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The long wait is nearly over. Nebraska will kick off its 2024 volleyball season in less than two months with a challenging nonconference schedule. NU won’t have as many questions entering the season, but will still need to find the best lineup before entering the Big Ten season. The Huskers will make two trips to Louisville and travel to Dallas. They will also play seven teams that qualified for the last year’s NCAA tournament and three others that played in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship, including the winners Wichita State. Here is a glimpse of each team the Huskers play during the first month of the season and what they bring to the court this year. WHEN: Aug. 27, in Louisville, Kentucky2023 RECORD: 21-8, 17-1 SECPOSTSEASON: NCAA tournament regional semifinalsSERIES RECORD: 11-2 Nebraska, last played in 2023In a late addition to the schedule, Nebraska will kick off the 2024 schedule at the KFC Yum! Center, site of the 2024 national championships on Dec. 19 and 22, as they renew their rivalry with the Wildcats.Kentucky came to Lincoln last year as a team trying to find itself. The Wildcats lost to close their nonconference season at 4-7. UK lost its second SEC match but then won 18 straight matches until ending their season with a loss against Arkansas in the postseason.With Reagan Rutherford, Elise Goetzinger and Azhani Tealer all moving on through transfer or graduation, the Wildcats no longer have any ties to the 2020 national championship team. However, UK returns three key pieces in sophomore outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye, last year’s SEC freshman of the year, senior libero Eleanor Beavin and senior setter Emma Grome.They will look completely different in the middle as Tealer, Goetzinger and Jordyn Williams are all gone. Delaney Hogan will provide immediate experience after earning All-Big East honors at Xavier last year. The only other middles on the roster are Brooke Bultema, who redshirted last year, and incoming freshman Kennedy Washington.KEY ADDITIONS: MB Delaney Hogan, transfer from Xavier; OH Hannah Benjamin, No. 19 prospect according to PrepDig; OH Asia Thigpen, No. 50 overall prospect; MB Kennedy Washington, No. 115 overall prospect.KEY DEPARTURES: OPP Reagan Rutherford, transfer to Texas; MB Elise Goetzinger, transfer to Creighton; MB Jordyn Williams, transfer to Kansas State; MB Azhani Tealer, exhausted eligibility.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: Wildcats coach Craig Skinner was an assistant coach at Nebraska from 2000 to 2004 before taking the Kentucky job.2023 RECORD: 22-10, 16-2 SouthlandSERIES RECORD: 1-0 Nebraska, last played in 2022The Islanders were one of the best teams in the Southland last year, dropping just two matches, but Southeastern Louisiana swept them in the conference title game to deny them a trip to the NCAA tournament. TAMCC returns all three of its all-league players for their senior seasons. Outside hitter Kyndal Payne led the team with 3.95 kills per set at a .290 clip. Middle blocker Leah Stolfus led the Southland Conference with a .404 hitting percentage in league play, while libero Kayla White averaged 4.76 digs per set. They will have to find a new setter, likely either Alex Hoglund, who started two matches at San Diego last year, or sophomore Rylie Romero.KEY ADDITIONS: S Alex Hoglund, transfer from San Diego.KEY DEPARTURES: S Belle Morgan, exhausted eligibility; DS Zoria Heard, transfer to Washington.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: The Islanders were also the opening opponent for the 2022 season.2023 RECORD: 17-15, 8-12 Big 12POSTSEASON: Second round of NCAA tournamentSERIES RECORD: 1-0 Nebraska, last played in 2016Outside hitter Melanie Parra exploded on the scene after transferring from Texas. She averaged 4.38 kills per set as a junior and was named a third-team All-American. The Horned Frogs snuck into the NCAA tournament as one of the last at-large teams last year and pulled off an upset in the first round against Florida State. Jalyn Gibson was a good running mate for Parra with more than three kills per set, but the Frogs will need to find more attack options, as the rest of theroster combined for just 103 kills last season. Becca Kelley returns to her hometown after redshirting for Oregon last year. Middle blocker Samiyah Abdur-Rahim and outside hitter Eryn Jones also sat out the season for TCU. Sarah Sylvester is back on the volleyball court after moonlighting for the women’s basketball team after a slew of injuries opened a need for more bodies. She appeared in six games and scored one point.KEY ADDITIONS: OH Becca Kelley, transfer from Oregon; OH Mikala Young, No. 48 prospect according to PrepDig; OH Evan Hendrix, No. 67 prospect; DS Alice Volpe, No. 83 prospect.KEY DEPARTURES: MB Brianna Green, exhausted eligibility; OH Julia Adams, exhausted eligibility; OH Audrey Nalls, exhausted eligibility.