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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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Brittnay Estes – Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator – Women’s Volleyball Coaches

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January 5, 2026

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Estes enteres her second season with the Wolfpack after being hired as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator in February 2025. Her main focus is working with the middle blockers and running the Pack’s defense.

“Brittnay is the perfect addition to our staff. She comes to us highly-recommended and is a very well-respected coach in the volleyball community. I am excited to add her energy, extreme enthusiasm and competitiveness to our gym,” said Wargo-Kearney. “Brittnay is a great relationship builder and will have the trust of our players, as well as future Wolfpack athletes. I have no doubt her impact on our program will make us stronger and she will continue to put together strong recruiting classes as our recruiting coordinator. I am fired up to welcome her to Raleigh!”

Estes joins the Pack after spending the last four seasons at her alma mater, Lipscomb. 

She helped coach the 2023 ASUN Player of the Year, Meg Mersman, to All-American, All-Region honors, in addition to three All-ASUN honors. 

In her first season with the Bison in 2020, she helped guide the squad to their seventh ASUN Regular Season Championship and seventh Tournament Championship after the group finished with a 14-2 overall record and 11-1 conference record. 

Prior to joining the staff in Nashville, Estes spent five years in Los Angeles, California where she played one season of beach volleyball for Loyola Marymount as a graduate student before playing pro for the Associate of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), the country’s most extensive premiere beach volleyball tour. 

A standout outside hitter for the Bison, the Palm Harbor, Florida native was a four year starter and was tabbed the 2015 Conference Player of the Year. During her senior campaign, she was tabbed the ASUN Tournament MVP. She remains in the top-five in the Lipscomb record book for several stats, including kills per set and kills per set in a five set match. 

Over the course of her time in Nashville, she collected two All-Conference selections, two All-Tournament team nods, and four Player of the Week honors. She was also a two-time AVCA All-Region honoree. In 2020, she was named to the ASUN All-Decade team.

Estes graduated from Lipscomb in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and New Media. She also earned her master’s degree from Loyola Marymount in Educational Studies. 



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This Week in Wake Forest Women’s Athletics – Presented by Truist (Jan. 5-11)

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January 5, 2026

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Truist, a longstanding partner of Wake Forest University who is An Official Banking Partner of Wake Forest Athletics and the Presenting Partner of Wake Forest Women’s Athletics brings Deacon Nation this weekly update from the Demon Deacons women’s programs: 

  • Women’s Basketball: 

    • Wake Forest began the month with a 74-55 victory over Pitt on Jan. 1, as the Demon Deacons shared the ball at an elite rate, assisting on 26 of the 29 made baskets in the win over the Panthers.

    • It marked the first time since the 2019-20 season that the Deacs started ACC play at 2-1. 

    • The Demon Deacons now turn the attention to the California swing, first facing Stanford on Thursday before concluding the trip against Cal on Sunday. 

  • Track & Field: 

    • The Wake Forest women’s track and field team are set to return to action with three meets during the month of January.

      • The Demon Deacons begin 2026 by competing in the Mondo College Invitational (Jan. 17) at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem.

      • The Deacs will then have a dual slate during the final week of the month, with one group heading to Lynchburg, Va. to compete at the Brant Tolsma Invitational (Jan. 30-31), while another group traveling to Boston for the John Thomas Terrier Classic (Jan. 31).

  • Volleyball:

    • Head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer and Demon Deacons volleyball recently announced three additions in middle blocker Catherine Burke, libero Andrea Roman and outside hitter Amina N’Diaye.

      • Burke comes to Wake Forest from Penn State, where she was a member of the Nittany Lions’ 2024 National Championship team. Off the court, she earned a spot on the 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.

      • Roman was one of the country’s top defenders this past fall as a junior at Little Rock, finishing second in the NCAA in total digs (632) while being named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year. The Humacao, Puerto Rico, native earned multiple all-OVC honors during her three years with the Trojans.

      • N’Diaye spent her freshman season at Miami, helping the Hurricanes rank as a top-15 team nationally for the majority of the fall en route to making an appearance in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. A key piece of Miami’s core of hitters, she was third on the roster in kills (139) in 27 matches.

About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country, and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $574 billion as of March 31, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.

About Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University is known for its distinctive combination of world-class academics, unrivaled campus experience, intimate learning environment and Power 4 athletics in a top-growing metro market. A Charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Demon Deacons have won 59 conference titles and are one of nine ACC schools to win 11 or more national championships. Additionally, with 1.7 million people within 30 miles of campus, Wake Forest anchors the Winston-Salem and Triad market, which ranks as ESPN’s seventh-best nationally from a viewership perspective.

Wake Forest’s comprehensive excellence includes its highly regarded school of medicine, business school, law school, innovative department of engineering and its nationally renowned Program for Leadership and Character, which prepares students to live with purpose, integrity and courage. Additionally, Wake Forest has campuses across Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Washington, D.C. – providing many academic offerings to students from across the nation and around the world.

Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu and at GoDeacs.com.



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Tyler Legacy lands 5 on 6A All-State volleyball team

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January 5, 2026

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LONGVIEW — Five Tyler Legacy volleyball players earned honors on the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 6A All-State Volleyball Team, the organization announced on Monday.

Taylor Woods and Maddie Goin were honorable mention selections as outside hitters. Mikel Reed and Aubrey Felton earned honorable mention honors at middle blocker. Kate Priest was an honorable mention pick at libero/defensive specialist.

Woods, a Louisiana Tech signee, had 379 kills, 285 digs, 25 blocks, 44 aces, 497 serve/receive receptions and a 2.08 average. Goin had 235 kills, 194 digs, 21 blocks, 300 serve/receive receptions and a 2.04 average. Reed had 124 kills, 52 blocks and 48 digs. Felton had 112 kills, 62 blocks, 13 aces and 41 digs. Priest had 328 digs, 419 serve/receive receptions and a 2.11 average.

The Lady Raiders went 22-10, qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2021 and won a playoff match for the first time since 2007.

Longview’s Triniti Jackson was a third-team pick at setter. Teammates Alyssa Grissom, Jaharia Hunter and Landry Tubb were honorable mention selections at middle blocker, outside hitter and libero/defensive specialist, respectively.

Jackson had 702 assists, 401 kills, 313 digs, 45 blocks and 60 aces. Grissom had 201 kills, 91 blocks, 31 aces and 56 digs. Hunter had 331 kills, 222 digs and 32 blocks. Tubb had 628 digs, 28 aces and 42 assists.

State champions Byron Nelson (Division I) and Southlake Carroll (Division II) earned the top superlatives in voting. Byron Nelson’s Sophee Peterson was named Player of the Year in Class 6A, and Leslie Jackson of Southlake Carroll earned Coach of the Year honors.

Voting was conducted by TSWA members based on nominations from coaches and TSWA members from around the state.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Leslie Jackson, Southlake Carroll

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sophee Peterson, Byron Nelson

FIRST TEAM

Middle Blockers: Kinsley Young, Southlake Carroll; Camille Presley, Austin; Kerington Thornton, Round Rock

Outside Hitters: Layla Austin, Southlake Carroll; Avery Koonsen, Pearland Dawson; Marlee Lightsey, Comal Canyon

Setter: Sophee Peterson, Byron Nelson

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Jenna Thedford, Pearland Dawson

SECOND TEAM

Middle Blockers: Taliah Angwekwe, Stony Point; Callie Funk, Katy Tompkins; Keaton Points, Pearland Dawson

Outside Hitters: Kylie Kleckner, Byron Nelson; Riley Malloy, Austin; Saniya Reynolds, Cy Ranch

Setter: Logan Sanders, Comal Canyon

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Taylor Wright, Copperas Cove

THIRD TEAM

Middle Blockers: Ryea Jackson, Duncanville; (tie) Madyson Carr, Cy Ranch; (tie) Micah Rusher, Oak Ridge

Outside Hitters: Kylie Rodriguez, Forney; Ashley Seay, Byron Nelson; Jaylyn Tuiasosopo, O’Connor

Setter: (tie) Triniti Jackson, Longview; Audrey Cook, Stratford

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Emerson Chang, Manvel

HONORABLE MENTION

Middle Blockers: Carinne Bouie, Goose Creek Memorial; Mikel Reed, Tyler Legacy; Aubrey Felton, Tyler Legacy; Khadijah Blue, Cibolo Steele; Mia Carrasco, Eastlake; Alyssa Grissom, Longview; Carolina Elizondo, Laredo Alexander; Jocelyn Joyner, O’Connor

