Sports
Reds set to call up top pitching prospect Chase Burns from minors to start against Yanks


ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds are preparing to call up top pitching prospect Chase Burns to start during their series against the New York Yankees this week.
Burns, a 22-year-old right-hander, has rapidly moved through the minor leagues after Cincinnati drafted him with the No. 2 pick last year from Wake Forest. Burns is 7-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 13 starts at three minor-league levels this year, including two with Triple-A Louisville.
“It’s kind of hard to come up with a reason why we shouldn’t,” Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday. “They tried to throw a lot at him. He just kind of handled everything.
The Reds’ rotation is short-handed after starters Hunter Greene and Wade Miley went on the injured list earlier this month.
Nick Lodolo is scheduled to start Monday’s series opener against New York, and the 6-foot-3 Burns is in line to make his debut Tuesday.
“It’s another game, but it is a major league team, He’s going to have a lot of firsts, but he’s handled everything so far,” said Francona, whose team entered Sunday with a 39-38 record and in fourth place in the NL Central.
“And I think there’s an excitement, and, you know, I think the front office, they’re trying to help us win, and I think we appreciate that.”
Cincinnati also made a series of roster moves before Sunday’s game at St. Louis, recalling right-hander Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville and bringing back third baseman Jeimer Candelario (lumbar spine strain) from a three-week rehab assignment.
Right-hander Chase Petty was optioned to Louisville, and second baseman Garrett Hampson was designated for assignment.
The Cardinals recalled right-hander Gordon Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis and optioned right-hander Andre Granillo to Memphis.
AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB
Sports
After Historic Win, SMU Volleyball Remains Focused For Sweet 16, Purdue
Even though the SMU volleyball team is in uncharted territory, the Mustangs are acting like they’ve been here before because it’s where they expect to be.
The past two seasons ended in the second round, but with victories against Central Arkansas and Florida, second-seeded SMU reached the third round of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. The Mustangs celebrated the accomplishment when it was achieved, but it’s back to business as they will face third-seeded Purdue in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
“We are so excited to be here, just had a great practice, and are ready to compete,” SMU head coach Sam Erger said on Wednesday. “I think having that big hurdle of getting past the second round, we’re not going to be happy with just that. We honestly haven’t really talked about that much, just that it was the first for our program because the expectation is that we’re going to keep competing.”
Even though there is a lot of new when it comes to this round of the tournament, there is some familiarity. SMU and Purdue played back on September 14. The Mustangs also played in Pitt’s Petersen Events Center earlier this season, at the start of ACC play at the end of September.
While Purdue got the better of the Mustangs 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 27-25, 25-18) during the regular season, it was a long time ago. SMU has played 24 matches since then.
“That feels like a world ago,” Erger said. “We’ve gone through quite a bit of adversity. The silver lining to that is we’ve had players get to shine in a way that maybe they wouldn’t have been able to, and we’ve been able to test our depth, and we’ve been able to see some freshmen have breakout seasons, and we’ve addressed where we were lacking defensively. … We’ve grown a ton, and I’m just happy and hopeful that we’ll keep getting to grow.”
The Mustangs also know Purdue will be a different team than the one they faced nearly four months ago. Even though the Boilermakers haven’t had some of the lineup changes SMU has, there has been time to develop and take the next steps as a team.
“I don’t think they’ve gotten any crazy new personnel in the way that we have,” Erger said. “Like Kennedi Rogers didn’t even play the first time, I believe. So that’s exciting on our end. I don’t think Maggie Croft played. That’s exciting on our end. For them, they’ve just gotten better, and they’re so good tactically. So I would assume that their game plan will, maybe, be a little different. I think that they have just been able to perform at a high level very consistently across their season. … The game probably should look different (Thursday). We’re both better.”
One area the Mustangs have improved is defensively. It was something Erger and her staff challenged the team with, and the team has responded.
“We’ve addressed where we were lacking defensively,” Erger said. “It was an area we needed to really grow early on in the season. And both of these two (Averi Carlson and Malaya Jones) have grown a ton defensively.”
Libero Jordyn Schilling leads the team with 349 digs, with Carlson (249) and Jones (247) second and third, respectively.
But the other key piece to SMU’s defense has been Favor Anyanwu at the net. She had six blocks in the second-round win against Florida and now has 175 for the season, 14 blocks shy of the SMU single-season record. Croft had a career-high nine blocks in the match, helping give the Mustangs double-digit blocks 17 times in 32 matches this season.
Jones (94) and Carlson (85) are also second and third on the team in blocks.
“Of course, we want to block every ball ever hit,” Jones said. “But a huge part of it is (assistant coach) Trent (Sorensen). He helps us so much with our eye work and getting low and over to the baseline. Sam says that every single day, trying to ingrain that into our brains. And then also, Favor is just one of the most insane blockers in the country. She sets a standard for how we need to be every single practice and how we need to be in games. She just keeps encouraging us to be the best blockers and have the best eye sequence. She has constant feedback for us all the time.”
When it comes to playing in their first Sweet 16 match, the players aren’t making the game any bigger than it is, either. Jones noted she goes into every match being her ‘biggest, baddest self,’ making this one no different.
And ultimately, it’s volleyball.
“Just treating it like a normal game, not really hyping it up too much because it’s still the same game that we’ve been playing for so long,” Carlson said. “At the same time, just really knowing the game plan and just doing our best to be the best players that we can be.”
Sports
No. 4 Seeded ‘U’ Set for Sweet 16 at No. 1 Seeded Pitt
The two teams are meeting for the fourth time in the history of the two programs and for the first time since the spring 2021 season. In that season, unseeded Pitt took down the No. 1 seeded Golden Gophers in five sets in the NCAA Tournament in Omaha, Neb.
MATCH INFORMATION
No. 4 Minnesota at No. 1 Pittsburgh
Thursday, Dec. 11
7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. CT
Petersen Events Center
Pittsburgh, Pa.
TV: ESPN2 – Anne Marie Anderson (Play-By-Play), Nicole Branagh (Analyst) and Shelby Coppedge (Sideline Reporter)
Radio: GopherSports.com – Tanner Hoops (Play-By-Play)
Live Stats
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
Minnesota Trails Pittsburgh, 2-1
First Meeting: 1990
Last Meeting: 2021
NOTES TO KNOW
1,033 — Career kills for Julia Hanson.
