Featured Image: SHRED. with Ted event. Credit: Daniel Niederkofler
90 Young Athletes from 5 Continents Trained with Ted Ligety in Val di Fassa
Park City, Utah and Pozza di Fassa, Italy – April 23, 2025 – SHRED., Dolomiti Superski, Val di Fassa, and Ski Team Fassa successfully concluded two sold-out sessions of SHRED. with Ted last February, bringing together 90 young ski racers from four different continents for an exclusive training experience alongside two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time World Champion Ted Ligety.
Held on the iconic Aloch slope in Pozza di Fassa, part of Dolomiti Superski, the event gave aspiring ski racers in the U14, U16, and U18 categories the unique opportunity to train under Ligety’s expert guidance, refining their technique, tactical approach, and confidence on the race course.
A World-Class Experience on the Slopes of the Dolomites
With a focus on line choice, technique, video analysis, and live demonstrations, each session delivered a level of insight rarely available outside professional training programs. Ligety, often referred to as Mr. GS for his dominance in giant slalom, personally led the coaching, sharing the knowledge and race-proven techniques that shaped his legendary career.
Joining him was Sasha Rearick, former Head Coach of the US Ski Team and trainer of legendary athletes like Ligety himself and Bode Miller, who provided his invaluable coaching expertise, along with a select group of professional race coaches from Ski Team Fassa and Apex2100.
The combination of world-class coaching, structured training environments, and the stunning Dolomites setting made this an unforgettable experience for every participant, reinforcing the event’s status as a premier international ski racing camp.
Ted coaching. Credit: Daniel Niederkofler
Coaches at the SHRED. with Ted. Credit: Daniel Niederkofler
Building Connections and Friendships Through Skiing
The event was more than just training—it was an opportunity for young ski racers to connect with peers who share the same passion for the sport. Athletes from Europe, North America, South America, Oceania, and Asia gathered on the slopes of Val di Fassa, not only to refine their skills but also to build cross-border friendships. The spirit of camaraderie and mutual encouragement made SHRED. with Ted a truly unique experience, proving that ski racing is not just about competition, but also about community, joy, and shared passion.
SHRED. Thanks Its Partners and Participants
SHRED. extends its gratitude to Dolomiti Superski, Val di Fassa, Ski Team Fassa, and Apex2100 for their invaluable support in making this event a success. A special thank you also goes out to all the young athletes and their families for bringing their dedication and enthusiasm to the slopes.
SHRED. with Ted event. Credit: Daniel Niederkofler
Quotes from the Organizers and Partners
Ted Ligety, Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer of SHRED.: “Seeing these young racers push themselves and embrace the challenge was truly inspiring. This camp is about more than just technique—it’s about helping them build confidence, add some new perspectives, develop race instincts, and most importantly, have fun.”
Sasha Rearick, Alpine Performance Director at Apex2100 and former US Ski Team Head Coach: “Shred With Ted in Val di Fassa is truly a world-class experience. Ted Ligety has a remarkable way of inspiring athletes to express themselves freely on the mountain. With simple, powerful cues that stem from his own success, he helps skiers unlock new movement patterns and make meaningful change in their skiing. This year’s camp brought together athletes from all over the world, and it was a blast to share Ted’s philosophy on GS skiing in such an incredible venue. On a personal level, it’s always a pleasure to work alongside my friend and complement his approach with my own more traditional coaching style. It’s rewarding to collaborate and learn together, while offering athletes—especially our Apex group—such a unique chance to grow. As always, the goal is to get better every day, and this camp is the perfect environment to do just that.”
Marco Pappalardo, Director of Marketing, Dolomiti Superski: “We are thrilled to have hosted SHRED. with Ted here in Val di Fassa. This event not only brings young talent to our mountains but also showcases the Dolomites as a premier destination for ski racing and high-performance training. Seeing the passion of these young athletes reinforces why we invest in events like these.”
