Husker Nation Recruiting Notes and our Take on the 2027s

Husker Nation Notes Following MEQ Weekend (Indianapolis)

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News and Notes Surrounding Nebraska Volleyball and Recruiting heading into the final week of March. The major stop on the qualifier circuit was Indianapolis and MEQ. One of Nebraska’s future commits was in action and many of their projected 2027 targets were on the court as well. That brought DBK to the Indy Convention Center for Saturday’s action.

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**All comments and opinions are my own and simply taken from hunches and guesses that I gather being around the recruiting scene for the past few years. Also people that have followed the site know I don’t pretend to be a VB genius at all and I simply try and evaluate how programs will attack recruiting and observe things like culture, philosophies, etc.  

Our evaluation professionals do all of the technique and skill breakdown. When I report it is on other aspects of programs, coaches and prospects.**

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2026 Outside Doing Her Thing:

Gabby DiVita-OH Legacy Volleyball-

Probably the truer test for DiVita may have been winning the MVP award at the UA NEXT Camp on Thursday in Indy. That showed Gabby does stand out in a gym full of other top athletes in the class (also mark it down there is a VERY STRONG probability she gets an at-large selection to the UA All-American Match when those are handed out in late July/August because of how UA that process). 

In December, at the NTDP, I mentioned that the Legacy OH immediately stood out as having hit a growth spurt since Nationals.  

On Fri/Sat she played her usual solid back row game and was highly efficient terminating balls when needed.  

DiVita also plays with so much intensity when moments are big. Husker Nation will LOVE that about her and make her a fan favorite.

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2027 Prospects What’s the Husker Forecast?

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Setter: Need (TBD) 

In December I would have said this is a no brainer and the previous staff would have had a clear #1, but now I think things aren’t as clear.  

I have heard some top programs are trying to decide between taking a 2027 or make a one-year decision and then wait and get in the sweepstakes for projected deep, difference making 2028 Setter Class?  

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I honestly think Nebraska is 50/50 right now on what they do and are evaluating 2027s very closely. Also, they I know VB is much more of a year-to-year business now than it has been, but Nebraska seems to be in great shape with Reilly and then Flynn so they may have flexibility to wait and see?

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Here would be the options for the Huskers if they go Setter in ’27

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Marissa Jones, A5 Georgia, I think this was hands down the choice of the previous regime and she ranks as a top setting prospect for sure.

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Sophee Peterson, TAV PPV 267, There may be some interest here as many schools are in on the Texas prospect. She is fundamentally sound, though undersized for what DBK has recruited and for what Nebraska has taken with their past few setting recruits.

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Middle Blocker: (Take For Sure)

I think you look to add one legit middle in each class if you can and with MB being the deepest position in the 2027 class the Huskers will be in on the #1 option.

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Kendall Omoruyri, AZ Storm PPV 293, 

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Kendall plays for a Husker feeder club and our guess would be the Huskers are the leaders right now for the nation’s #1 MB out of Arizona.  

USC has been rumored to be a serious option as well. Kendall is a special kind of physical talent, you don’t find everyday in a high school athlete and if Texas is not competing for her that is a bonus. I would think Nebraska would be ALL IN if Kendall is

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Marlee Steiner, HPSTL PPV 232, 

Steiner is a great option, but a project who would need a year or two of development to be ready to contribute. She does remind me a bit of a Cara Cresse who DBK molded into a top MB at Louisville.

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Nyla Livings, TAV PPV 268, Livings seems like an outside shot for Nebraska, but is one of the higher evaluated middles in the class so I would assume the staff is taking a look. She is physical and has played at a high level, but just feels like a SMU fit or program closer to home right now?

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Outside Hitter: (Take for Sure)

Again when you are one of the Power Brokers in college volleyball you have to add a top OH in every class and Nebraska will take a look at all of the best arms available.

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Shaye Witherspoon, Rockwood Thunder PPV 297, 

This is our highest evaluated PPV and most ready to play at that college level now. It all depends on what Shaye wants in a program?  

Playing time, championships, $, Keys to the Program etc because she will have her options. Nebraska will be all in on her, but how does she fit in their mix of deep OH’s and she will have options to go play immediately elsewhere.

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Olivia Henry, IMG Academy PPV 287, 

This is the one! The staff really needs to do their homework and find out exactly what Olivia is wanting and how soon she is expecting to play? I think she may need a year (at the BIG TIME college level) to be ready to make a serious impact, but when she does I think she will be special.  

This is Penn State’s #1 prospect hand-down and will go all-in on Henry so the Huskers would have a battle no doubt, plus Bucky will kick the tires here for sure. We could have a little Pre-Season B1G Slugfest in recruiting before the volleyball gets underway:)

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Tessa Larkin, AZ Storm PPV 287, 

Larkin is the most sound all-around OH in the class, but not quite the immediate impact OH of Witherspoon. Also from the Husker feeder club, she is my sentimental pick because I love the energy she will bring to a locker room and y’all are going to get sick of this, but she’s a DBK type recruit (she will do whatever is needed to win). I honestly don’t think this is an option, but I’d love to see a couple more Larkin types on the roster, just not sure who she beats out for time?

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Opposite: (TBD)

I think the recruiting of this position truly depends on a couple of factors. One how good the staff feels the talent is in the 2027 class (we have commented on this previously) and two just what do they have on roster at the position. They may pass and wait until 2028.

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Libero/DS: (Take for Sure)

Again it feels like Nebraska adds depth each year if they can at the Libero position and I think they definitely have options this year.

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Pulelehua Laikona, AZ Storm PPV 263, “Hua” loves Coach Jaylen and they have a strong bond from NTDP over the years. She is a DAWG and intense on the court. She has the mentality an makeup to handle the pressure of playing at Nebraska. She is a competitor not afraid to work. I think this is option #1 for them at ‘bro and I think it might be a Hua’s option #1 for schools. So I could see this being a really good fit.

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**If not Laikona I could see them going Freshman transfer and going after America’s #1 Libero in 2028 Cala Haffner.

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This is an initial, list of some possibilities I can see playing out for Nebraska this Summer. Again all just my opinion only. We will add and drop names as we get closer to June 15th.

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DBK READY for indoor:

Spring Break has ended and so has beach season for the Huskers.  

Even though it seems like a great option for the program, I get the feeling that new HC Dani Busboom Kelly has moved past beach season and is ready to work with her squad INDOORS.

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I’d say the DBK era officially starts today.