260 — Keegan Cook won his 260th career match as a head coach on Dec. 6 vs. Iowa State.
59 — Minnesota is 59th nationally and sixth in the Big Ten with 1.69 aces per set.
44 — The Gophers are 44th nationally (4th B1G) with 196 aces.
30 — This year is Minnesota’s 30th ever NCAA Tournament appearance. That is the 11th most of any program in the country.
26 — Julia Hanson has 26 matches with 10+ kills this year in 30 chances (missed Loyola Chicago match).
24 — Minnesota ranks 24th nationally (3rd B1G) with 2.63 blocks per set.
21 — Minnesota will be playing in its 21st regional semifinal on Thursday. The Gophers are 10-10 in regional semifinal matches.
16 — Sweeps in 33 matches for the Golden Gophers. They’ve won seven matches in four sets (1-2 in five).
15 — Minnesota ranks 15th nationally (4th B1G) in hitting % (.286).
14 — Times this season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They’re 11-3 when going for 10-or-more blocks (losses at Oregon, Purdue, Wisconsin).
14 — Minnesota is 14-4 at home this season. Only losses were to UCLA, USC, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
11 — 2025 is Minnesota’s 11th straight NCAA Tournament. They’ve made 26 of the last 27 (missed 2014).
8 — Gophers head coach Keegan Cook is 8-26 against AVCA Top-25 ranked opponents in three seasons. (Wins vs. No. 15 Baylor, No. 5 Oregon, No. 1 Texas, No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 11 Purdue, No. 23 Iowa State, No. 23 Indiana and No. 24 Penn St.). They’ve made three Final Fours, four Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight since 2015.
6 — Jordan Taylor ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 1.24 blocks per set, a team-best. That mark leads all Big Ten freshmen.
6 — Minnesota ranked 6th in average attendance at 4,488 per match (avg.). They ranked fourth overall (80,779 total fans).
5 — Minnesota ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 183 service aces.
5 — During Big Ten play, Julia Hanson ranked fifth in the league in kills per set with 4.02.
5 — 20+ kill matches for Julia Hanson in 2025. She last had 20+ on Saturday vs. Iowa St. (23).
5 — Julia Hanson is fifth in the B1G with 4.69 points per set.
5 — Gophers were named to the AVCA All-Northwest Region Team (Hanson – Player of the Year, Gilk, Swenson, Myers and Taylor). Coach Cook was named Region Coach of the Year.
4 — Julia Hanson is fourth in the Big Ten with 4.13 kills per set.
4 — Minnesota is 4-6 against its 10 ranked opponents this season.
4 — Minnesota lost four starters to season-ending injuries in OH Alex Acevedo and Mckenna Wucherer, MB Calissa Minatee and L Zeynep Palabiyik.
4 — 4-2 NCAA Tournament record at Minnesota for head coach Keegan Cook, now in his third year.
3 — Gophers earned All-B1G honors in 2025. Julia Hanson (1st), Stella Swenson (2nd, Freshmen) and Carly Gilk (All-Freshmen). Swenson and Gilk are the first Gophers to make All-Freshmen since 2022.
3 — Straight 20+ kill matches for Julia Hanson in the Illinois, USC and Wisconsin matches. She’s the first Gopher to do so since Stephanie Samedy (’21). She’s hit 10+ in 11 of the last 13 matches.
2 — The Gophers rank second in the B1G in total blocks with 305.5. That figure is 20th nationally.
2 — During B1G play, the Gophers ranked second with 1.77 aces per set. They had 129 aces (2nd in B1G).
LAST TIME OUT
• The then No. 17 Minnesota volleyball team went 2-0 at home against Fairfield (25-12, 25-7, 15-13) and No. 23 Iowa State (25-22, 25-21, 25-14) to advance to the Sweet 16. Julia Hanson had 13 kills vs. Fairfield as the team hit a school-record .582 for the match. Minnesota also posted 11.5 blocks as a team. On Saturday vs. ISU, Hanson took her game to a new level, going for 23 kills on .488 to lead the Gophers to a sweep. Stella Swenson had 35 assists and eight digs as Minnesota made its first Sweet 16 since 2022.
GOPHERS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
• The 2025 season marked the 30th year the Gophers advanced to the NCAA tournament. With an at-large bid, the Gophers advanced to the tournament for the 11th straight season and 26th in the last 27 seasons.
• In the first round of NCAA Tournaments, Minnesota is 29-1 all-time. In round two, Minnesota is 22-7.
• The Gophers all-time record in NCAA Tournaments is 64-29. Minnesota has made the Final Four six times (2003, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2019), and the national title game once (2004).
• The program has had 31 straight winning seasons, dating back to 1995. The ‘U’ has won 10-or-more Big Ten games in every season except for one dating back to 1999. The program has finished in the top six of the B1G standings every year since 2015.
GOPHERS IN THE RANKINGS
• The ‘U’ entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll (finished 18th in 2024).
• At the end of regular season, the ‘U’ moved up to No. 17, going up one spot from the previous week.
COACH COOK IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
• Keegan Cook is 21-10 as a head coach in the NCAA Tournament. He led his Washington teams to one Final Four, three Elite Eights and two Sweet 16s. Both of his first two years at Minnesota, the ‘U’ went to the Round of 32. This is his first Sweet 16 appearance as a Gopher.
STRONG SCHEDULE PREPS ‘U’ FOR POSTSEASON
• The Gophers have gone 4-6 vs. ranked opponents in 2025. Minnesota was one of nine Big Ten teams to make the 2025 NCAA tournament. Of the Gophers 11 non-conference opponents, seven made the NCAA Tournament. Six of Minnesota’s opponents will play in the Sweet 16, including Cal Poly, Indiana, Nebraska, Purdue, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. Minnesota went 3-4 against those teams.
• The ‘U’ entered the postseason with a top-15 RPI and earned the No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
• In all, the Gophers faced 15 teams that make up the field of 64. Against teams that made the postseason, Minnesota posted a 9-8 record this season.
SCOUTING PITTSBURGH
• Pittsburgh (28-4, 18-2 ACC) is led by 13th-year head coach Dan Fisher. Under his guidance the Panthers have made four straight Final Fours since the 2021 season. Prior to that, Pitt made a regional final in 2020-21 and four straight second rounds of the NCAA Tournament before that.