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: Taylor Raiola, the older sister of Nebraska freshman quarter Dylan Raiola, played for the Horned Frogs last season. She entered the transfer portal but has yet to announce a new school for her possible final season of eligibility.2023 RECORD: 26-7, 18-1 AmericanPOSTSEASON: Second round of NCAA tournamentSERIES RECORD: 1-0 Nebraska, last played in 2023What was supposed to be a return trip in the Battle of the Batenhorsts is now an early season road trip to Texas with SMU left with the only sister in backup setter Casey on its roster. The Mustangs ran through the American Conference last year, dropping just one match.SMU lost its starting libero and both middle blockers to graduation, but it reloaded through the transfer portal. Of the two incoming middle blockers, Natalie Foster has averaged 2.73 kills per set over her career and was an all-conference selection at Wichita State, but Nnedi Okammor is a better blocker, averaging 1.29 blocks per set for Florida. Ellie Bolton should also shore up the back-row defense after four years at Creighton. AAC setter-of-the-year Celia Cullen returns to run the offense for the Mustangs.KEY ADDITIONS: OH Maya Tabron, transfer from Colorado; MB Natalie Foster, transfer from Wichita State; MB Nnedi Okammor, transfer from Florida; DS/L Ellie Bolton, transfer from Creighton; OH Kennedi Rogers, No. 57 prospect.KEY DEPARTURES: MB Emma Clothier, exhausted eligibility; MB Alex Glover, exhausted eligibility; L Sina Uluave, exhausted eligibility; OH Lauren Ohlinger, exhausted eligibility.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: Sophomore outside hitter Evan Glade is a Millard West graduate. Also, junior setter Casey Batenhorst is the younger sister of former Husker Ally Batenhorst. DS Ellie Bolton played four years at Creighton before transferring to SMU.2023 RECORD: 27-4, 14-2 Southern ConferencePOSTSEASON: First round of NIVCSERIES RECORD: First meetingThe Citadel’s dream season was derailed late as they were swept by Samford in the SoCon tournament and then lost to East Carolina in the first round of the NIVC, but they have pieces on which to build.Most of the leading players are back from last year’s team, as they lost just one of their top four attackers. Outside hitter Ali Ruffin headlines the group after averaging 4.52 kills per set and earning SoCon Player of the Year. Angelina Sayles put up more than two kills per set as a freshman.Belle Hogan, the top setter in the conference last year, is back and all-league libero Jaeylnn Elgert returns for her fifth year. The Bulldogs don’t have any known transfers but welcome five freshmen.KEY DEPARTURES: MB Gina DeLancey, exhausted eligibility; MB Maddy Cardenas, exhausted eligibility.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: The Bulldogs were one of the darlings of college volleyball a year ago, as they were the second-to-last unbeaten team after winning their first 23 games. Now they will make a trip to play the only team that outlasted them last season.2023 RECORD: 24-9, 12-4 Big SkyPOSTSEASON: Semifinal of NIVCSERIES RECORD: 1-0 Nebraska, last played in 2016The Bobcats were one of the best teams in the Big Sky, but they fell short against Weber State in the conference title game, which kept them out of the NCAA tournament. The good news was that MSU qualified for its first-ever postseason tournament (the National Invitational Volleyball Championship) and made it to the semifinals before falling to Wichita State.After the Bobcats set records for season victories and their highest-ever league finish, second-year coach Matt Houk received a new four-year contract. Montana State returns 12 players from last year’s team, including five starters. The one starter it lost is Kira Thomsen, who averaged 4.20 kills per set and left as the program’s all-time leader in kills. The Bobcats will try to fill the void at outside hitter with junior Madilyn Siebler, who started 20 matches last season, senior Courtney Weatherby and redshirt freshman Karli Heidemann. MSU also returns both middle blockers and starters at setter, opposite and libero.KEY ADDITIONS: Four freshmen joined the Bobcats.KEY DEPARTURES: OH Kira Thomsen, exhausted eligibility; DS Shayla Webber, exhausted eligibility.