When I wrote my first Overtime for The Fordham Ram back in February, I chose the retirement of legendary University of Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook for my topic. Cook captured four National Championships with the Huskers in 25 years. His career head coaching record was 883-176 (.834), the fifth-best winning percentage all time for a Division I volleyball coach. In his time at Nebraska, Cook boasted a record of 722-103 (.875), the best winning percentage for any Division I program over that 25-year span. But all good things come to an end. So, for my final Overtime, I would like to see what became of the Huskers under new Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly in her first season coaching her alma mater.
In my original article, I wrote, “Dani Busboom Kelly is just a fledgling, but she inherits the team that Cook left for her, and it is a strong one.” Sometimes when you write, you say things without giving them much thought. I know I do it frequently, but this wasn’t just hype; it was fact. In Cook’s final year coaching, the Huskers finished with a record of 33-3, won the Big Ten Championship, and made it to the NCAA Semifinals before being ousted by the soon-to-be National Champion Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). Only one significant graduate, Lexi Rodriguez, won the 95th annual James E. Sullivan award, given to the most outstanding athlete in the U.S. at the collegiate, Olympic or elite level, based on athletic excellence, character, leadership, citizenship and sportsmanship. A tough loss for any team, but not insurmountable.
Flash forward a year, and you wouldn’t even notice a drop off. In fact, they just got better.
After defeating No. 25 Penn State in an absolute thrashing on Nov. 28, the first ranked Nebraska team moved one step closer to an unbeaten regular season with a 25-14, 25-11, 25-14 sweep. On a night when the Huskers were celebrating their third straight Big Ten Championship, they swept Penn State for the second time in the same season, for the first time. In the six sets played this season, Penn State never passed 15 points.
Then, the Huskers faced off against Ohio State University on Nov. 29 and continued their excellence, sweeping the Buckeyes 25-16, 25-13, 25-20. With that victory, they completed the regular season undefeated for the first time in 25 years and just the third time in school history. Also, this marks the Huskers’ first unbeaten conference season since 2004 and their first since joining the Big Ten.
It was a fantastic season, highlighted by an incredible defense and a balanced offense. However, it was also a season marked by impressive individual stories and performances. Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly became the first volleyball coach in Big Ten history to win the conference title in the first year as head coach at the school. Three Huskers — Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly — are semifinalists for the AVCA Player of the Year award, with Reilly as the favorite to win. Reilly would be the first setter to win since Madison Lilley of the University of Kentucky in the 2021 spring season. In addition, Jackson put together the most efficient season in Big Ten history, hitting a ridiculous .559.
Nebraska enters the post-season with a 30-0 record and the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Busboom Kelly matched Cook’s example and led the Huskers to an undefeated regular season in her first season, which Cook did in his first year at Nebraska in 2000.
Now the only thing left to see is if the Huskers can make history once again. The most recent NCAA women’s volleyball team to go undefeated and win the national championship was Penn State in 2009. That year, the Nittany Lions finished with a perfect 38-0 record, a feat they also accomplished in 2008. If Nebraska wins six more games, they will be the third team in history to achieve perfection.
If they go the distance, there is one more record they could chase — Penn State’s consecutive perfect seasons. The Huskers will only graduate four seniors at the end of the season, only one of which is a current starter. With talent to spare, the Huskers have a shot at something incredible.