• The Panthers lost their first two matches of the season vs. No. 1 Nebraska and then No. 16 Florida, but have won 28 of their last 30 since, only falling at No. 18 Miami and at No. 5 Stanford.
• Pitt is led by 2024 National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock, a three-time All-ACC First Team player and the ACC Player of the Year. She averages 5.06 kills per set on .329 hitting. Bre Kelly paces the defense with 1.49 blocks per set while setter Brooke Mosher leads the offense with 9.86 assists per set.
MINNESOTA’S HISTORY VS. PITTSBURGH
• Minnesota is 1-2 all-time vs. Pittsburgh, including 0-1 in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers took down Minnesota in the Spring 2021 NCAA Tournament, also in the Sweet 16. It was a five-set thriller (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 21-25, 11-15). Stephanie Samedy had 23 kills to lead the ‘U’ during the match.
• They also played in 1990 in Minneapolis, a 3-0 sweep for Pitt, and in 1999 in Hawai’i, a 3-0 win for Minnesota.
STREAKS TO WATCH
• Julia Hanson has tallied 10+ kills in 26 of her 32 matches this year, including 13 of 15 with 10+.
• McKenna Garr has totaled 10+ digs in 23 of her 32 matches, including 21 of 28 as starting libero.
• Lourdes Myers has multiple blocks in 29 of her 33 matches, including 17 matches with four-or-more.
• Stella Swenson has hit 30+ assists in 22 of 33 matches on the year. She also has eight double-doubles after tallying a career-best 58 assists and 10 digs at Iowa on Nov 16.
FIVE GOPHERS EARN AVCA ALL-REGION HONORS, COOK, HANSON WIN COACH AND PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Senior outside Julia Hanson was named AVCA Northwest Region Player of the Year while head coach Keegan Cook was named region Coach of the Year. It was Hanson’s first region player of the year and Cook’s fourth region coach of the year (first at Minnesota).
• Joining Hanson on the AVCA All-Northwest Region First Team were freshman opposite Carly Gilk and redshirt freshman setter Stella Swenson. Redshirt senior middle blocker Lourdes Myers and freshman middle blocker Jordan Taylor both earned All-Region Honorable Mention.
LAST TIME A NO. 4 SEED OR LOWER BEAT A NO. 1 SEED
• The spring 2021 NCAA Tournament, when unseeded Pittsburgh defeated No. 1 seed Minnesota (No. 3 seed overall) in the Sweet 16. The match was played in Omaha and went five sets.
• The 2019 NCAA Tournament, when unseeded Louisville defeated No. 1 seed (No. 2 overall seed) Texas in the Sweet 16 in Austin. Before that, it was when No. 4 seed Oregon (No. 15 overall) beat No. 1 seed Minnesota (No. 2 overall) in the 2018 Sweet 16 in Minneapolis.
YOUNGEST TEAM IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
• Of all 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament, Minnesota is by far the youngest group. Of the seven starters, five are freshmen and two are seniors. Only Indiana (4) starts three-or-more freshman of the Sweet 16 teams. Pitt, SMU, Louisville, Stanford and Texas all start two freshmen.
UP NEXT
If they are victorious, Minnesota will take on the winner of No. 2 SMU and No. 3 Purdue on Saturday, Dec. 13. The match time and channel are TBD.
Sports
How to Watch No. 1 Nebraska Volleyball in NCAA Sweet 16, Elite Eight with Previews, Breakdowns, TV Channel
It may have been a sloppy win for the No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team, but it doesn’t matter when you’re competing in the NCAA Tournament. As the term was coined back in NC State’s improbable run in 1983, it’s all about surviving and advancing.
Despite recording one of its worst hitting percentages of the season (.253), the Huskers came away with sweep No. 27 on the season and won its 28th consecutive home NCAA Tournament match, which is a school record. Likely first team All-Americans Andi Jackson and Harper Murray each posted a match-high 10 kills while Taylor Landfair (8 kills), Virginia Adriano (7), and Rebekah Allick (6) each tallied at least half a dozen kills.
Advancing to their 14th straight NCAA Regional, the Huskers return to John Cook Arena to face an old Big 12 foe, while an emotional reunion could be awaiting NU in the regional finals. Here’s all you need to know for this weekend’s NCAA Tournament action in Lincoln.
Sweet 16
How to Follow Along
- Matchup: No. 1 Nebraska (32-0, 20-0 B1G) vs. No. 16 Kansas (24-10, 13-5 Big 12).
- When: Friday, Dec. 12.
- Where: John Cook Arena at Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, Neb.
- Time: 30 minutes after No. 9 Louisville vs. No. 6 Texas A&M, which begins at 6 p.m. CST.
- Watch: ESPN2.
- Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates.

No. 16 Kansas Scout
Head Coach
- Matt Ulmer | 1st season at Kansas; 10th as HC.
- 24-10 (.706) at KU; 190-87 (.686) Career Record.
- 8x NCAA Tournament Apps., 3x Elite Eights, 2x Sweet 16s, 2013 beach volleyball national championship.
- Previous head coach at Oregon.
- Previous assistant at Oregon, Long Beach State & Carthage College.
2025 Record & Awards
- 24-10 (13-5 Big 12, 2nd)
- All-Big 12: 2x First Team, 4x Second Team, 2x All-Freshman.
All-Time Series
- Nebraska leads 88-0-1.
- Dec. 2, 2022, NCAA Second Round last matchup, 3-1 KU.
NCAA Tournament History
- Appearances: 14, fifth consecutive.
- All-Time Tournament Record: 25-26.
- Best Finish: NCAA National Semifinal in 2015.

Key Returners
- Reese Ptacek | MB | Soph. | Was the 2024 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and followed up with 426 points on a .317 hitting percentage while leading the team with 136 blocks; also named to the All-Big 12 First Team.
- Rhian Swanson | OH | Sr. | All-Big 12 Second Team pick after leading the Jayhawks with 3.09 kills per set and 346 kills total.
- Grace Nelson | OH | Soph. | Another All-Big 12 Second Team selection with 326.5 points made up of 284 kills, 36 blocks, and 23 aces.
- Katie Dalton | S/OH | Sr. | Did not see action last season, but beat out Oregon transfer Cristin Cline to the starting setter spot in the latter stages of the season and has averaged 8.84 assists per set.
Key Departures
- Ayah Elnady | OH | Transfer | Egyptian who spent her first four seasons at KU before transferring to Northwestern; was an All-Big 12 First Team pick in 2024.
