A historic pace in Lincoln

The Nebraska volleyball program has built a reputation for excellence over decades, but the 2025 Cornhuskers are operating at a level that stands out even by their lofty standards. Through the first half of the season, the team’s offensive efficiency has reached historic proportions, putting them on track to shatter records that have stood for nearly 40 years.

Currently leading the nation with a .332 hitting percentage, Nebraska is positioned to surpass the school record of .331 set back in 1986. That mark has endured through generations of talented Husker teams, making its potential fall all the more significant. The achievement would represent the first time since 2007 that Nebraska eclipsed the .300 threshold for an entire season.

The setter making it all work

Bergen Reilly’s development as Nebraska’s setter has been instrumental in the team’s offensive explosion. After guiding the attack to respectable hitting percentages of .273 and .284 in her first two seasons, the junior has elevated her game to new heights. Head coach Lindsay Busboom Kelly has praised abilities that can’t simply be taught, particularly how Reilly utilizes back-row attackers to keep opponents constantly guessing.

Back-row attacks have become increasingly common in women’s college volleyball, moving beyond their previous status as tools reserved for elite international competition. Nebraska features outside hitters Harper Murray and Teraya Sigler who provide back-row hitting options in every rotation. The team also employs occasional back-row sets to opposite hitter Virginia Adriano and middle blocker Andi Jackson, creating offensive diversity that prevents opponents from focusing defensive attention on front-row attackers alone.

This balanced approach has made Nebraska deadly in all six rotations. The Huskers maintain hitting percentages above .300 in five rotations, with their lowest mark of .280 still exceeding the team totals for 14 of 18 Big Ten conference members. Jackson noted how this distribution forces opposing defenses to account for every player rather than keying on individual stars.

Dominating both sides of the net

Nebraska’s offensive prowess tells only part of the story. The team currently ranks second nationally in opponent attack percentage at .112, meaning the Huskers out-hit their competition by 220 percentage points on average. This net attacking advantage represents the best mark in program history, surpassing even championship teams from previous eras.

Three previous Nebraska teams achieved similar offensive dominance, though their ultimate fates varied significantly. The 1986 squad that set the hitting record Nebraska now chases reached the Final Four for the first time in program history. Led by All-Americans Enid Schonewise, Karen Dahlgren and Tisha Delaney, they defeated Stanford in the national semifinals before falling to Pacific in the championship match.

The 2002 team posted a net attacking advantage of plus .213, still the school’s best mark to that point. That senior class had won the national title as sophomores in 2000 but saw their championship hopes dashed by an upset loss to Hawaii in the regional final despite going undefeated through Big 12 conference play.

Perhaps most notable was the 2007 squad, considered by many the best Nebraska team ever assembled on paper. Featuring four-time All-American Sarah Pavan and future Olympic gold medalist Jordan Larson, plus returning 2005 National Player of the Year Christina Houghtelling, the team hit .327 with every starter exceeding .271. Their shocking sweep by California in the regional final proved that regular season dominance doesn’t guarantee postseason success.

Room for improvement remains

Despite the impressive statistics, Busboom Kelly maintains the team hasn’t reached its ceiling. Areas for growth include improving out-of-system attacks when Reilly must take first contact instead of setting, and coaches continue adjusting offensive routes to keep opponents off balance. Senior outside hitter Taylor Landfair, enjoying her most efficient collegiate season, receives ongoing challenges to maintain aggressive attacking even on imperfect sets.

The team’s response to coaching feedback has impressed the staff, with players attacking identified weaknesses during practice and showing improvement in subsequent matches. This receptiveness to development suggests the Huskers’ best volleyball may still lie ahead.

Building championship depth

Nebraska earned the number one overall seed in the NCAA Volleyball Committee’s initial top 16 rankings released recently. The designation would position them to potentially host Purdue, TCU and Minnesota in regional rounds if seedings hold through the season’s final month.

Busboom Kelly has emphasized developing depth beyond the starting lineup, giving her reserve unit the designation of Gamechangers. Freshmen Manaia Ogbechie and Campbell Flynn have received significant minutes recently, while the coaching staff rotates libero duties to keep multiple players sharp. This approach creates competitive practices while ensuring the team has conditioned depth for potential five-set battles ahead.

The Huskers face Northwestern and Michigan State this weekend as they continue navigating an undefeated season with history within reach.