FROM PACKED GYMS TO CHAMPIONSHIP DREAMS, VOLLEYBALL IN NEBRASKA IS BIGGER THAN EVER AS THE SPORT CONTINUES TO RISE.

TWO NATIONAL POWERS, NEBRASKA AND CREIGHTON, TAKE AIM AT THE ULTIMATE GOAL, WITH STAR POWER HIGH EXPECTATIONS IN A STATE HUNGRY FOR ANOTHER TITLE.

THE STAGE IS SET FOR ANOTHER UNFORGETTABLE SEASON OF VOLLEYBALL IN NEBRASKA.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE 2026 STATE VOLLEYBALL SPECIAL HERE AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

I'M YOUR HOST, ANNA BELLINGHAUSEN.

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'RE VISITING WITH SECOND YEAR HEAD COACH BRIAN ROSEN, AS WELL AS VOLLEYBALL BEAT WRITER AND PODCASTER LINCOLN O'NEAL.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE PLEASED TO BE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY THE 2006 NATIONAL CHAMPION IN NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS HEAD COACH DANI BUSBOOM KELLY DANI.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> HOW ARE WE DOING TODAY?

>> OH, IT WAS GOOD.

ALWAYS DOING GOOD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, VOLLEYBALL IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

YOUR SECOND YEAR IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU LEARNED MOST ABOUT YEAR ONE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, HEAD COACHING IS SIMILAR.

I THINK WHEREVER YOU'RE AT, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO WHAT'S AROUND YOU.

AND SO ONE THING THAT WAS THE MOST SHOCKING, EXCITING, SURPRISING TO ME IS JUST THE SUPPORT HERE WHEN WE GO OUT OF STATE.

SO THE ROAD GAMES ARE SOMETHING AND TO BE SELLING OUT VENUES IN LA AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WAS PRETTY SPECIAL.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE BRAND OF NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL IS SO BIG.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY EXCITING THING ABOUT NEBRASKA AND SOMETHING WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD ON.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES IN NCAA SPORTS IS, OF COURSE, THAT FIVE FOR FIVE RULE.

NOW YOUR SENIORS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR.

FOR YOU AS A HEAD COACH, HOW DO YOU APPROACH THAT ROLE?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT EVERY YEAR.

AND RIGHT NOW IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE THE SENIORS HAVE ALREADY PLANNED OR SOMEWHAT PLANNED WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RECRUITS COMING IN AND WE WANT TO DEVELOP OUR PLAYERS.

IT'S NOT AS EASY AND SIMPLE AS LIKE, WELL, SHE'S A GREAT PLAYER.

LET'S KEEP HER.

THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT GOES INTO IT, BUT WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS, OPEN AND HONEST CONVERSATIONS.

AND I ALSO THINK IT'S SILLY TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS RIGHT NOW.

AND AS THE SEASON PROGRESSES AND THIS YEAR GOES ON, THINGS CAN ALWAYS CHANGE.

SO WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

OBVIOUSLY, OUR FOUR SENIORS ARE AMAZING.

BUT BUT WE'LL SEE.

I CAN'T SAY THEY'RE ALL BACK OR THEY'RE ALL LEAVING.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING FLUID THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

ANOTHER CHANGE OF COURSE WITH THE BIG TEN, THE ADDITION OF THE TOURNAMENT AND ALSO 17 GAME SCHEDULE BETWEEN CONFERENCES.

YOU GUYS PLAY EACH OTHER ONCE.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THAT CHANGE AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS WILL BRING FOR YOUR TEAM?

>> I LOVE THE TOURNAMENT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BRING A MENTALITY THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE GOING INTO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, BECAUSE IT'S ONE AND DONE.

YOU HAVE TO BE PLAYING YOUR BEST.

IT'S LATE IN THE YEAR WHERE EVERY TEAM IS GOING TO HAVE BUMPS AND BRUISES AND ADVERSITY THEY'RE DEALING WITH, SO BE ABLE TO PLAY THROUGH THAT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WILL BE GREAT PREP FOR THE TOURNAMENT.

I THINK THE THE 17 GAME SCHEDULE IS GOOD.

I MEAN, THERE'S KIND OF A REAL CHAMPION.

YOU PLAY EVERYBODY ONCE.

THEN WE DECIDE WHO THE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPION IS INSTEAD OF ROLLING THE DICE.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE A TOUGHER SCHEDULE, SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT EASIER DEPENDING ON WHO YOU PLAY TWICE.

SO YEAH, I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR THE CONFERENCE, GREAT FOR FANS.

AND ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE REALLY GOOD FOR OUR ATHLETES.

AND THIS YEAR MIGHT BE TOUGH BECAUSE IT'S NEW AND WE'RE STILL FIGURING OUT HOW TO HANDLE THAT TYPE OF SCHEDULE.

BUT OVERALL LONGEVITY FOR US, I THINK IT'S AWESOME.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS OFFSEASON, WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO YOUR TEAM.

>> THE OFF SEASON?

YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, PROBABLY JUGGLING, YOU KNOW, THE BRAND AND HOW DO WE COMBINE THAT WITH BEING GREAT IN OUR SPORT?

YOU KNOW, LIKE WE HAVE PLAYERS THAT HAVE THESE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THINGS FOR NIL AND TO BUILD THEIR BRAND.