Lorenzo Cemin, President of Ski Team Fassa: “Thank you, SHRED.. This year, by working closely together as key partners in organizing the event, we got to know each other better and grew even closer.Ski Team Fassa would like to once again thank its technical sponsor for the two wonderful days spent together.The event took place in Val di Fassa, on the Alloch slope—envied all over around the world—where we had the fantastic opportunity to run high-quality training sessions. Ted Ligety offered the athletes some amazing and effective feedback, and once again, we experienced the incredible unifying power of sport. What I’ll cherish most is the ending of this experience: like all the best moments that happen spontaneously, we found ourselves sitting around a table with nearly all the key players, chatting lightheartedly in our humble headquarters, as if we had known each other forever. Go SHRED.! Go Ski Team!”
Relive the Experience – Watch the Official Video
For those who missed this year’s sessions—or want to relive the experience—we’ve put together a full recap video capturing the best moments from SHRED. with Ted 2025.
Watch the official event recap here:
Looking Ahead to Future Editions
Following the overwhelming success of this year’s event, SHRED. and its partners are already working on future editions of SHRED. with Ted to continue providing young athletes with unparalleled coaching and training experiences.
Interested in joining or organizing next season’s event with us? Stay tuned for updates and announcements on upcoming sessions.
For media inquiries, event details, or future participation, please contact: [email protected]
About Dolomiti Superski
Dolomiti Superski is one of the world’s largest holiday destinations and encompasses the valleys of the Dolomite area in the provinces of Bolzano, Trento and Belluno. Founded in 1974, it brings together the 12 ski areas of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Plan de Corones, Alta Badia, Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi, Val di Fassa/Carezza, Arabba/Marmolada, 3 Cime, Val di Fiemme/Obereggen, San Martino di Castrozza/Passo Rolle, Rio Pusteria-Bressanone, Alpe Lusia/San Pellegrino and Civetta. In winter, the Dolomiti Superski system offers 1,200 km of slopes, more than half of which are connected “skis-on” and enjoyable in their entirety with a single ski pass. In summer and autumn, Dolomiti Superski becomes Dolomiti Supersummer, with its two macro-areas of offerings “Dolomiti Hike Galaxy” (dedicated to those who like to explore the Dolomites on foot) and the “Dolomiti Bike Galaxy” (which brings together the entire offer dedicated to mountain bikers). In the warmer seasons 140 open lifts are in operation to discover, on foot or by MTB, the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites. Media Contact: Diego Clara, [email protected]
About SHRED.
SHRED. is an independent brand committed to empowering skiers, snowboarders, and mountain bikers with products that enhance their performance and fun. Co-founded in 2006 by Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety and materials engineer Carlo Salmini, SHRED. has been at the forefront of innovation in eyewear and protective gear, redefining the intersection of safety and style. From the game-changing Contrast Boosting Lens™ 2.0 to pioneering protective equipment, SHRED. enables athletes to push their limits and expand their horizons. To explore the SHRED. difference and join the revolution, visit SHREDoptics.com. Media Contact: [email protected]
Ted Ligety, co-founder of SHRED. Credit: Daniel Niederkofler
About Ski Team Fassa
Founded in 1980, Ski Team Fassa is a sports club dedicated to developing Fassa’s alpine skiing athletes. Aimed at supporting skiers who wish to advance in the competitive circuit of the Young, the team is committed to balancing sports training with the athletes’ academic and professional goals. Ski Team Fassa offers an environment that promotes a high technical level, supporting skiers in achieving excellence in both sports and life. For more information, visit https://www.skiteamfassa.it
About Val di Fassa
Val di Fassa is one of the most renowned ski destinations in the Dolomites, offering over 200 km of slopes, 77 lifts, and 150 trails across seven interconnected ski areas. Nestled among iconic peaks such as Catinaccio, Sella, and Sassolungo, the valley provides breathtaking scenery and an unparalleled skiing experience. Winter visitors can explore legendary routes like the Sellaronda and Skitour Panorama, while cutting-edge lift systems and advanced snowmaking technology ensure optimal conditions throughout the season.
