LINCOLN — Lexi. Merritt. Andi and Rebekah. Lindsay, Bergen and Laney.
It’s probably time you memorize Taylor, Leyla and Olivia, too. Of course, you already know Harper.
The queens of Nebraska Athletics open practice Monday. And the 50th edition of Husker volleyball does so to surprisingly little fanfare, flying under the radar one year after flying so close to the sun.
Not that it matters much.
You know who these superstars are. You plan your autumn evenings around first serve. On a football Saturday, one of the TVs in your basement — likely the 75-incher in the middle — has Bergen Reilly lining up a serve, or right-side hitter Merritt Beason launching one of Reilly’s sets for a rocket kill.
“The volleyball players are bigger celebrities than the football players,” Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen said. “It’s very cool.”
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Nebraska volleyball is the toughest ticket in town, currently $75 on Seatgeek for the home opener vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. You can snag a Nebraska-UTEP football ticket for $19.
Huskers volleyball packed 92,000 in a football stadium last year. Then beat frequent nemesis Wisconsin in the best match of the season.
This winter, libero Lexi Rodriguez — an NIL queen and probably the most popular player in the history of the program — was on the stage at Walmart’s corporate meetings.
But as of now, the preseason Big Ten favorites do not plan a customary “open house” media day. Two players — outside hitter Lindsay Krause and serving specialist Kennedi Orr — will accompany coach John Cook to Big Ten media days Monday and Tuesday in Chicago followed by smaller press conferences over several weeks.
Maybe that’s sensible, after the 2023 season felt like a magic bubble pierced only by Texas’ outstanding serving in the national championship match.
Or perhaps it was the two offseason incidents involving outside hitter Harper Murray, the 2023 Big Ten freshman of year. She pleaded no contest to an April DUI charge — receiving nine months probation — and got pretrial diversion for a May shoplifting charge.
She apologized on social media and Cook said to the Journal Star she won’t be suspended once the season begins Aug. 27. That doesn’t guarantee Murray will start.
The No. 1 national recruit in the 2023 class has to compete against the No. 2 recruit in 2021 (Krause), the No. 1 recruit in 2020 (Taylor Landfair) and the No. 4 recruit in 2024 (Skyler Pierce).
The most intriguing thing about this Husker team is that it’s more talented and experienced than last year’s group of magicians.
NU is better on offense, thanks to the addition Landfair. The transfer from Minnesota was the 2022 Big Ten player of the year and played club ball with Rodriguez.
“I have not hit my peak yet, and I’m honestly nowhere near where my peak could be at,” Landfair said on the Huskers Radio Network. “So I definitely want a bunch of feedback. A lot of coaches don’t give the best feedback in my personal opinion. But I feel like here, they give the best feedback possible. Obviously, Nebraska is what they are in volleyball.”
NU is better on defense, where Rodriguez and fearless Laney Choboy — who frequently runs into the bleachers to keep balls in play — and are joined by Bennington freshman Olivia Mauch, who turned heads this spring.
Middle blockers Rebekah Allick and Andi Jackson get a third player in the rotation with fifth-year transfer Leyla Blackwell, who helped lead San Diego to the Final Four in 2022.
Playing time won’t be safe, and competition will be fierce.
With NU’s schedule, it needs to be.
Among the top 10 in last year’s final coaches poll, the Huskers play five — Wisconsin, Stanford, Louisville, Kentucky and Oregon. Nebraska draws the Badgers twice. That Nov. 23 home match scheduled to start after the NU-UW football game has a $357 resale ticket price attached.
Throw in matches against Penn State, Purdue, Creighton and Arizona State — all top 16 in the final poll last year — and there are few breathers.
The goal is to secure one of the NCAA tournament’s four No. 1 seeds, guaranteeing two weekends of postseason play at the Devaney Center, where NU hasn’t lost an NCAA tourney match since 2013.
Naturally, NU lost that match to Texas.
The Longhorns, now in the SEC, will loom over the entire season. They humiliated the Huskers in the NCAA final with great serving and a quick sweep.
NU’s comments afterward underlined the shock of the loss. And steely resolve, too.
“I think we’re going to win three national championships the next three years,” Murray said.
Allick whispered to Murray: “(Expletive) yeah.”
The talent is in the building to make the first leg of Murray’s prediction come true. Time to see after a long offseason whether the magic is back, too.
Will you remember the 50th team as the program’s sixth national champion?
Photos: Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver
Nebraska’s Rebekah Allick (5) and Bergen Reilly (2) go up for a block in the first set of the volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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A look inside the arena at the Nebraska volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Skyler Pierce (21) hits the ball over the net in the second set of the volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Bailee Ward, 8, of Kearney, dances during a break in the first set of the volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska players huddle together at the start of the spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach John Cook calls out to his team in the first set of the volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) goes up for the ball in the second set of the volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Andi Jackson (15), Olivia Mauch (4) and Lindsay Krause (22) sign autographs following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Alexis Buoy, 10, of North Platte, Neb., and Hadley Vavra, 10, of Amherst, Neb., wait in line for autographs from players following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Andi Jackson (15) autographs a ball following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) serves the ball in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Fans watch the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Laney Choboy (6) watches the ball in the second set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly (2) serves the ball in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) serves the ball in the second set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Kennedi Orr (9) sets the ball in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Rebekah Allick (5) tosses a novelty ball during introductions ahead of the first set in the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska celebrates a play in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Emily Langan, 5, of Kearney, talks with Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach John Cook autographs a volleyball following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Harper Schenk, 6, of Cairo, Neb., has a chain and pendant autographed by players following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Andi Jackson (15) goes up for a block in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Olivia Mauch (4) prepares to serve the ball in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Denver head coach Megan Pendergast calls out to her team in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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The Nebraska bench celebrates a play in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez (8) eyes the ball in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Denver’s Briley Decker (13) sets the ball in the second set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) bumps the ball in the second set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Denver’s Genevieve Lewis (14) hits the ball toward Nebraska’s Skyler Pierce (21) and Rebekah Allick (5) in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Fans watch the second set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly (2) sets the ball in the second set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Skyler Pierce (21) goes up for the ball in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez (8) prepares to serve the ball in the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) and Lexi Rodriguez (8) thank fans following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) and Lexi Rodriguez (8) thank fans following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Ellie Keating, 3, of Cozad, Neb., sits on the gym floor following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach John Cook thanks fans following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Lexi Rodriguez (8) waves to fans following the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes watches his team warm up ahead of the first set of the Nebraska volleyball spring match vs. Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Rebekah Allick (5) talks with support staff ahead of the volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska and Denver warm up ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Olivia Mauch (4) and Nebraska’s Skyler Pierce (21) arrive ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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A Denver player warms up ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Kennedi Orr (9) arrives ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Nebraska’s Merritt Beason (13) arrives ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Aaliyah Bouc, 9, of Kearney, takes a photo of her family waiting in line outside ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Hadley Kloepping, 14, of Cozad, Neb., shades her eyes while waiting in line outside ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Fans wait in line outside ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Fans wait outside ahead of the Nebraska volleyball spring match against Denver at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
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Publish date : 2024-08-04 23:53:00
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