimmer for more than 10 years.
 
Parker joins fellow transfer Kameron Stover, along with incoming freshmen Olivia Doerre, Emma Duffy, Kayla Landerud, and Hope Wagner as newcomers for the 2026 volleyball season.
 





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T&F trio earn GNAC honors

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PORTLAND, ORE. – The University of Alaska Anchorage had three Seawolves earn GNAC Athlete of the Week honors for indoor track and field.

Liv Heite was named the women’s track athlete of the week. Her top effort was a 60-meter hurdles time of 8.91 seconds, upping her name to third on the GNAC performance list this winter. Heite is the reigning GNAC silver medalist in the event from last season. She also ran 8.09 seconds in the 60 meters, 26.02 seconds in the 200 meters and ran a leg of a UAA 4×400 meter relay squad that posted 3:57.48 minutes to round out her productive weekend. Now in her third season at UAA, Heite is a four-time GNAC medalist earning silver in both the 2024 and 2025 100-meter hurdles (outdoor), silver in the 2025 60-meter hurdles (indoor), and silver in the 2025 400-meter hurdles (outdoor)

 “Liv looks like she is ready to pick up where she left off,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “She started the season off faster than she did last year and ran consistently over the weekend. I think she is ready to take it to the next level.”

Sarah Dittman was named the women’s field athlete of the week. She kicked things off with a high jump mark of 4-11.75 feet (1.52 meters) and a long jump of 17-4.25 feet (5.29 meters), placing fifth in both events. Each of those marks slotted her fourth among GNAC competitors so far in the indoor season. Dittman also contributed on the track, running a 200 meters time of 26.79 seconds, a 60-meter hurdles time of 10.61 seconds and running a leg of UAA’s 4×400 meter relay unit that posted a time of 4:14.89 minutes.

“Sarah had an encouraging start to her college career,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “I am really looking forward to seeing where her growth and development over the course of this season is going to take her.”

Tyler Drake was named the men’s field athlete of the week.  His weekend was highlighted by a third-place finish in the long jump, as he cleared 22-3 feet (6.78 meters). That stands as the second-best long jump by a GNAC athlete so far this season. On the track, he posted times of 23.55 seconds in the 200 meters and 8.36 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.

“Tyler had himself a great start to his college career,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “He set personal bests in the hurdles and long jump and moved himself into the top-10 on UAA’s performance list. His long jump start is even more encouraging because of how obvious it is that he still has so much room to grow.”

UAA will compete at the UW Preview Jan. 16-17.



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Shank Named GNAC Setter of the Week After Facilitating Offense in Season Opener

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WESTON, Mass. — Evan Shank earned the first Setter of the Week honor of the 2026 season from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) after leading Regis College to a 3–0 sweep of Elms on Saturday.

The junior directed the offense in the Pride’s straight-sets victory on January 9, recording 33 assists to average an impressive 11.0 assists per set. Making his debut in crimson and gold, Shank efficiently controlled the tempo throughout the match, guiding Regis to a dominant non-conference win.

Shank and the Pride will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Curry College for their 2026 home opener at 7 p.m.



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UC Davis Athletics Concludes Fall With Competitive Success, National Honors and Facilities Investment

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DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis Athletics capped the Fall 2025 season with record-setting performances, national and conference honors, and postseason success across multiple programs. The season also marked the announcement of Aggie Ascent, a $265 million facilities plan designed to enhance the student-athlete and fan experience.

 

“Across multiple programs this fall, our teams competed at a high level, earned conference championships, advanced in postseason play, and achieved milestones that reflect the depth and consistency of our department,” said UC Davis Athletic Director Rocko DeLuca. “Those results are a direct credit to our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, who continue to raise the standard through their commitment, preparation, and belief in what we’re building here. As we celebrate those accomplishments, we’re focused on matching that competitive momentum with long-term investment in our facilities and resources to support our teams at the highest level of Division I athletics. I’m proud of what this group accomplished this fall and excited about where Aggie Athletics is headed.”