- Caroline Bien | OH/L | Graduated | Two-time All-Big 12 performer who starred for KU with 2.56 kills and 3.11 digs per set in her final collegiate season.
- Toyosi Onabanjo | MB | Graduated | First round pick of the Omaha Supernovas of MLV after an AVCA Honorable Mention campaign in 2024 by hitting .409 with 329 points.
- London Davis | OPP | Graduated | Back-to-back All-Big 12 Second Team selections to end her college career in 2023 and 2024.
- Camryn Turner | S | Graduated | AVCA Third Team All-American in 2024 after leading the Big 12 with 11.29 assists per set.

Impact Transfers/Newcomers
- Jovana Zelenovic | OPP | Fr. | 6-foot-7 Serbian freshman that was named to the All-Big 12 First Team after recording 479.5 points and 46 aces, which both led KU and posted 123 blocks (2nd).
- Selena Leban | OH | Fr. | Serbian native and reserve attacker that averaged 2.25 kills per set in 64 sets.
- Aurora Papc | MB | Fr. | Croatian national that struggles offensively, but is one of three KU players with triple-digit blocks with 107.0.
- Cristin Cline | S | Soph. | Heralded recruit that followed Ulmer from Oregon, and started for the first portion of 2025 before Dalton created separation as the season went on.
- Ryan White | L/DS | Sr. | Oregon State transfer who was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team after averaging 3.97 digs per set as the starting libero for KU.
Outlook
Kansas was at the center of one of the biggest coaching moves in the college volleyball offseason as legendary head coach Ray Bechard announced his retirement after 27 seasons in Lawrence. It led the way for KU to grab one of the sport’s rising stars in Matt Ulmer, who left Oregon after nine seasons.
Ulmer’s rebuild was extensive, but certainly not compared to what was left behind in Eugene. The Jayhawks were hit hard as AVCA All-American middle blocker Toyosi Onabanjo (Honorable Mention) and setter Camryn Turner (third team) each turned pro after the season. Plus, two-time All-Big 12 performers Carolien Bien (OH/L) and London Davis (OPP) each graduated. Ulmer was also unable to hold onto leading point scorer and outside hitter Ayah Elnady, who transferred to Northwestern after playing her previous four seasons under Bechard.

But just like he showed at Kansas, Ulmer showcased his skill at player development, turning returning outside hitters Rhian Swanson and Grace Nelson into All-Big 12 Second Team picks. Middle blocker Reese Ptacek was the biggest holdover from Bechard’s last team as the 2024 Big 12 Freshman of the Year improved into an All-Big 12 First Team pick after ranking second on the team in points with 426 while hitting .317 and collecting a team-high 136 blocks.
Serbian national team member and freshman Jovana Zelenovic has been the most impactful addition, totaling a team-leading 479.5 points and 46 aces. Ulmer grabbed former Oregon State libero Ryan White in the portal for her last college season, and she made the All-Big 12 Second Team after producing 3.97 digs per set. A heralded recruit, Ulmer brought to Oregon, setter Cristin Cline followed him to Lawrence, but returning senior Katie Dalton — who didn’t see action in 2024 — eventually surpassed Cline on the depth chart and has averaged 8.84 assists per set as the team’s starter in the back half of the season.
Aside from Dani Busboom Kelly’s move to Nebraska, there’s an argument to be made that Kansas made the best coaching hire over the offseason, and it has already paid dividends with the school’s fourth Sweet 16 appearance. The Jayhawks will want to follow the recipe shown by Kansas State against the Huskers, as KU will need to serve tough and make an impact at the net. Reese Ptacek will need to have a career night to push NU, but that might not even be enough. Give me Nebraska in this one, but Kansas will be a team to watch in future seasons as they were arguably the biggest beneficiary of Texas leaving for the SEC.
Elite Eight
How to Follow Along
- Matchup: No. 1 Nebraska/No. 16 Kansas winner vs. No. 6 Louisville/No. 9 Texas A&M winner.
- When: Sunday, Dec. 14
- Where: John Cook Arena at Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln Neb.
- Time: TBA
- Watch: TBA
- Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates

No. 6 Louisville Scout
Head Coach
- Dan Meske | 1st season at Louisville & as Division I HC.
- 26-6 (.812) at Louisville & Division I Career Record.
- 1x NCAA Tournament Apps.
- AVCA National Assistant Coach OTY (2022).
- Previous head coach at Augustana (Division II).
- Previous assistant at Louisville and Nebraska.
2025 Record & Awards
- 26-6 (16-4 ACC, T-4th).
- ACC Freshman of the Year.
- All-ACC: 3x First Team, 2x Second Team, 1x All-Freshman.
All-Time Series
- Nebraska leads 6-1.
- Sept. 22, 2024, last matchup, 3-0 NU.
NCAA Tournament History
- Appearances: 34th, 9th consecutive.
- All-Time Tournament Record: 40-33.
- Best Finish: NCAA National Runner-Up (2024, 2022).

Projected Lineup
- Chloe Chicoine | OH | Jr. | All-American transfer from Purdue who leads the Cardinals with 419 points and 3.25 kills per set.
- Payton Petersen | OH | Soph. | Part-time starter in 2024 that’s now turned into a 400-point attacker for Louisville as a sophomore.
- Kalyssa Blackshear | OPP | Fr. | 2025 ACC Freshman of the Year, who’s racked up 388 points and is one of three players with more than 100 blocks with 120 total.
- Cara Cresse | MB | R-Sr. | All-American who’s one of the premier blockers in the country with 171 total and 1.45 per set while adding nearly 300 kills for 401.5 points.
- Hannah Sherman | MB | R-Jr. | 6-foot-3 middle blocker that creates a fearsome duo with Cresse, and sits just three blocks behind her teammate with 168.
- Nayelis Cabello | S | Soph. | 2024 ACC Freshman of the Year that’s averaged 10.44 assists per set in her first college season running a 5-1 offense while adding 23 aces.
- Kamden Schrand | L | Jr. | The heir to program legend Elena Scott, who’s collected 3.98 digs per set (477 total) in her first season as the starting libero.
No. 9 Texas A&M Scout
Head Coach
- Jamie Morrison | 3rd season at Texas A&M & as Division I HC.
- 62-25 (.713) at Texas A&M & Division I Career Record.
- 3x Olympic medals with U.S. Men’s & Women’s national team.