Val di Fassa Piste Azzurre Project – Where Champions Train
Thanks to the “Piste Azzurre” project, renewed until the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the Italian Alpine Ski Team has been training in Val di Fassa for over twenty years. Eight slopes host World Cup athletes as they prepare for top-level competitions. The valley also hosts major international events, including the Snowboard World Cup (December 15), Alpine Skiing Europa Cup (December 16), FIS Baltic Cup (January 14-26), and Skicross Europa Cup (March 24-25). Not to be missed is the 50th Marcialonga of Fiemme and Fassa (January 29), Italy’s most beloved cross-country ski marathon. Media Contact: [email protected]
As the fall semester comes to a close, I want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season. We had a very busy and productive fall, beginning with Evie Bliss making it to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where on September 19 she threw the Javelin 58.88 (193-1.25) to finish 10th in her preliminary flight and 19th overall among a field of 36 of the best javelin throwers in the world. Evie was the youngest competitor in the field and the first-ever Bucknell Track and Field athlete to compete in a World Championship. What a fantastic year for Evie. It was great that we were able to send Coach Ryan Protzman to Tokyo to coach her in the meet, thanks to the Spiked Shoe Club and its fundraising efforts.
The cross country season came to a close a couple of weeks ago, and our women’s team capped it off by finishing second (48 pts) at the Patriot League Championships – the program’s best finish since 2019. The only team to best the Bison that day was a very good Army (21 pts) squad led by head coach and Bucknell grad Michael Smith ’88. We had four ladies earn All-Patriot League status, led by sophomore Shealan McNally, who was the runner-up in the race. Junior Kailey Granger (6th), sophomore Katie Moncavage (10th), and senior Caryn Rippey (13th) were the other three to earn all-league honors. We were well ahead of Navy (3rd, 99 points), Boston U (4th, 120 points), and Lehigh (5th, 136 points) – the other schools among the top-five in the 10-school field. Two weeks later, we competed at Lehigh in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships and finished 7th out of 30 schools. I was very pleased with that finish, which was our highest place since we were 6th in 2016.
Our men’s team had some health issues late in the season, but nevertheless improved one spot from the 6th-place showing in 2024 with a 5th-place finish (135 points) this season. Our goal was to finish in the top three, and we were only 19 points behind 3rd-place American University (116 points) and 4th-place Boston University (117 points). Navy won the meet with 28 points, followed by Army at 58 points. Senior Henry Didden led us with a 10th-place finish, followed by sophomore Ethan Pratt-Perez, who was 14th – both runners earned All-Patriot League honors. It was the second consecutive year that Ethan made the all-league team. Two weeks later, the Bison finished 12th of 29 teams with 334 points at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. Our goal was to be in the top 10, and we were only 29 points away from 10th place (U-Penn, 305 points). Pratt-Perez was our top finisher (39th, 30:52 for 10K), followed closely by Didden ( 43rd, 30:56).
We began our indoor track and field season on December 5-6 with our Annual Bison Opener, and I felt it was one of the best openers we have ever had, setting us up for what I hope is a very successful indoor season. We had 11 schools on campus for the meet, including Penn State. The men had five individual victories, and a total of eight men made our all-time top-10 list. The women had four individual winners and six new additions on the all-time top-10 list, including a school and fieldhouse record in the 300 meters by sophomore Alex Lea.