Outside Hitters: Jaharia Hunter, Longview; Taylor Woods, Tyler Legacy; Nevah English, Manvel; Karina Deylen Mendivil, James Madison; Sloane Ranney, Pearland Dawson; Simone Heard, Plano East; Giselle Gandara, Eastlake; Leila Ceaser, Oak Ridge; Jasmyn Walker, Manvel; Peyton Smith, Duncanville; Maddie Goin, Tyler Legacy; Elisa St. Rose, Katy Thompson; Halle Thompson, Grand Oaks; Gwen Koss, Stafford; Mary-Christine Crutcher, Mansfield

Setter: Olivia Pena, O’Connor; Maggie McCarroll, Austin; Tinsley Welker, Fort Bend Austin; London King, Manvel

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Kaylee Parker, Cy Ranch; Landry Tubb, Longview; Isabella Cordaway-Dreier, Round Rock; Lainey Monroe, Katy Tompkins; Kate Priest, Tyler Legacy



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HPISD Board of Trustees Honors Volleyball Team

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January 5, 2026

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The Highland Park ISD board of trustees recognized the district’s history-making volleyball team at its Dec. 16 meeting.

Head coach Michael Dearman called the Class 5A Division I state champions “a very special team.”

“We, of course, were chock full of talent. You’re looking at several All Americans here. But that’s not the real story about this team. The real story about this team is about closeness, and the family, and the trust that we had with one another,” he said. “They played for each other. It was an amazing, amazing experience.”

Dearman recognized each Lady Scot and the team’s coaches individually.



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Volleyball Signs Olivia Ruy – Utah State University Athletics

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January 5, 2026

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LOGAN, Utah – Utah State head volleyball coach Keith Smith announced the signing of Olivia Ruy on Monday.

Ruy, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, spent the past season at Maryland, making 10 starts and appearing in 24 matches and 63 total sets. Ruy totaled 126.5 points last season, averaging 2.01 per set, and recorded 112 kills, 71 digs, 20 blocks and three aces. She posted a season-high 16 kills against Davidson, also clearing double-digits with 12 kills against Iowa. Ruy posted a season-high 13 digs against Coastal Carolina, narrowly missing a double-double with nine kills. 

Prior to Maryland, Ruy spent two years at Arkansas, redshirting in 2023 before making 24 starts and appearing in 25 games in 2024. As a redshirt freshman, Ruy ranked third on the team in total kills (221), kills per set (2.81) and service aces (13), also totaling 123 digs and 25 blocks. She recorded 11 double-digit kill matches and posted three double-doubles during SEC play, doing so with 11 kills and 10 digs against Florida, 12 kills and 11 digs at Ole Miss, 16 kills and a season-high 14 digs against Oklahoma. She earned SEC Co-Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 11 after posting a career high 17 kills and .452 hitting percentage in the Razorbacks’ sweep of South Carolina.

Ruy was a four-year starting outside hitter for Woods Cross (Utah) High School where she was named to the All-State Team as well as All-Region in each of her four seasons. Ruy led the Wildcats in kills per set (4.0), overall kills (417) and aces (76) her senior season and led the team high in kills per set and aces per set in three of four seasons in high school. Ruy also played for Club V Volleyball, where she placed third nationally and was a three-time Under Armour All-American camp invitee.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

 – USU –



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Red Devils Rank 37th in Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings Thru Fall Season

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January 5, 2026

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CLEVELAND – After a fantastic fall season that saw six teams earn Centennial Conference postseason action and two teams as well as two individuals participate in NCAA Championship play, Dickinson College ranks 37th in the Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings as announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

The Learfield Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in NCAA Championships.

Dickinson racked up 158 points thanks to 73 points given to men’s soccer following their second straight run to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Field Hockey was also a major contributor to the Red Devils ranking claiming 53 points after first year head coach Maggie Sohns guided her side to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Men’s Cross Country grabbed 32 points thanks to sending the pair of Nathan Caldwell and Luke Knestout to the NCAA Championship race. 

The Red and White ranks second among Centennial Conference members, trailing second-place Johns Hopkins (454.50 pts) and hold a 20 point cushion on Swarthmore who sits right behind DC in 38th.

NACDA will release another set of rankings on April 2, 2026, following the winter season, before the final standings are announced June 9, 2026, after the completion of the 2025-26 academic year.



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