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: The Bobcats have two Nebraska natives on the roster: junior outside hitter Madilyn Siebler, who graduated from Omaha Westside, and sophomore outside hitter Karli Heidemann, a Diller-Odell graduate.2023 RECORD: 29-5, 16-2 Big EastPOSTSEASON: NCAA tournament regional semifinalsSERIES RECORD: 22-0 Nebraska, last played in 2023Can a 29-5 season be routine? Creighton put together another solid season as they’ve become one of the top programs in the nation. The Bluejays won the Big East regular season championship for the 10th year in a row and the league tournament title for the ninth time in the past 10 years.Outside hitter Norah Sis and setter Kendra Wait are All-American caliber players who carry the offense and are the backbone of Creighton’s team. The key will be if the Bluejays can stay healthy. Last season, Sis missed 11 matches with an abdominal injury as only four players appeared in all 34 matches. The good news is Creighton has plenty of depth.The Bluejays added two players from the portal, further strengthening their lineup. Elise Goetzinger was a key contributor during Kentucky’s national championship run in the spring of 2021. Maddy Bilinovic started as a libero for Penn State before being passed up last season.KEY ADDITIONS: MB Elise Goetzinger, transfer from Kentucky; L/DS Maddy Bilinovic, transfer from Penn State; OH Abbey Hayes, No. 82 overall recruit; OH Sophia Wendlick, No. 100 overall recruit.KEY DEPARTURES: RS Ellie Bichelmeyer, exhausted eligibility; DS/L Ellie Bolton, transferred to SMU.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: The Bluejays have six native Nebraskans on their roster, and associate head coach Angie Oxley Behrens was a member of the Huskers’ 2000 national championship team.2023 RECORD: 28-7, 14-6 Pac-12POSTSEASON: NCAA tournament regional semifinalsSERIES RECORD: 4-1-1 Nebraska, last played in 2021After eight transfers left the program last offseason, coach JJ Van Niel remade the Sun Devils quickly and they tied for third in the last season of the Pac-12, picking up sweeps over Stanford and Oregon. Behind the left arm of Marta Levinska, who averaged 4.72 kills per set, ASU also qualified for the regional semifinals for the first time since 1995.Now in the Big 12, the Sun Devils should challenge BYU, Kansas and others at the top of the league.At setter, the Sun Devils replace Shannon Shields with Washington State transfer Argentina Ung. ASU also loses starters at outside hitter and middle blocker. Still, those roles should be filled by transfers in West Virginia outside hitter Bailey Miller (3.03 kills per set) and Indiana middle blocker Savannah Kjolhede (1.87 k/s at a .360 hitting percentage and 1.04 blocks per set).KEY ADDITIONS: S Argentina Ung, transfer from Washington State; OH, Bailey Miller, transfer from West Virginia; MB Savannah Kjolhede, transfer from Indiana; OH Kiylah Presley, No. 114 overall prospect.KEY DEPARTURES: OPP Marta Levinska, exhausted eligibility; S Shannon Shields, exhausted eligibility; MB Maddie McLaughlin, exhausted eligibility; OH Roberta Rabelo, exhausted eligibility.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: Junior libero Estella Zatechka is an Elkhorn South graduate. Her father, Jon, played football at Nebraska and was a three-time national champion. Assistant coach Ellen Andrews is a Bancroft native who coached NU setter Bergen Reilly’s club team in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She also coached the Nebraska Elite Volleyball Club in 2010.2023 RECORD: 29-4, 19-1 Pac-12POSTSEASON: NCAA tournament regional finalsSERIES RECORD: 12-7 Stanford, last played in 2023It’s the end of an era for the Cardinal as the last of its players from the 2019 national championship team have finished their careers. Kendall Kipp, McKenna Vinci and Caitie Baird were significant contributors for Stanford for