Men’s Event Winners:
Lucas Williams Pole Vault 16-4.75 #8 all-time
CJ Simbiri Triple Jump 48-10.75 #5 all-time
Nick Bouril 300 meters 34.57 #2 all-time
Cooper Hollinger 3000 meters 8:41.31
Alex Goonewardene Mile 4:28.28
Men’s Additional All-Time Top-10 Entries:
Luke Petryna 60 meters 4th place 6.91 #8 all-time
Preston Lubeski 300 meters 3rd place 35.40 #8 all-time
Ethan Knight 60 M Hurdles 3rd place 8.30 #7 all-time
Eamon Golden 60 M Hurdles 4th place 8.37 #10 all-time
Henry Didden 5000 meters (at Boston University) 14:05.94 #2 all-time
Women’s Event Winners:
Anna Carruthers 800 meters 2:16.34
Alex Lea 300 meters 39.29 school and fieldhouse record
Here is our Indoor Track and Field Schedule. We would love to see you at any of our meets, at home or on the road, if we are in your area.
Sat., Jan. 17 Penn State Challenge State College, Pa.
Sat., Jan. 24 Gulden Invitational Home
Fri-Sat, Jan. 30-31 Bucknell Invitational & Multi Home
Fri-Sat, Jan. 30-31 Penn State National Open State College, Pa.
Fri-Sat, Feb. 6-7 UPenn Invitational Philadelphia, Pa
Fri., Feb. 20 Bucknell Tune-up Home
Sat-Sun, Feb. 28-Mar. 1 Patriot League Championships Boston University
Last year, we had some really great support for our program through donations made to the Spiked Shoe Club, and we need to have an even better year in 2025-26 if we want to accomplish some of our goals. The Patriot League Outdoor Championships were pushed back to mid-May this spring, resulting in a longer outdoor season in general. I’d like to travel a little more than in past years, including bringing more athletes to the Penn Relays than usual, along with trips to William & Mary and the IC4A-ECAC Meet at Rutgers.
In addition, we expect to have quite a few athletes making postseason meets such as the NCAA East Prelims in Kentucky, and potentially the USATF Nationals and U20 Nationals. Your gifts to the program will go a long way, and we hope to once again break program fundraising records for the number of donors and the amount raised.
I hope you will mark your calendars now for March 25-26, the 2026 One Herd One Day giving challenge. Our program has consistently been one of the top in the department on this important day, and your continued support will help determine the type of student-athlete experience we are able to provide to all the young men and women in our program.
I cannot wait for 2026. Have a great Holiday Season.
Kevin Donner
Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach
Bucknell University
kdonner@bucknell.edu
Past Newsletters:
Bison Club support is the driving force behind Bucknell Athletics. Your donations directly impact the holistic development of student-athletes from 27 Division I varsity programs who are building a foundation at Bucknell to become leaders and difference-makers around the globe. Make your gift online, or call 570-577-1771 to support your favorite Bison team today.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Lincoln men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams combined to win three events Friday at the Indiana Early Bird.
Lincoln swept the titles in the 60-meter hurdles. Brandon Harris won for the men in 7.98 seconds and Aaliyannah Anderson took first place for the women in 8.48 seconds.
Malik Drummond was also a winner for the Lincoln men in the triple jump, posting a distance of 48 feet, 6¼ inches.
In total, the Blue Tigers had 22 top-five finishes during the meet.
On the men’s side, Tajai Duffus placed second in the 200-meter dash in 21.84 seconds, followed by Keano Charles in fourth place in 21.91 seconds. Rondino Dean followed Harris in the 60 hurdles with a fifth-place time of 8.25 seconds.
Finishing third for the Lincoln men were Franklyn Tayloe in the 800-meter run (1:54.98) and Dejone Raymond in the high jump (6-8). Melon Lowenfield was fourth in the long jump (22-9), Donovon Bruce was fourth in the 400-meter dash (48.84 seconds) and Dimitri Beckford placed fifth in the 60-meter dash (6.88 seconds).
On the women’s side, Quana Walker placed second in the 200 in 24.59 seconds, followed by Anderson in third in 24.93 seconds. Walker finished second in the 400 in 56.92 seconds.
