3 things to know ahead of 2026 Nebraska volleyball season and one prediction

It felt like the Nebraska volleyball season would never start. But on Thursday, the wait is finally over.

Each of the last three offseasons has felt like an eternity. Nebraska lost to Texas in the national championship, which was the first of three NCAA tournament exits to the eventual national champion. The Huskers lost to Penn State in the Final Four in 2024 and Texas A&M in the Elite 8 in 2025.

Nobody would have been surprised if the Huskers had won three in a row. They didn’t. They did win three Big Ten titles in a row. No. 1 Nebraska seems destined for a fourth straight conference championship, but there are bigger fish to fry this season, a season that starts Thursday with Spikes Under the Lights.

Looking ahead to the 2026 Nebraska volleyball season, here are three things to know and one prediction.

Another challenging schedule

The Huskers know they have the talent to win a national championship. The regular season is about trying to win the No. 1 seed and the Big Ten title, but also to become battle-tested for November.

Dani Busboom-Kelly hasn’t shied away at all from the idea of scheduling tough. The Huskers will face 17th-ranked Florida in the opener, and if they win, they would play No.  10 or No. 11 SMU on the same night.

That’s just a prelude to a matchup with No. 2 Texas (for now) at AT&T Stadium. It will be fun to get revenge on the Longhorns, but it’s another test against a national title contender. That’s one of 13 ranked matchups on the schedule for Nebraska volleyball, at least according to the AVCA Coaches Poll.

The schedule has fun parts to it, too. Nebraska volleyball will play in Las Vegas, Jerry’s World (Dallas), and at Wrigley Field. It should be one of the best regular seasons from a fan perspective that Nebraska volleyball fans have ever had.

Who’s coming back

Since the Huskers didn’t win the national title, it almost feels like people have forgotten how good the 2025 team was. It won 33 matches and went undefeated in the regular season. At one point, the Huskers won 48 sets in a row. That was part of 15 straight sweeps.

It’s hard to explain how difficult that is to do in the Big Ten, or any major volleyball conference. The good news is that the Huskers have three All-Americans back in Bergen Reilly, Harper Murray, and Andi Jackson. Nebraska also returns 67 percent of its kills, 98 percent of its assists, 93 percent of its aces, 92 percent of its digs, 58 percent of its solo blocks, and 65 percent of its blocks.

That’s not a bad place to be, especially when the production that isn’t coming back will be replaced by highly-touted recruits. Manaia Ogbechie and Kenna Cogill are two of the middle blockers in line for bigger roles this season.

Ryan Hunter and Skyler Pierce are each names to watch on the outside as hitters along with Jayden Robinson. Olivia Mauch and Lancy Choboy are returning as the DS and libero, while Campbell Flynn will be the backup setter.

It’s a loaded roster from top to bottom. There really isn’t a weakness. The biggest challenge will be trying to fit all those talented pieces together, while also trying to get the most out of Harper Murray and Andi Jackson.

Those two realizing their full potential is the key to winning the national championship.

5-for-5 implications

Every Nebraska volleyball player will have a chance to play a fifth season if she wants. All four seniors this season will have the chance to come back: Jackson, Murray, Reilly, and Choboy. None of them have committed to doing it, but much of that probably depends on what happens.

Professional volleyball is developing more. That will have an impact, plus the chance to play in the Olympics. Finishing the job of winning the national championship, which they all set out to do as freshmen, will make leaving that much easier.

The prospect of winning a second title and earning some more NIL money could be intriguing, too. Nebraska has to win it first and deal with the pressure of failing the pass three seasons for the next three months.

 Prediction: Nebraska will win it all.

I can’t in good conscience pick anyone else. This is the best roster in college volleyball. DBK is a national-championship-caliber head coach, and the program is due.

Nebraska just needs to finish the job.

For More Nebraska content, follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook Page, and subscribe to the Husker Big Red YouTube Channel.