NCAA Girls
December 21, 2023
All season lengthy, no volleyball attendance or TV-ratings data have been protected.
An unbelievable 33 attendance data fell as volleyball drew large audiences within the stands and on tv. Nebraska was on the entrance of the developments, seemingly setting a file each time it took the court docket.
The Huskers had a hand in seven attendance data and have been a part of six of the highest eight most-watched matches this season and 12 of the highest 20.
Nebraska began the season with the occasion of the yr as 92,003 folks stuffed Memorial Stadium to set a world file for a ladies’s sporting occasion. The Huskers have been a part of the largest indoor crowd, with 19,727 followers on the title match. Additionally, they set a Devaney Heart file with 9,198 watching them play then-No. 1 Wisconsin.
Boosted by the stadium match, the Huskers set a file for many followers in a season and have become the primary ladies’s program in NCAA historical past to exceed 250,000 followers. NU completed with a house attendance of 264,665 over 21 house matches.
The Huskers have been additionally a part of a number of file tv broadcasts this yr. The Nebraska-Texas title match was probably the most watched school volleyball match with a median viewers of 1.69 million that peaked above 2 million.
When Nebraska and Wisconsin performed on October 21, they drew a brand new regular-season file with 612,000 viewers. That mark was eclipsed eight days later with the mix of two Massive Ten matches broadcast on FOX.
The portal opens
Nebraska misplaced two gamers into the portal the day after the nationwide championship match. Sophomore outdoors hitter Hayden Kubik — who performed briefly within the title match — and freshman reverse Caroline Jurevicius elected to hunt the chance to switch. Nebraska confronted a scholarship crunch with no seniors on the roster and two highschool recruits set to affix this system.
After enjoying sparingly in her two seasons, Kubik can have two years of eligibility. She appeared in 10 units over 9 matches this season and within the nationwide championship match for one rally. She recorded three kills on 15 swings this yr.
Jurevicious can have 4 years to play at Penn State — she anounced that as her vacation spot on Thursday on Instagram — after redshirting this yr. She completed her prep profession ranked because the No. 5 total prospect by Prep Dig and No. 17 total and the No. 3 reverse hitter recruit by PrepVolleyball.com.
A number of different Massive Ten faculties misplaced gamers to the portal.
Minnesota outdoors hitter Taylor Landfair, the 2022 Massive Ten participant of the yr, has two years left. She averaged 3.19 kills per set this yr on a career-low .222 hitting share. She added 2.03 digs per set, 54 blocks and 35 aces.
Wisconsin noticed Ella Wrobel enter the portal after redshirting this yr. As a freshman, Wrobel performed in six matches and recorded 10 kills. She was named the very best participant in Illinois by MaxPreps.com and the No. 11 total recruiting within the 2022 class by PrepVolleyball.
Chelsea Thorpe, Ohio State’s second-leading scorer, entered the portal in early December Thorpe averaged 2.25 kills on .196 hitting final season. The Chicago producty dedicated to North Carolina and has three years of eligibility left.
Wanting ahead
Nebraska’s season ended one victory wanting their final aim, however the Huskers, who completed 33-2, appear poised for a fair higher 2024.
After getting swept by Texas final Sunday within the NCAA title match in Tampa, the three Huskers within the information convention mentioned the loss would follow them for some time. Freshman outdoors Harper Murray mentioned she deliberate to make use of the setback as gas to return again and win the subsequent three championships.
“I don’t actually suppose it’s going to go away my system,” Murray mentioned. “So it is going to simply keep it up to subsequent yr and make us win subsequent yr.”
“It was the second time I’ve misplaced a nationwide championship,” junior libero Lexi Rodriguez mentioned. “The primary one remains to be with me. So it will follow me all through the subsequent yr.”
“This isn’t going away,” sophomore center Bekka Allick mentioned.
The Huskers received’t have time to course of the loss collectively. Whereas most flew again to Lincoln, some went instantly house. With semester finals already over, coach John Prepare dinner mentioned he had nothing deliberate for the gamers, they usually’d have to sit down with the loss on their very own for some time.
Whereas reflecting on the season, junior Merritt Beason received choked up speaking about her love for her teammates. The best facet who transferred from Florida a yr in the past mentioned they have been a staff with tight bonds that ran 14 folks deep. The connections she constructed have been relationships she had not discovered on another staff of which she’d been an element.
Junior outdoors Ally Batenhorst echoed the sentiment and mentioned she was happy with how onerous they labored not simply to win however for one another.