Also on the track, Maria Diamond was fifth in the 800 in 2:21.22 and Hannah Fatade placed fifth in the mile run in 5:25.89.
In field events, Brittania Ingram was second in the triple jump (37-1) and fourth in the long jump (17-7).
Lincoln had a pair of top-five finishers in the women’s pentathlon. Calah McDonald finished fourth with 2950 points and Kimesha Francis was fifth with 2943. McDonald won the shot put with a throw of 32-6¼ and Francis was second in the long jump with a leap of 17-2¾.
In the 4×400-meter relay, the Lincoln men — Harris, Bruce, Tayloe and Charles — placed third in 3:15.55, while the women — Odeshia Nanton, Walker, Diamond and Anderson — took fifth in 3:53.73.
Lincoln returns to the track Jan. 17 for the Show Me Showdown at the University of Missouri.
LINCOLN – The No. 3 seed Texas A&M volleyball team handed the No. 1 overall seed Nebraska Cornhuskers their first home loss since November 26, 2022, to claim victory in Sunday afternoon’s NCAA Regional Final at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, 3-2 (25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 35-37, 15-13).
The Aggies (27-4) won an instant classic over Nebraska (33-1) to punch their ticket to the Final Four. The teams split the opening four frames setting up a winner-take-all finale, and it was the Maroon & White who reigned victorious behind a complete team victory which included 75 kills, 17 blocks and nine aces.
Nebraska came out of the gate on the front foot, as head coach Jamie Morrison called his first timeout of the match trailing 9-3. The Aggies found their footing, cutting into the deficit to 12-9 behind a stretch at the service line from Tatum Thomas. The Cornhuskers won the race to 15 (15-10), but Texas A&M answered right back with a 7-0 run forcing Nebraska to burn both of its timeouts. The onslaught continued, as Cos-Okpalla recorded two aces paired with a Cornhusker error, stretching the lead to 20-15. Nebraska battled back within one as coach Morrison huddled up his squad up 21-20. The Maroon & White would not be denied, as once again the service line was the difference, with an ace from Maddie Waak sealing the opener, 25-22.
Carrying the momentum into the second, the Aggies forged an early 5-2 lead. Nebraska responded with a streak of its own inch ahead 10-9. Waak once again got the ball rolling, spearheading a 4-0 run from the service line which included two aces, a kill from Kyndal Stowers and a solo block from Cos-Okpalla as the Maroon & White went ahead 14-11. The train kept rolling, as the gap extended by one as the Cornhuskers huddled up for the time in the frame down 19-15. Nebraska mounted a late comeback in the frame, trimming the deficit to 24-22, but a timeout from coach Morrison was what the team needed Lednicky landed the final blow of the set with the Aggies prevailing 25-22 for a two-set advantage.
The Cornhuskers strung together a streak early in the third building a 10-5 advantage, but a response came once again as the Maroon & White ripped off four-straight to shrink the gap to one. The programs began trading points down the stretch and it was Nebraska who grabbed the frame, 25-20, and cut into the match lead, 2-1.
Back-and-forth scoring opened fourth, as the teams were knotted on five occasions through the first 14 points including 7-7. Texas A&M was the team to create some breathing room, again thanks to Thomas leading three-straight from the service line as Nebraska huddled up down 10-7. The Aggies would not be waver, extending the gap to 15-10 as the Cornhuskers called their final timeout. Nebraska grabbed one back, as Coach Morrison collected his squad with a break (18-14). The set went the well in extras and it was Nebraska narrowly took the frame, 37-35, and sent the match to a fifth set.
In the deciding final frame, it was the Aggies who captured the early momentum leading 8-6 as the programs swapped ends. Texas A&M kept rolling with a 4-1 streak, forcing the Cornhuskers to burn both timeouts trailing 12-8. Nebraska persisted, as the Maroon & White called a break with the advantage down to 13-11. The Aggies found themselves one point from victory and it was Lednicky who dealt the game-winning blow (15-13) ensuring their spot in the Final Four.