- 3x NCAA Tournament Apps.
- Previous head coach at the Netherlands women’s national team & Austrian professional team SVS Post Schwechat.
- Previous assistant at Texas, UC Irvine, U.S. Women’s National Team, Concordia Irvine & U.S. Men’s National Team.

2025 Record & Awards
- 25-4 (14-1 SEC, 2nd).
- All-SEC: 4x First Team.
All-Time Series
- Nebraska leads 32-7.
- Nov. 27, 2010, last matchup, 3-0 NU.
NCAA Tournament History
- Appearances: 28th, third consecutive.
- All-Time Tournament Record: 35-27.
- Best Finish: NCAA Elite Eight (2001, 1999).

Projected Lineup
- Logan Lednicky | OPP | Sr. | Due to make her second-straight AVCA All-American team after leading A&M with 4.06 kills per set on a .319 hitting percentage.
- Kyndal Stowers | OH | Soph. | Former top-20 recruit that’s second on the team in points (366.5) and made the All-SEC First Team after transferring from Baylor.
- Emily Hellmuth | OH | Sr. | Former Pepperdine transfer who’s one of four players to surpass 300 points on the season.
- Ifenna Cos-Okpalla | MB | Sr. | One of college volleyball’s best middle blockers with 2.09 kills per set while leading the SEC with a .419 clip and 170 blocks.
- Morgan Perkins | MB | Sr. | Starter in the middle alongside Co-Okpalla, who’s added 1.91 points per set and 80 blocks in her senior season.
- Maddie Waak | S | Sr. | Two-year transfer from LSU that was one of four A&M All-SEC First Team picks after running the offense with 11.49 assists per set and 27 aces.
- Ava Underwood | L | Sr. | Second-year starter at libero, but has not produced at her 2024 level when she averaged 3.24 digs per set; 2.81 digs per set this season.
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Sports
Hope College Tops MIAA Commissioner’s Cup Fall Update
Hope College holds the early lead in the 2025-26 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Commissioner’s Cup race, powered by top-two finishes in all six fall sports.
The fall update offers an unofficial snapshot of the Commissioner’s Cup standings and reflects results from three men’s and three women’s sports. The Commissioner’s Cup recognizes cumulative performance across the league’s 23 sports — 11 women’s and 12 men’s — with each institution’s top-eight finishes per gender contributing to the final totals.
This fall, Hope earned outright MIAA championships in men’s cross country, men’s soccer, and volleyball. The Flying Dutchmen added a runner-up finish in football, while the Flying Dutch placed second in both women’s cross country and women’s soccer, giving Hope 51 points through the fall season.
Hope is seeking a league-best 42nd MIAA Commissioner’s Cup this academic year and the sixth in a row.
Calvin University is second in the fall update with 43.5 points, supported by an MIAA title in women’s soccer, a runner-up finish in volleyball, and a tie for second in men’s soccer.
Trine University sits third with 38 points behind an MIAA championship in women’s cross country and top-three finishes in men’s cross country and women’s soccer.
Kalamazoo College (28.5 points) holds a narrow edge over Albion College (27.5 points) for fourth place, helped by a third-place finish in men’s cross country.
Adrian College (26.5 points) ranks sixth, just ahead of Alma College (22 points). The University of Olivet (17.5 points) and Saint Mary’s College (12.5 points from three women’s sports) round out the fall standings.
Sports
VOLLEYBALL NAMED NEC TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT
Bridgewater, N.J. – The Le Moyne College volleyball team was named the recipient of the NEC Fall Team Sportsmanship award for their respective sport on Thursday afternoon.
This recognition marks the first for Le Moyne’s volleyball program since beginning their transition to the Division I level in the NEC.
The Team Sportsmanship Awards were first announced in 2008 and are designed to acknowledge the team in each conference sport that, in the opinion of its peers, most closely demonstrates good sportsmanship based on the NEC Principles of Sportsmanship and Standards of Conduct. Voting is conducted at the conclusion of each season by each team and head coach, who rank teams within the conference based on a set of criteria.
“Often, it’s the moments that don’t make the box score that say the most about our student-athletes,” said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. “These teams showed, day after day, that true success comes from competing with respect, integrity and a genuine commitment to fair play. We’re proud to celebrate the example they set for our conference.”
About the NEC:
Now in its 45th season, the NEC is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of ten institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#88). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, New Haven, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.necsports.com) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.
Sports
VB Preview: Regional Semifinal vs. #16 Kansas – University of Nebraska
PREVIEW
• The top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team hosts an NCAA Regional for the third straight year at John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center this weekend.
• On Friday, No. 9 Louisville will meet No. 6 Texas A&M in the first regional semifinal of the day at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
• No. 1 Nebraska will face No. 16 Kansas 30 minutes following the conclusion of that match. It will also be televised on ESPN2.
• Courtney Lyle and Holly McPeak will be on the call for both matches with Madison Fitzpatrick as the sideline reporter.
• Friday’s winners will meet in the NCAA Regional Final on Sunday. The start time and TV network is to be determined.
• Huskers Radio Network will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations, on Huskers.com and on the Huskers App. John Baylor and Lauren Cook West will be on the call.
ABOUT THE HUSKERS
• Nebraska (32-0) finished the regular season unbeaten for the third time in school history (1994 and 2000), dropping only seven sets overall and one in Big Ten play.
• Nebraska’s 32 straight wins is tied for the second-longest win streak in school history in the NCAA era. The Huskers also hold a nation-leading home court win streak of 62 matches, the third-longest home win streak in program history. Nebraska has won 28 consecutive NCAA Tournament matches played in the Devaney Center, a school record.
• Nebraska has had win streaks of 25 or more matches in three straight seasons: 27 in 2023, 25 in 2024 and now 32 in 2025.
• The Huskers won their third straight Big Ten title with a perfect 20-0 record in conference play. It was the Huskers’ first unbeaten conference season since 2004 in the Big 12.
• Nebraska has now won 37 conference titles all-time, including six in the Big Ten (2011, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2025).
• The Huskers have won three straight conference titles for the first time since 2004-08.
• Dani Busboom Kelly became the first volleyball coach in Big Ten history to win the conference title in their first year as head coach at the school. John Cook won a Big Ten title at Nebraska in his first year in the conference in 2011, but it was his 12th season as head coach at Nebraska at the time.
