Nebraska Volleyball Returns Top Stars Aim for National Title

Nebraska's women's volleyball squad keeps ruling the Big Ten and the wider sport, yet the team feels a sting from last year's premature end to its quest for a national crown. The Cornhuskers ended that previous season with a 33-1 record only after dropping an upset match against No. 7 seed Texas A&M in the Elite Eight regional finals. That loss kept them out of the national semifinals for the first time since 2002, which shocked fans used to seeing their team there year after year. The players answered by bringing back zero outgoing transfers and keeping key members around for the 2026 season. Now looks like a fitting moment to prove once again what volleyball dominance really means.

Second-year head coach Dani Busboom Kelly returns with plenty of core pieces still in place, setting up the Cornhuskers to reclaim their throne. The team enters as the No. 1 squad in the nation and brings back star outside hitters Harper Murray and Skyler Pierce. Setter Bergen Reilly and middle blocker Andi Jackson also return after finishing last year with AVCA First-Team All-American honors. Murray led everyone in kills with 379 while adding 34 service aces, and Jackson followed close behind with her 288 kills and 16 total service aces.

One detail worth noting is that Nebraska spent around $7 million on their 2026 roster, which tops all other NCAA women's volleyball programs in spending. The Cornhuskers managed zero outgoing transfers for two seasons straight while bringing in transfer opposite Allie Sczech from Baylor to fill the void left by Rebekah Allick and Taylor Landfair after they exhausted their eligibility. The team has appeared in the national semifinals 18 times total with six championship game appearances, but they have not won a national title since defeating Florida 3-1 back in 2017.

This season opens with a competitive nonconference slate as the nation's No. 1 ranked team. On Sunday they will face No. 2 Texas for a renewed rivalry at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This matchup marks the first time these two powerhouses have met since the 2023 national championship, when Texas defeated the Cornhuskers in straight sets. A win over the Longhorns would serve as a strong start for the Cornhuskers' 2026 campaign and their journey toward that elusive national title.