Following the conclusion of the Regional, the Aggies claimed four of the seven All-Tournament Team selections, headlined by Lednicky who was named the Regional Most Outstanding Player, while Waak, stowers and Ava Underwood were also named to the team.
Logan Lednicky recorded her 21st consecutive game with 10 or more kills and climbed to No. 3 in career kills passing Hollann Hans (1,640).
Ifenna Cos-Okpalla climbed to No. 2 on the program’s career block list passing Cindy Lothspeich (552).
The Aggies secured their first Final Four berth in program history.
The victory over Nebraska marks the programs second win versus a No. 1 ranked opponent and first in 30 years.
UP NEXT
The Maroon & White head to Kansas City for the NCAA Tournament Final Four where they will face No. 1 seed Pittsburgh, Thursday, Dec. 18 with timing details to be announced at a later date.
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.
Texas A&M after upsetting Nebraska volleyball: ‘We’re the grittiest team in the country by far’
Dec. 14, 2025
Watch the postgame interview with Texas A&M volleyball seniors Kyndal Stowers, Logan Lednicky and Ifenna Cos-Okpalla after the Aggies stunned undefeated No. 1 overall seed Nebraska in a five-set regional final battle.
This story has been told multiple times over the last few years with Nebraska volleyball. Harper Murray said that she would win three more titles the rest of her time with the Huskers two seasons ago. The reverse sweep at the hands of last year’s Penn State team, on the backs of head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley beating cancer, felt like sports destiny.
Sports destiny seemed to be on their side for the last 16 weeks. An undefeated, storybook season, with the final games of the season just three short hours away in Kansas City, Missouri, seemed almost too perfect to draw up. Then it was all whisked away in a form far too familiar on the biggest stage.
In the regional final, the third-seeded and ninth-overall team, Texas A&M, stormed into Lincoln and fought through one of the greatest regular-season teams of all time. The Aggies did something that no team, not even the Kentucky Wildcats in the fourth game of the season, could do. Kentucky held a two-set lead on Nebraska and couldn’t get the job done in Nashville. But in one of the toughest environments in college sports, not just college volleyball, Texas A&M ran through the proverbial buzzsaw with its own jackhammer.
What had caused the Huskers’ trouble all year long came back to bite them in the worst way: serve receive. Nine aces were recorded by the Aggies today, with eight of those aces coming before intermission. Junior libero Laney Choboy was responsible for five of the first eight aces. After the serve receive seemingly was cleaned up after giving up nine aces to Maryland on Sept. 27, the issue came back to rear its ugly head. Between Sunday’s game and the Maryland match, Nebraska had not given up more than five aces (twice, Oregon and UCLA) in one contest.
Sunday’s match was a grueling dogfight all the way around, something unlike Nebraska had seldom seen all season long. See to the 37-35 set four score, which felt like a repeat of Oregon’s 41-39 set two win over Minnesota in the 2018 tournament. The fight never ran out. Until it was too late.
No matter where the 2025 Huskers finished in the tournament, the squad would live forever in the history books. A perfect regular season with a coach at her alma mater with a legend riding off into the sunset? The storylines wrote themselves.
Written with emotion, Nebraska experienced what they thought they wouldn’t this year. Since summer workouts, whether it was spoken into existence or not, the goal really was championship or bust. Finishing first in a grueling Big Ten wouldn’t suffice. Neither would a regional title. Nor would an appearance in the title game. Only would hoisting the big prize on December 21, 2025, inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, be enough.
The difference between 2023’s dominant team and 2025’s was the heat check that came in the regular season. The Huskers’ loss to rival Wisconsin, a three-set drubbing on Black Friday, allowed for an opportunity to reset themselves before postseason play began just a week later. That opportunity was not afforded to this version of Nebraska because they were far too dominant all season long.