• Nebraska has hit over .400 eight times this season, which ties the 2005 team for most times hitting over .400 in a season in the rally-scoring era.
• Nebraska is 92-0 this season in sets when reaching the red zone (20 points) first.
• The Huskers have won 45 consecutive sets at home. On the season, Nebraska has a 51-1 set record at home.
• NU’s offense ranks first nationally with a .353 hitting percentage. The Huskers haven’t hit better than .300 in a season since 2007 (.327). The school record for hitting percentage in a season is .331 in 1986.
• The Huskers rank first nationally in opponent hitting percentage at .124. NU led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in 2022 and 2023 and was sixth in 2024.
• The gap between Nebraska’s hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage is .229, by far the best in the nation. The next closest are American (.149), Wisconsin (.147) and Pittsburgh (.146).
• Nebraska ranks fourth nationally in kills per set at 14.72.
• The Huskers are seventh nationally in assists per set at 13.50.
• Nebraska ranks 16th nationally with 2.72 blocks per set.
• Over the last five seasons (2021-25), Dani Busboom Kelly has a 152-15 record for a .911 winning percentage, which is the best by any Division I head coach in that span.
• Nebraska swept 15 matches in a row and won 48 sets in a row from late September through mid-November. Both were the longest such streaks since the 2007 team swept 17 matches in a row and won 53 sets in a row.
• Nebraska played 24 sets in the month of October and went 24-0. In only two sets did an opponent reach 20 points (at Purdue – 23 in set one, and at Michigan State – 20 in set three).
• Nebraska’s non-conference schedule included matches against three top-10 teams and five ranked teams. The Huskers went 3-0 against top-10 teams and 5-0 against ranked teams. Overall, NU is 12-0 against ranked teams this season.
NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
• With the 3-0 win over Kansas State in the second round, Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Regional for the 14th consecutive season and for the 41st time in program history. The Huskers’ 41 regional appearances are the most in NCAA history, while Nebraska’s 14 consecutive regional appearances rank second nationally.
• Nebraska is 136-38 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.782).
• Nebraska improved to 31-2 all-time in NCAA Tournament Second Round matches.
• The Huskers improved to 89-7 all-time in home NCAA Tournament matches, including a 34-2 record at the Devaney Center.
• Nebraska has won 28 consecutive home matches in the NCAA Tournament, a school record.
• Nebraska took a 2-0 lead in the Kansas State match, and the Huskers are now 105-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament when taking a 2-0 lead.
ROTATION RUNDOWN
• Junior setter Bergen Reilly orchestrates the balanced Husker attack with 10.42 assists per set and is an AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalist. Reilly was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Setter of the Year, as well as All-Big Ten First Team and AVCA All-Region for the third time.
• Behind Reilly’s setting, the Huskers are on pace for a single-season school record with a .353 team hitting percentage, which ranks first nationally and is the best hitting percentage by a Big Ten team since 2009 Penn State.
• Reilly has set Nebraska to a .400 or better hitting percentage eight times this season, tied with the 2005 team for the most in the rally-scoring era.
• A standout defensive player, Reilly is a huge reason the Huskers rank first nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.124). She is second on the team in digs (2.72 per set) and has 62 blocks.
• Reilly has double-doubles in all five of the Husker matches that have gone longer than three sets, and she has four double-doubles in sweeps. She also has 67 kills on a .387 attack percentage and has 17 aces.
• Of Reilly’s top five attacking options, all five average at least 2.09 kills per set, and all five are having career-best years hitting at least .284 or better.
• A two-time Big Ten Setter of the Year and AVCA All-American, Reilly has been named Big Ten Setter of the Week four times this season and 13 times in her career.
• Reilly ranks No. 3 in school history in career assists in the rally-scoring era with 3,635.
• Reilly’s career assists per set average of 10.66 ranks No. 4 among active Division I players and No. 2 in school history in the rally-scoring era.
• Outside hitter Harper Murray is having a sensational junior season. The two-time AVCA All-American leads the balanced Huskers with career highs of 3.51 kills per set and a .299 hitting percentage. She earned All-Big Ten First Team and AVCA All-Region honors for the third time.
• Murray averages 2.14 digs per set and has a team-high 30 aces along with 58 blocks for a team-leading 4.16 points per set, and she is an AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalist.
• Murray is one of the best passers in the nation at her position, passing a 2.50 during the regular season.
• A Big Ten Player of the Week honoree this season, Murray has 1,149 career kills, which ranks 21st in school history. She needs one more to move into the top 20 all-time at NU.
• Murray is seventh in school history in the rally-scoring era in career aces with 105 and with three more can move into a tie for sixth.
• Junior middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.79 kills per set on .483 hitting with 1.14 blocks per set and is an AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalist. Jackson was chosen to the All-Big Ten First Team for the second time and AVCA All-Region Team for the third time.
• Jackson’s .483 hitting percentage leads the nation and ranks as the best single-season hitting percentage in school history.
• Only nine times has an NCAA Division I player hit better than .483 in a season in the rally-scoring era.
• In conference-only matches, Jackson hit .559 to break the Big Ten record for hitting percentage in conference-only matches in a season, which was .541 by Arielle Wilson from Penn State in 2008.
• The reigning AVCA All-American has a career hitting percentage of .441, which is the No. 1 mark in school history and the No. 1 mark among active Division I players.
• Jackson has 375 career blocks and with three more will crack the top 10 in school history in the rally-scoring era.
• Jackson earned Big Ten Player of the Week, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and AVCA First Serve Match MVP honors this season.
• Senior middle blocker Rebekah Allick is having the best season of her standout career with 2.53 kills per set on .437 hitting with a team-high 1.30 blocks per set. She earned All-Big Ten First Team accolades for the first time and AVCA All-Region for the third time.
• Allick’s .437 hitting percentage ranks as the No. 5 single-season mark in the rally-scoring era in school history, as well as the No. 8 mark in the country this season.
• Allick ranks No. 5 in career blocks at Nebraska in the rally-scoring era with 536, which also ranks No. 5 among active Division I players.
• Allick has been named AVCA National Player of the Week, a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, and to the AVCA All-First Serve Team.
• Allick was on the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List at the midway point of the season.
• Senior outside hitter Taylor Landfair averages 2.09 kills per set and is hitting a career-best .316 and was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and received AVCA All-Region honorable mention.