“We simply play for one another, and we love one another a lot,” Batenhorst mentioned. “We’ve completed loads. We’ve constructed such deep relationships, and we actually have unconditional love for one another.”
Different Huskers have been already wanting ahead to subsequent season after the match. Rodrigeuz mentioned she didn’t have to provide any pep talks within the locker room. Everybody understood they didn’t need to really feel like this once more.
With no seniors on this yr’s roster, the Huskers can deliver again the core of its lineup subsequent season. Freshman defensive specialist Laney Choboy mentioned they’re hungry and able to show themselves even after such an amazing season.
“All of us hate feeling like this,” Choboy mentioned. “We’re tremendous prepared to return to work, get again within the health club, and are available again right here subsequent yr.”
Constructing blocks
As he completed his post-match information convention Prepare dinner took one other swipe at groups — presumably instantly at Texas — that rely on transfers to construct their roster.
Prepare dinner mentioned one of many variations was the Longhorns’ roster was stuffed with skilled gamers who started their careers elsewhere. 5 of the ten gamers who appeared in all three units transferred to Texas, together with the event’s most excellent participant, Madisen Skinner.
“That’s how they’ve been constructing their staff. That’s how they constructed final yr’s staff,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “I like what we’re doing. I like recruiting youngsters and attempting to make them be nice.”
Prepare dinner has relied upon transfers up to now. With reverse Merritt Beason slated to return subsequent yr, the Huskers can have a switch on their roster for 20 straight years. Nevertheless, they’ve by no means had greater than two at any time.
A number of the extra notable transfers that completed their profession at Nebraska embody Kaitlyn Hord (Penn State), Kayla Caffey (Missouri), Lexi Solar (Texas), Briana Holman (LSU), Kelsey Robinson (Tennessee) and his daughter, Lauren Prepare dinner (UCLA). For that matter:
Texas Two-Step
Nebraska and Texas hold crossing paths.
The outdated Massive 12 rivals have been at it once more, with Texas successful a second straight nationwide title. In addition they met within the 2020 and 2021 regional finals, with Texas successful the primary and Nebraska the latter.
There’s additionally a well-worn path of individuals shifting between the 2 packages.
On Tuesday, Whitney Lauenstein introduced she was transferring to Texas for the ultimate two years of eligibility. Final January, the 6-foot-2 proper facet wrote on Instagram that she was stepping away from this system “to deal with myself and be with my household and proceed to heal as a result of passing of my dad.” The Waverly, Nebraska, graduate performed for 2 years and was the Huskers’ second-leading attacker in 2022.
She’s not the primary Huskers to maneuver to Austin. Defensive specialist Keonilei Akana and center blocker Kayla Caffey helped the Longhorns win a title in Omaha final yr. Akana earned one other championship ring this season.
In November, the Longhorns flipped center blocker Ayden Ames, the third-best 2024 prospect in line with PrepDig, every week earlier than signing day. The Prosper, Texas, product had been dedicated to Nebraska since June of 2022.
Nebraska has picked up a couple of gamers within the change as outdoors hitter Lexi Solar performed her first yr at UT earlier than transferring to Nebraska and turning into an All-American. Additionally, Jordan Larson spent a couple of months on the Texas teaching employees in early 2022 earlier than leaving this system and becoming a member of NU this season. Assistant coach Erik Sullivan spent three seasons with Nebraska earlier than becoming a member of Jerritt Elliott’s employees 13 years in the past.
Nebraska transfers
2024 — Merritt Beason (Florida)
2023 — Merritt Beason (Florida)
2022 — Kaitlyn Hord (Penn State)
2021 — Kayla Caffey (Missouri) & Lexi Solar (Texas)
2020 — Kayla Caffey (Missouri) & Lexi Solar (Texas)
2019 — Lexi Solar (Texas)
2018 — Lexi Solar (Texas) & Brooke Smith (Kansas State)
2017 — Briana Holman (LSU)
2016 — Briana Holman (LSU)
2015 — Briana Holman (LSU)*
2014 — Mary Pollmiller (Tennessee)
2013 — Kelsey Robinson (Tennessee) & Mary Pollmiller (Tennessee)
2012 — Lauren Prepare dinner (UCLA)
2011 — Lauren Prepare dinner (UCLA)
2010 — Sydney Anderson (Utah), Lauren Prepare dinner (UCLA)
2009 — Sydney Anderson (Utah), Jessica Yanz (Penn State)
2008 — Sydney Anderson (Utah), Jessica Yanz (Penn State)
2007 — Maggie Griffin (Michigan State)
2006 — Maggie Griffin (Michigan State)
2005 — Maggie Griffin (Michigan State)