The Huskers assembled one of the largest rosters in recent memory, fueled by an NIL siphon into a program that has risen to stardom not just on a national, but on a worldwide scale. With 17 players on the roster, the talent rivaled an all-star caliber squad that a professional team could put together. Depth bit them right in the foot.
With freshman setter Campbell Flynn breaking her finger earlier in the week, and senior opposite hitter Allie Sczech suffering a freak accident during warmups, the roster was already smaller. With three redshirts on the bench, that meant only 12 active bodies. Nebraska head coach Dani Busboom Kelly attributes the thin bench, but also sickness floating around the locker room, as part of the problem at hand.
No depth problem will be able to sideline the performance on the court.
Freshman middle blocker Manaia Ogbechie was thrust into the limelight with junior counterpart Andi Jackson struggling to find any kind of momentum. With a few more healthy bodies, Busboom Kelly might have had a chance to sub in Flynn or Sczech for an under-the-weather Reilly or an at-times struggling freshman opposite Virginia Adriano.
“I think she’s really mature for her age and as a competitor,” senior middle blocker Rebekah Allick said postgame on Ogbechie. “We told her just to hit everything, and she did that.”
The celebration that Nebraska has had so close in their grasp has availed them times aplenty. Over the last three seasons, the Huskers are 99-6 but with just one appearance on the sport’s biggest stage. Texas A&M will now get to be front and center for the first time ever.
A team of dreams, overlooked by many in their own conference, with rival Texas and Kentucky running away with their regionals, slayed the giant. David took down Goliath.
“There are no words to describe this feeling,” senior outside hitter Logan Lednicky said postgame. “Why not us?”
The team that has yelled “Why not us?” from the mountaintop, a program that has built itself from the ground up since head coach Jamie Morrison’s arrival, can now scream that same phrase when they play the Pittsburgh Panthers on Thursday in the same gym Nebraska wanted to get to.
“We have the most wins that this program has ever had,” Morrison said postgame after achieving his 27th win of the year. “That’s not an accident.”
Nor is it an accident that they will play for the national title. It wasn’t going to be an accident that the Huskers could play for a national title either.
“I wanted to be somewhere that could be developed into one of the best programs in the country,” senior middle blocker Ifenna Coz-Okpalla said postgame. “To be sitting here after beating Nebraska, it’s insane.”
A Husker team that was hyped all year long has fallen short of its goals. A national champion banner is still waiting to be hoisted inside the Bob Devaney Sports Center after their most recent in 2017. So many close calls. So many heartbreaks. The book is far from being finished.
Look to the alumni who continue to be a part of the program even though their eligibility is gone. Merritt Beason and Leyla Blackwell, two graduates from the 2024 team, were in attendance on Sunday. Lexi Rodriguez, arguably one of the greatest liberos in college volleyball, continues to have relationships with the players.
“I’ve always looked up to Lexi Rodriguez,” Allick said postgame. “She maybe didn’t always have something to say, but she always made the play, but maybe it was the random hand hold or the hug. It was very intentional.”
With a senior class, specifically spotlighted by four-year letterwinners Allick and senior defensive specialist Maisie Boesiger, that has poured so much into the program throughout their time, don’t expect that continuity to end.
“[Allick] has put her heart and soul into this program, and you can tell by her face how much she cares,” Murray said postgame, speaking on behalf of her distraught teammate. “I don’t even care if we win or lose. She’s going to take away the memories and the relationships we’ve made, winning and losing.”
The loss hurts. Undoubtedly. The book on a video game-level team has written its final chapter on the 2025 season. It went out with a bang, a five-set thriller, but on the wrong side. Perhaps the new version of the John Cook Arena will bear more fruit when it comes online next year.
But for now, the dreams and destiny of hoisting the big prize will have to wait another year.
“We’re excited to be back next year,” Murray said postgame.
Danny Berg is a volleyball beat writer for the Daily Nebraskan. Follow him on X