• In Big Ten play, Landfair’s numbers were even better at 2.08 kills per set with a .355 hitting percentage.
• A 2022 AVCA All-American, Landfair has played in 151 career matches, the most by any active DI player.
• Landfair has 1,517 career kills, which ranks 20th among active Division I players.
• Junior libero Laney Choboy leads the Huskers in digs at 2.73 per set and was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and AVCA All-Region Team.
• Choboy was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 10 after a career-high 20 digs against Illinois and 15 digs at Minnesota.
• Choboy was also on the AVCA All-First Serve Team in August after 16 digs against Pittsburgh.
• Freshman opposite hitter Virginia Adriano was chosen to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, averaging 2.20 kills per set with a .284 hitting percentage in her first season playing volleyball in America.
• Adriano also contributes 0.66 blocks per set and has 14 service aces on the year.
• In Big Ten play, Adriano came on strong with 2.34 kills per set on .318 hitting.
• Adriano was a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week and received AVCA All-Region honorable mention.
• Sophomore libero Olivia Mauch ranks third on the team in digs per set at 2.56 and is second with 18 aces on 372 serve attempts, also second most on the team.
• Mauch recorded a career-high 16 digs with seven set assists and one ace in a 3-2 win at No. 18 Creighton.
• Mauch led Nebraska’s back row in passing during the regular season at 2.77.
SCOUTING KANSAS
• No. 16 Kansas is 24-10 (13-5 Big 12) in Matt Ulmer’s first year as head coach at the school. Ulmer was previously the head coach at Oregon for eight seasons, compiling a 166-77 record.
• Reese Ptacek and Jovana Zelenovic were All-Big 12 First Team selections this year.
• A sophomore middle blocker, Ptacek averages 2.54 kills per set on .317 hitting with 27 aces and 1.06 blocks per set. Zelenovic, a freshman opposite hitter, adds 2.88 kills per set on .284 hitting with 46 aces and 0.96 blocks per set.
SCOUTING LOUISVILLE
• No. 9 Louisville is 26-6 (16-4 ACC) under first-year head coach Dan Meske, who assumed the helm after Dani Busboom Kelly became the Huskers’ new coach. Meske was an assistant coach at Nebraska from 2010-14.
• Junior outside hitter Chloe Chicoine leads the Cardinals with 3.25 kills per set and adds 2.79 digs per set. Senior middle blocker Cara Cresse contributes 2.49 kills per set on .350 hitting with 1.45 blocks per set. Setter Nayelis Cabello (10.44 assists per set) was an All-ACC First Team selection along with Chicoine and Cresse.
• Opposite hitter Kalyssa Blackshear was the ACC Freshman of the Year, averaging 2.83 kills per set and hitting .302.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
• No. 6 Texas A&M (25-4, 14-1 SEC) is back in Lincoln for an NCAA Regional for the second year in a row under third-year head coach Jamie Morrison. The Aggies were at the Devaney Center in 2024, falling in five sets to Wisconsin in the regional semifinal.
• A&M is led by senior opposite hitter Logan Lednicky’s 4.06 kills per set on .319 hitting. The reigning AVCA All-American is a four-time All-SEC honoree.
• Senior middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla is averaging 2.09 kills per set on .427 hitting with 1.67 blocks per set, which ranks third nationally. Cos-Okpalla received All-SEC First Team honors for the second straight season.
• Setter Maddie Waak leads the nation in assists at 11.49 per set and was an All-SEC honoree.
SERIES HISTORY
• Nebraska is 88-0-1 against Kansas. The teams last met on Dec. 2, 2022, a 3-1 Husker win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Nebraska played KU in a spring scrimmage at the Devaney Center on April 26. The teams experimented with different lineups throughout the scrimmage with NU ultimately prevailing in all four sets.
• Nebraska is 6-1 against Louisville and won the last matchup on Sept. 22, 2024 – 25-16, 25-17, 25-20 in Louisville.
• Nebraska is 32-7 against Texas A&M but the last meeting was Nov. 27, 2010 when both teams were members of the Big 12. NU is has won three in a row in the series and 22 of the last 23.
REILLY, BUSBOOM KELLY HEADLINE REGION HONORS
• Nebraska junior setter Bergen Reilly was named AVCA West Region Player of the Year, and Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly earned AVCA West Region Coach of the Year to highlight the AVCA All-Region awards.
• Reilly was one of five Huskers on the AVCA West All-Region Team. Joining her were Rebekah Allick, Laney Choboy, Andi Jackson and Harper Murray.
• Virginia Adriano and Taylor Landfair both received honorable mention.
• Reilly is the fourth Husker overall and third in a row to be named AVCA Region Player of the Year, joining Kelly Hunter (2017), Merritt Beason (2023) and Lexi Rodriguez (2024).
• Busboom Kelly earned her fifth career AVCA Region Coach of the Year accolade (2017, 2020, 2021, 2022 at Louisville). In her first year as head coach at Nebraska, Busboom Kelly made history with a 30-0 regular-season record and 20-0 mark in Big Ten play. She was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year after becoming the first coach to win a Big Ten volleyball conference title in the first year as head coach at the school.
• Jackson, Murray and Reilly have been named to the AVCA All-Region Team each of the past three years. Allick earned her third career selection, while Choboy was named to the team for the first time.
HUSKERS HAUL IN BIG TEN POSTSEASON HONORS
• After completing the Big Ten’s first 20-0 campaign since 2009, the Nebraska volleyball program was well represented in the Big Ten Volleyball Postseason Honors.
• Junior setter Bergen Reilly was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Setter of the Year. Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the coaches and media.
• Reilly was joined on the All-Big Ten First Team by Rebekah Allick, Andi Jackson and Harper Murray. Jackson, Murray and Reilly were three of nine unanimous selections.
• Laney Choboy and Taylor Landfair were selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team. Virginia Adriano was named to the All-Freshman Team, and Maisie Boesiger earned a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
• Reilly became the first setter to win Big Ten Player of the Year since Samantha Seliger-Swenson in 2018. She is Nebraska’s second-ever Big Ten Player of the Year (Kelsey Robinson, 2013) and the first Husker setter to earn conference player of the year since Greichaly Cepero in 2002. Reilly also became the second player in Big Ten history to be named Big Ten Setter of the Year three times (Sydney Hilley, Wisconsin).
