- - What's next for Nebraska volleyball? Reloading for the 2026 title run

Meghan L. Hall, USA TODAYDecember 16, 2025 at 12:10 AM

0

How did an undefeated Nebraska volleyball team lose to Texas A&M? What's next for the nation's most popular team? Those are the questions Huskers head coach Dani Busboom Kelly must answer heading into the 2025 offseason.

"I think we maxed out," Busboom Kelly said after Nebraska's stunning loss to the Aggies. "That's always the goal ... As a coach, I don't feel upset. I know we didn't make the Final Four. We're not winning a national championship, but we maxed out today.

"And when we can walk away from the last game of the season and feel like we gave it our all, and look back and have no regrets, that's what I'm really proud of and hope that these players don't have any regrets either."

The Cornhuskers lost, 3-2, in an elite-level chess match (25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 35-37, 15-13) at Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Sunday, falling short of the Final Four and a reverse sweep.

Texas A&M head coach Jamie Morrison said before the match he wasn't "scared" of Nebraska, and his game plan against the No. 1 team in the country showed it. Morrison and the Aggies iced star middle blocker Andi Jackson (six kills and .045 hitting percentage), daring the Cornhuskers to beat them with anyone else. The Aggies finished the day with 30 total team blocks and nine service aces, had three players with double-digit kills and held the Huskers to .050 hitting during the final set.

1 / 5Nebraska volleyball No. 1 in NCAA tournament. See Cornhuskers picturesNebraska's Keri Leimbach (1) reacts to a point during the Indiana versus Nebraska volleyball match at Wilkinson Hall on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.

More: NCAA volleyball winners, losers: Texas A&M's grit, Nebraska eliminated

Nebraska, which hadn't been down two sets since late August, fought as hard as it could. The Huskers survived being pushed to 10 set points and three Aggies match points during fourth set of the match, with help from Harper Murray (career high 25 kills on .255 hitting, three aces, nine digs) and Rebekah Allick (15 kills on .480 hitting, four blocks).

It wasn't enough as Busboom Kelly's team ran out of steam when it mattered most. Making matters worse, setter Bergen Reilly wasn't 100% playing with an illness, backup setter Campbell Flynn broke a finger just days before and was out for the season, and opposite hitter Allie Sczech hurt herself in warmups and was out for the match.Afterwards, Allick, a senior, was so overcome with emotion she could barely speak through her tears. That's when Murray stepped.

"[Rebekah Allick] has put her heart and soul into the program. You can tell by her face how much she cares," Murray said, fighting back tears herself. "I don't even care if we win or we lose because what I tried to tell [her] in the locker room is she's going to take away the memories and the relationships that we made. Winning and losing ― yeah, it's a part of volleyball and it sucks, but ― she put her heart and soul into this program for four years, and she's leaving behind a great legacy."

More: Nebraska volleyball loss shocks world, fearless Texas A&M defeats giant

Eventually, Allick did speak, sharing a message for the players that will return. She revealed that she wanted them to "lead by example" and referenced a relationship with former Huskers libero and 2024 AVCA National Player of the Year finalist Lexi Rodriguez. According to Allick, Rodriguez may not have always had the answers but she was intentional with how she showed up for her teammates, down a "random" handhold or hug.

"Never feel like you have to bear it all," Allick said. "It's not all on you. Just go do your thing. You don't [have to] make it a big show. Just go be yourself."

Nebraska has four seniors, including Allick, who will be moving on from the program. Allick has a student-athlete partnership with League One Volleyball (LOVB), so she could sign a deal to play with LOVB. Outside hitter Taylor Landfair and Sczech are headed to Major League Volleyball. Landfair was drafted with the 28th overall pick in the 2025 MLV Draft by the Indy Ignite, and Sczech, drafted a pick laters, is staying in Nebraska to join the Omaha Supernovas. Nebraska middle blocker and libero Maisie Boesiger has not revealed if she will keep playing.

Assuming the team keeps its core next season, it will return four seniors, one junior, one redshirt sophomore and seven true sophomores. Nebraska will have six players from its starting lineup back, leaving the Huskers with more than enough pieces to make another run toward a sixth program title. What's more, Nebraska volleyball will be boosted by the roaring sounds of 10,000 fans next season. The university announced plans earlier this month to expand John Cook Arena by 2,000 seats.

"We played our hearts out and had a lot of things against us this week," Busboom Kelly said, "and we still were that close."

Close enough to have another championship in its sights for 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: What's next for Nebraska volleyball? Reloading for the 2026 title run

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Sports”