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Nebraska Volleyball is Far From Perfect, Just Ask the Team

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Nebraska volleyball coach Dani Busboom Kelly has one of the toughest jobs in all of college sports.

She has the task of telling her undefeated and unanimous No. 1 team in the country that they haven’t hit their top gear yet. The 10-0 Huskers may have wins over No. 3 Pittsburg, No. 6 Stanford, No. 7 Kentucky, No. 18 Creighton, and No. 22 Utah, but the team’s approach is mirroring what Busboom Kelly would want.

“I don’t think we’ve played our best volleyball yet this year,” sophomore libero Olivia Mauch said. “I’m really excited for what we can do, and I think we can make a really big statement starting off here this week.”

Nebraska volleyball players celebrate a point against Wright State.

Nebraska has had plenty to smile about through their first ten matches of the season, but are still hungry to improve with conference play kicking off Wednesday. / Nebraska Athletics

Nebraska welcomes in their first Big Ten opponent of the year, 10-1 Michigan in town Wednesday night. The Wolverines have had an impressive non-conference season of their own, but for Nebraska, their biggest opponent during the match may be themselves.

“I think we have to be on a mission to continue to get better and to understand that each game is really important for who we want to be in December,” Busboom Kelly said during her weekly press conference Tuesday. “Of course, we want to take it each game at a time and the goal is to win a Big Ten Championship, but that’s also not the ultimate goal for this year.”

The top-ranked Huskers may be undefeated, but they’ve certainly had their unblemished record threatened. Twice this season, the Huskers were pushed to a fifth set, most recently by in-state rival Creighton, which entered that final frame with a lot of momentum. However, when it mattered most, Nebraska got the job done — and it’s that level of growth that lets the team know there’s still more to achieve.

Taylor Landfair (12) gets a kill through Stanford's Ipar Kurt's (15) block.

Taylor Landfair has helped pace Nebraska through its 10-0 start, but knows conference play is a “new season” for the Huskers. / Amarillo Mullen

“I think it proves we have a lot more that we need to get done, and we have a lot more that we need to work on,” senior outside hitter Taylor Landfair said. “It’s honestly great that we had such a long preseason. We had so many games and so much success, but at the same time, all that success is in the past now.”

Where Creighton and a few other teams have been able to find success against Nebraska is with a strong service game. The Bluejays’ serve got the Huskers out of system frequently in the five-set thriller, and Nebraska’s passing does still leave a lot to be desired.

However, NU knew it would be a transition year after losing three-time first-team All-American Lexi Rodriguez.

Lexi Rodriguez (8) and Laney Choboy (6) smile as they run off the court after advancing to the Elite Eight.

Lexi Rodriguez has been a tough act to replace for the 2025 Huskers. / Amarillo Mullen

“I feel when you lose such a great passer like Lexi, there’s going to be a little bit of a drop off,” Busboom Kelly said. “It’s just figuring out how we can be successful being ourselves, because you’re not going to replace a player like that.”

Considering the team is still 10-0 with as many high-profile wins as they have under their belt, it’s safe to say they’re well on their way. Nonetheless, the Huskers are entering conference play hungry and humble. For them, a new season starts now.

“I think it’s just proving to ourselves how good we can be,” Mauch said. “We don’t feel like we’ve been playing super well recently. I know the stats don’t show that or the games don’t show it, but I think just proving to ourselves and to everybody else, especially with the new coach — I think just proving to ourselves that we can win again.”

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

Nebraska is looking to add a third-straight conference championship banner, but it’s far from their main goal of the 2025 season. / Kenny Larabee, KLIN

As you might remember, Nebraska split the Big Ten volleyball championship with Penn State last season after finishing 19-1 in conference play. The shared crown also represented NU’s second-straight league title and fifth since joining the Big Ten in 2011.

The blistering level of success being seen in Lincoln is surprisingly nothing new. The Huskers have been a national power in college volleyball for decades thanks to the program built by John Cook and Terry Pettit. Now, a former player is running the ship, and Busboom Kelly said the team’s success is also an indicator of why her players won’t get too comfortable despite the No. 1 ranking and unbeaten record.

“I think it’ll be pretty tough for us to get complacent because of the talent in our gym,” Busboom Kelly said. “If somebody gets complacent, they’re probably going to lose their spot.”

That attitude is already reflected in the team as well as they gear up for their conference opener against Michigan.

Nebraska volleyball middle blocker Rebekah Allick at practice ahead of the 2025 season.

Practice for the Nebraska volleyball team has remained intense thanks to lofty expectations from first-year coach Dani Busboom Kelly. / Kenny Larabee, KLIN

“We can always get better at every position no matter what,” Mauch said. “I think it’s just fine-tuning those little things that’ll make the biggest difference.”

Frankly, what fans have seen through the first ten matches has been impressive, but Busboom Kelly hopes it’s what fans see in the team’s last ten matches that tell the story of the 2025 season.

“We want to enjoy this journey and continue to point out things we’re going well and things we need to get better on to be our best at the end of the year,” Busboom Kelly said.

“I just hope we embrace it because I feel like she knows what she’s talking about, obviously, and I think that it’s good that she’s getting on to us because we’re going to have to be really good defensively at the end of the season,” Landfair said. “It’s honestly just how can we step up and how can we set a really high standard for ourselves, but then also meet that standard.”

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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