• In her first year as head coach at Nebraska, Busboom Kelly made history with a 30-0 regular-season record and 20-0 mark in Big Ten play. She was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year after becoming the first coach to win a Big Ten volleyball conference title in the first year as head coach at the school. Busboom Kelly has won four conference coach of the year honors in the last six years, as she was a three-time ACC Coach of the Year at Louisville (2020, 2021, 2022). Busboom Kelly has had two undefeated regular seasons in her nine-year coaching career (2021 at Louisville).
• Reilly and Murray are three-time All-Big Ten First Team selections. Jackson earned her third career All-Big Ten honor and second selection to the first team. Allick earned her third career All-Big Ten honor, but her first selection to the first team.
• Landfair is a four-time All-Big Ten honoree, while Choboy was named All-Big Ten for the first time in her career.
HOME SWEET HOME
• Nebraska has won 62 home matches in a row dating back to Dec. 1, 2022, which is the longest active streak in the nation. It is the sixth-longest streak in NCAA history.
• The Huskers’ home court win streak is its longest since moving into the Devaney Center in 2013, and it’s the third-longest home court win streak in program history.
• Nebraska’s longest all-time home win streak was 90 matches from 2004-09. Nebraska’s second-longest home win streak is 63 matches from 1999-2002.
• Penn State holds the all-time record of 94 from 2006-10.
• The Huskers went 22-0 at home in 2024, a school record for home wins in a season.
• Nebraska has won 28 consecutive NCAA Tournament matches played in the Devaney Center, a school record.
THREE HUSKERS ARE AVCA POTY SEMIFINALISTS
• Three Huskers are among the remaining 14 players eligible to be named AVCA Player of the Year. Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly were all named semifinalists.
• Jackson, a middle blocker, and Reilly, a setter, are the only players at their respective positions still in contention.
• Finalists will be announced on Dec. 15, and the Player of the Year Award will be presented in Kansas City at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 19.
BIG RED WINS BIG TEN DISCOVER CHALLENGE
• The Nebraska volleyball team collected the first-ever Big Ten Discover Challenge trophy in the month of October.
• Five selected matches for each Big Ten team played on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in October counted toward the challenge standings.
• Nebraska and Purdue both went 5-0, but the Huskers won the tiebreaker with a perfect 15-0 record in sets.
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.
HUSKERS WELCOME EIGHT NEWCOMERS
• Eight of the 17 players on the 2025 roster are newcomers.
• Senior opposite hitter Allie Sczech is the lone transfer the Huskers brought in for 2025. Sczech was a two-time All-Big 12 Second Team performer at Baylor, averaging 2.44 kills per set with a .273 hitting percentage in 2024. Sczech posted a career-high 21 kills and hit .463 in Baylor’s NCAA Tournament second round defeat to Dayton last year. She totaled 754 kills in three seasons at Baylor.
• In addition to Sczech, seven freshmen have joined the fold. Campbell Flynn (6-3, Setter), Ryan Hunter (6-2, Opposite Hitter), Keri Leimbach (5-4, Libero) and Teraya Sigler (6-3, Outside Hitter) all enrolled at Nebraska in January. Virginia Adriano (6-5, Opposite Hitter), Kenna Cogill (6-4, Middle Blocker) and Manaia Ogbechie (6-3, Middle Blocker) joined the Huskers in June.
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 was the best winning percentage (.875) for any DI program from 2000-24.
• In addition to the naming of John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, 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 was 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.
Landfair, Sczech Selected in MLV Draft
• Nebraska volleyball seniors Taylor Landfair and Allie Sczech were selected in the 2025 Major League Volleyball Draft on Nov. 24.
• Landfair was the No. 28 overall pick by the Indy Ignite. One pick later at No. 29, Sczech was selected by the Omaha Supernovas.
HUSKERS SET FOR 23 TV BROADCASTS
• Nebraska volleyball airs on television 23 times this season. The Huskers have 18 national TV appearances on Big Ten Network, FOX, FS1, ABC and ESPN.
• Additionally, Nebraska Public Media was granted the rights to televise the Red-White Scrimmage (Aug. 9), the Alumni Match (Aug. 16), and three regular-season home matches: Grand Canyon (Sept. 13), Maryland (Sept. 27) and Northwestern (Oct. 24).
• All matches that are televised on Nebraska Public Media are also streamed on B1G+. All home matches and Big Ten road matches not selected for TV are streamed on B1G+.
• NU’s match at Lipscomb is available on ESPN+.
FOUR HUSKERS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN
• Four student-athletes from the Nebraska volleyball team were named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team after a vote by the league’s 18 head coaches.
• Juniors Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly were three of just five unanimous selections to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. They were joined on the 20-player team by senior Rebekah Allick.
• The coaches picked Nebraska as the top team in the preseason poll. The Huskers won their fifth Big Ten title in 2024 with a 19-1 conference record to share the crown with Penn State. Nebraska finished the season at 33-3 and reached the NCAA Semifinals. Penn State, Wisconsin, Minnesota and UCLA rounded out the top five.
• Jackson, a junior middle blocker, had a breakout year in 2024, earning AVCA All-America First Team and unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors. Jackson averaged 2.62 kills per set with a .439 hitting percentage, which ranked sixth in the nation and fourth in school history. She also put up 1.18 blocks per set.
• Murray, a junior outside hitter, was an AVCA Second Team All-American last year after earning third-team honors as a freshman. Murray led the Huskers in 2024 with 3.40 kills per set and a team-high 39 service aces. She is a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection. Murray was selected to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team last season and was the NCAA Lincoln Regional Most Outstanding Player.
• Reilly, a junior setter, 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.
• Allick, a senior middle blocker, 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. She was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection in 2022 and 2023.
FLYNN NAMED GATORADE NATIONAL POTY
• 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.
2024 SEASON IN REVIEW
• Nebraska finished the 2024 season 33-3 overall and advanced to 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 last season. The Huskers went back-to-back as Big Ten champions for the second time, also accomplishing that feat in 2016 and 2017.
• The Huskers’ 29 regular-season wins last year tied the 1983 school record for most wins in a regular season in the NCAA era.
• The Huskers’ 33 wins last season were tied for the most victories by a Husker team since the 2000 national championship team went 34-0.
• The Huskers ranked 11th nationally with a team hitting percentage of .284 in 2024.
• The Huskers ranked sixth nationally and first in the Big Ten in opponent hitting percentage at .143 last season. NU led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in 2022 and 2023.
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