 

Aggie Ascent Announcement

 

This fall, UC Davis Athletics announced Aggie Ascent, a comprehensive facilities master plan. The $265 million, phased, gift-driven project prioritizes high-impact and revenue-generating facilities, beginning with a reimagined UC Davis Health Stadium featuring premium seating, suites, and a year-round hospitality space, alongside a new NCAA-compliant Woody Wilson Track and Field Complex and a Golf Training Center serving both Aggie programs and the surrounding community. Future phases include upgrades to baseball, soccer, and the University Credit Union Center, as well as a new softball stadium and redevelopment of south campus facilities.

 

Developed in partnership with ELS Architecture and Urban Design, the plan represents the university’s unified vision for athletics infrastructure, focused on enhancing the student-athlete experience, elevating the fan experience, and ensuring long-term sustainability. The project reflects UC Davis’ commitment to innovation and competitive excellence at the Division I level.

 

Championships and Postseason

 

UC Davis Athletics delivered a strong year highlighted by postseason appearances, conference championships, and historic milestones across multiple programs. Aggie football, gymnastics, and women’s golf each qualified for NCAA postseason competition, with several teams extending their seasons beyond conference play.

 

Conference success followed, as volleyball captured the Big West regular season title and men’s water polo claimed the Big West Conference championship, continuing the program’s tradition of postseason success.

 

Football, under second-year head coach Tim Plough, continued its national climb by advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals for a second-straight year, while posting a top eight finish nationally in back-to-back seasons coming in at No. 8 following the most recent fall. Field hockey also marked a milestone year, hosting and competing in its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship game.

 

Historic Wins and Notable Awards

 

UC Davis student-athletes earned significant national and conference recognition across multiple programs this year. Men’s water polo standout Thomas Kiesling was named a third-team ACWPC All-American after earning All-Big West First Team honors, placing him among the nation’s top collegiate players.

 

Field hockey collected major accolades, as Karly Redman earned MPSF Offensive Player of the Year honors, while freshman goalkeeper Addie Collingwood was named MPSF Freshman of the Year following an impactful debut season.

 

Football earned multiple postseason honors this season, highlighted by a handful of Aggies receiving All-America recognition from four different national organizations. Among those was first team All-American Jacob Psyk, making it three-straight seasons the Aggies have had at least one first team All-American.

 

Volleyball capped a strong season with multiple major awards. Jade Light was named Big West Player of the Year and earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Honorable Mention, becoming the program’s first All-American since 1996. She was joined by Mia Starr, the Big West Setter of the Year, and Ximena Cordero Barr, who earned Libero of the Year honors. These accolades coincided with a record-setting season, as the Aggies posted the most conference wins in program history.

 

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:

UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.

 

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Fabela, Tavita named to Softball America Freshman Watch List – BYU Athletics – Official Athletics Website

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PROVO, Utah — BYU softball freshmen Kaiya Fabela and Rita Tavita were named to Softball America’s Freshman Watch List, the outlet announced Monday morning.

The duo were two of 33 Big 12 freshmen selected to the list.

Fabela, who was also named to D1Softball’s D100 Freshman Watch List, was a three-time District 6-4A Catcher of the Year and a three-time all-area selection by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Morning News and DFW Metroplex.

The 5-foot-9 Fort Worth, Texas, native was also named all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association and the Texas Girls Coaches Association and earned a spot on the Extra Inning Softball Class of 2025 Top 20 list.

Tavita, the 2024-25 Utah Gatorade Player of the Year, captured a state championship at West Jordan High School during her senior season. A three-time all-state and all-region honoree, she batted .557 with 41 RBIs and 15 home runs in 2025.

In the circle, the 5-foot-10 Salt Lake City native posted a 6-1 record with a 1.56 ERA as a senior. Over two seasons at West Jordan, Tavita recorded a 1.95 ERA with 230 strikeouts across 187 innings pitched.

BYU opens the 2026 season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida, on Thursday, Feb. 5.

The full Freshman Watch List is available on Softball America’s website.



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