Our Five Burning Questions On the Huskers This Spring

Five Burning Questions Our Staff Has As We Open Husker ______

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As soon as the hiring of Dani Busboom Kelly was announced, our main staff (Mac P and I) had conversations about “what happens now in Lincoln? what changes, what stays the same, etc.” It's probably the same thought thousands of national volleyball minds, and even more, of Husker Nation have had. So, as we helped Sasha launch our version of our Nebraska Fan Page, we thought, why not throw out our 5 biggest office talking points as of Friday? **BTW, we do think the program is headed in a very positive direction with recruits and from outsiders' perspective (and it was hard to get much higher:)

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**Again, these are from program outsider views at a national level. These are our unbiased thoughts (Mac and I) as we talk about Nebraska Volleyball heading into spring ball and their talented roster.

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Question 1: Who wins the Libero Jersey battle

Here is what you have to realize with a roster this deep: there will be intense battles at nearly every position, and the athletes competing for them were all former All-Americans and were “top prospects” somewhere. Hence, they are here to play and good enough to play anywhere in America. So fans and media are just speculating that the coaches see the little things in the locker room, gym every day, weight room, meetings, etc.

Nowhere will those things be more prevalent than the battle for libero between Olivia Mauch and Laney Choboy. Our Mac Podraza breaks down the competition: “With Choboy, yes, she is fiery, but you don’t know what you will get. Can she be consistent enough to wear the ‘bro jersey will be key? Olivia Mauch is steady. She’s a pusher, but she is steady. She gives Lexi vibes to me.” I look at the leadership Lexi brought to that spot for years and also what DBK expected from her ‘bros at Louisville. I will sound like a broken record by the end of this, but you have to be a team first leader for her, which will be a big factor (only my opinion).

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Question 2: Are there enough chairs in the Outside Hitters Room?

Again what an embarrassment of riches the Huskers have at the Outside Hitter position. Harper Murray and Taylor Landfair are returning. Then you have Sklyer Pierce coming off of a redshirt season with new freshman phenom Teraya Sigler joining the mix. Part of this equation depends on how our next questions are answered, but we know you have to have depth in the B1G season, so the battle is for the #3 OH spot, where we have already heard some varying reports. Is the battle for #2 between Landfair and Sigler? Or Landfair and Pierce? Is there no battle at all and it’s Murray and Landfair? So then, how does the competition work with Pierce and Sigler, or is there a plan to possibly try and redshirt Teraya?

Again, it's possible, but it's tough to convince the national player of the year to redshirt, I would think (again, all just our talk). Mac’s thoughts on the OH Room are: “My immediate question would be if Coach would redshirt Teraya. I go back and forth on that. But, if she could beat out Landfair, Sigler has the spot for sure, and no redshirt is needed. I worry about reps for Pierce because I don’t see her getting on the court as an OH, barring injury.”

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Question 3: Could there seriously be a position battle at Setter?

You have to be so careful what you take as reliable media and just some idiot making things up for “clickbait”, but I saw a couple of comments about Flynn vs. Reilly at the Setter spot for next Fall. Now, first off I’m probably not one who can comment on this because I’m from Bergie’s hometown, and the thought of anyone being better than her is just hard to wrap our minds around, but like someone said to me, “That is exactly how they think at Campbell Flynn’s club I’m sure” so again here we are like two years ago; established starting setter (though I think Bergen situation is much more stable) and the #1 recruit in America coming in January. I don’t see how you consider not playing a 2x All-American, but I’m also guessing Flynn didn’t show up to sit on the bench for two years, so once again the curse and blessing of being one of about 3 programs in America with these problems. Mac, who has been through some B1G setter competitions in her career, weighs in, “It’s Bergen’s job to lose. She is talented and has thick skin from Coach Cook. If she can continue on that development path and keep working hard (which is what her MO is) she stays put and the job is hers. If she gets soft because DBK is giving her a bit more freedom, then I could see her getting a little too lax, and Flynn will be ready to swoop in and take any opening given and will be ready to work.”

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Question 4: Who Replaces Beason on the Right?

Though her stats may have been down last year, we often talked about how much we thought of Merrit Beason as a leader and what she gave to the Huskers during her two years in Lincoln. Her being gone leaves a bigger hole on the roster than most assume. How will it be filled? The natural question is to say, “Freshman Ryan Hunter,” but no one is sure where that knee is, and I don’t care who you are; not just anyone steps in and starts day 1 at Nebraska. It isn’t for everyone, so I’m guessing the staff would like a more veteran option and Hunter as an insurance policy IF the knee is ready. Then you still need to see how she plays at this big-time level, which we forget not everyone walks in and contributes (it takes a year sometimes). Here is Mac again on the Beason replacement: “Could this be a spot for Pierce? Also, I don’t know how well Landfair hits from the right, but passing isn’t her strength, so that could be a good move?”

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Question 5: Is the Roster Complete

Mac and I both said after DBK took the job that very rarely does EVERYTHING stay completely the same, and with new coaches, there are always just little things that athletes don’t agree with or vice versa. Will that happen in the Spring, or will they look to bring in more depth? The roster is currently only at 13, so they have more room. Mac’s take on possible roster moves: “On the right side, this is where I could see Coach grabbing someone; they have the room to grab a true right side. We know plenty of athletes would love to come play for her.” We have also heard rumors of possible May transfers, so there will be talent that top teams are always looking to upgrade. So you would have to think if the speculated pin came in the portal late or if the Huskers could upgrade with a true one, they would try.