the past five seasons. Now, none of the players have reached the season’s final weekend after back-to-back postseason exits in the regional finals on Stamford’s home court.The Cardinal should still be formidable behind senior setter Kami Miner and fifth-year libero Elena Oglivie. Outside hitter Ella Rubin and middle blocker Sami Francis should lead the attack. Stanford has plenty of talent on its roster, but it still needs to be realized at the collegiate level. For example, outside hitter Julia Blyashov was the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2023 class but appeared in just six matches last season. While not usually a player in the transfer portal, Stanford added needed depth at middle blocker with grad transfer Charity McDowell from Notre Dame.KEY ADDITIONS: MB Charity McDowell, transfer from Notre Dame; MB Elizabeth Andrew, No. 6 overall recruit; S Taylor Yu, No. 15 overall recruit; OH Babi Gubbins, No. 18 overall recruit.KEY DEPARTURES: OPP Kendall Kipp, exhausted eligibility; MB, McKenna Vicini, exhausted eligibility; OH Caitie Baird, exhausted eligibility.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: The teams have met twice in the national championship match, splitting titles. They are playing in the regular season for the fifth straight non-COVID-19 season.2023 RECORD: 26-8, 15-4 AmericanPOSTSEASON: Won NIVC tournamentSERIES RECORD: 13-0 Nebraska, last played in 2019WSU loses its top three starters, including attackers from the 2023 season in opposite Sophia Rohling and middle blocker Natalie Foster. However, setter Izzi Strand returns for her fifth season with the Shockers. WSU had lots of depth and balance as six players averaged more than two kills per set, but no one had more than three kills per set.The Shockers will have many new faces on the roster, led by a trio of transfers and seven incoming freshmen. Middle blocker Sarah Barham leads the group after earning first-team Southern Conference honors last year after leading the league in blocks. Two other newcomers enrolled in the spring semester: outside hitter Alyssa Gonzales, who redshirted at TCU last year, and setter Sarah Musial.KEY ADDITIONS: MB Sarah Barham, transfer from Wofford.KEY DEPARTURES: OPP Sophia Rohling, exhausted eligibility; MB Na.talie Foster, transfer to SMU; OH Brylee Kelly, exhausted eligibility.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: Junior defensive specialist Katie Galligan is an Elkhorn South graduate, and redshirt freshman middle blocker Haley Wolfe is an Elkhorn High alum.2023 RECORD: 27-5, 15-3 ACCPOSTSEASON: NCAA tournament regional finalsSERIES RECORD: 5-1 Nebraska, last played in 2021Dani Busboom Kelly brought her Lousiville Cardinals to the Devaney Center in 2021 and handed the Huskers a rare home sweep. Now NU returns the trip as NU coach John Cook takes on his former player and assistant in front of a ikely big crowd at the KFC Yum! Center, the site of this year’s national championship match. The match will come after a challenging nonconference schedule as the Cards will play Tennessee, Penn State, Creighton and Kentucky.Louisville will be fully stocked from last year’s squad that fell in the regional finals to Pitt but also failed to win the ACC for the first time in four years. Six of the Cardinals starters will return, led by outside hitter Anna DeBeer, a two-time All-American. Middle blocker PK Kong will also return for her fifth season, joining DeBeer, while setter Elle Glock, outside hitter Charitie Luper and middle blocker Cara Cresse are also back. Plus libero Elena Scott is one of the best in the nation. The Cardinals are boosted by the addition of transfer Sofia Maldonado Diaz, who averaged 3.28 kills per set in four years at Arizona.KEY ADDITIONS: OH Sofia Maldonado Diaz, transfer from Arizona; OH Ava Utterback, No. 24 overall recruit; OH Payton Petersen, No. 55 overall prospect.KEY DEPARTURES: OPP Aiko Jones, exhausted eligibility.CONNECTION TO NEBRASKA: The Cardinals coach Dani Busboom Kelly won a national title with Nebraska as a player (2006) and assistant coach (2015); assistant coach Dan Meske spent eight seasons at Nebraska as a graduate assistant, volunteer assistant and full-time assistant coach; junior setter Elle Glock is a Wahoo native; and sophomore outside hitter Alanna Bankston graduated from Millard West.
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