BUT ALSO IT'S AMAZING FOR NEBRASKA, IT'S AMAZING FOR OUR SPORT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO SHOW UP AND BE WORKING AND BEING WORKING TOWARDS A CHAMPIONSHIP AND WINNING GAMES.

SO BALANCING THAT I THINK IS TOUGH IN THE OFF SEASON BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY WANT OUR PLAYERS TO BE UBER FOCUSED DURING SEASON.

SO OFF SEASON IS THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS, BUT IT CAN'T TAKE AWAY TOO MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AS A TEAM.

>> AS A FORMER PLAYER AND SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP IN NEBRASKA, HOW WILD IS IT TO SEE THE GROWTH OF THE SPORT AND JUST THE BRAND, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THAT'S BEEN CREATED AT NEBRASKA.

I MEAN, HARPER MURRAY'S A STADIUM CAPTAIN FOR A WORLD MATCH CUP GAME.

AND YOU JUST SEE THIS GROWTH AND JUST THIS BOOM OF VOLLEYBALL.

HOW SPECIAL HAS THAT BEEN.

>> YEAH IT'S GREAT.

YOU KNOW THERE'S REALLY NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT.

IT'S JUST AMAZING.

AND IT'S HUMBLING TO BE AT THE CENTER OF IT.

>> WOULD YOU HAVE EVER EXPECTED THAT?

WHEN YOU THINK BACK TO YOURSELF IN 2006, PLAYING AT NEBRASKA?

>> NO, NOT REALLY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S LIKE, OF COURSE VOLLEYBALL WAS GREAT THEN, SO IT JUST NEEDED A FEW MORE PEOPLE TO INVEST IN IT AND TO REALLY GIVE IT THE PLATFORM.

>> FOR YOU TO, ON THE PERSONAL SIDE WITH YOUR FAMILY, HAVING TWO YOUNG BOYS AND BEING THE HEAD COACH OF THE NUMBER ONE VOLLEYBALL TEAM IN THE COUNTRY, HOW HAS THAT BEEN FOR YOU AND BALANCING THAT WITH JET AND BOONE AND YOUR HUSBAND?

>> IT'S IT'S TOUGH, YOU KNOW, AND BEING A MOM IS THE GREATEST THING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

AND DECIDING, NOT EVEN DECIDING.

BUT OKAY, IS TODAY VOLLEYBALL MIGHT BE MORE IMPORTANT TODAY.

FAMILY IS MORE IMPORTANT AND KIND OF GETTING IN A NATURAL CADENCE WITH THAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

BUT NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN SETTLED FOR A YEAR AND MY YOUNGEST IS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD, WE'RE FIGURING IT OUT MORE AND MORE, WHICH IS REALLY REWARDING.

BUT IT'S ALSO PRETTY INCREDIBLE THAT THEY GET TO BE AROUND THE PLAYERS AND COLLEGE ATHLETICS AND THE TEAM, AND THEY GET TO SEE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE WORKING HARD, DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROLES.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR MY FOUR YEAR OLD, HE'S STARTING TO UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.

SO THAT'S PRETTY SPECIAL.

>> YEAH.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE SCHEDULE TOO, OF COURSE, THAT COMES WITH LOTS OF TRAVEL.

YOU'VE GOT THE RENOVATIONS AT DEVANEY.

WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THIS UPCOMING SEASON IN THOSE NONCONFERENCE OPPORTUNITIES AT STADIUMS LIKE WRIGLEY, AT&T, AND YOU THINK ABOUT GOING OUT TO VEGAS, TOO, AND PLAYING A TEAM LIKE TEXAS.

>> JUST AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW THE SPORT AND TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR BRAND, BUT ALSO LEARN A LOT ABOUT THIS TEAM.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME REALLY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND ALL THOSE GAMES IN THE NONCONFERENCE AND PLAY THROUGH SOME ADVERSITY, WHETHER IT'S WIND OUTSIDE OR TIGHT TRAVEL SCHEDULES.

SO THAT'S ALL GOING TO BODE WELL FOR US AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> AND FOR YOU IN MANAGING THIS ROSTER TOO, YOU HAVE SO MUCH TALENT, SO MANY POTENTIAL STARTERS ON THIS TEAM.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH THAT IN TERMS OF YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF WANTING TO GIVE EVERY PLAYER A CHANCE FOR A MEANINGFUL ROLE ON THE TEAM?

>> WELL, IT STARTS IN PRACTICE.

SO WE RARELY DO, YOU KNOW, A SIDE VERSUS B SIDE STARTERS VERSUS NONSTARTERS.

I WANT TO SEE THE BEST PLAYERS GO AGAINST EACH OTHER.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY HITTER'S GETTING TO PLAY WITH EVERY SETTER.

YOU KIND OF WANT TO JUST FIND THE GROUP THAT GELS THE BEST, BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO PREPARE EVERYBODY TO BE READY WHEN THEIR TIME IS CALLED.

>> DOES IT ALSO MAKE IT FUN, TOO, WITH THIS NEW FIFTH YEAR RULE THAT THERE'S NO MORE REDSHIRTING?

SO THEN YOU CAN USE PLAYERS MORE WITHOUT HAVING ANY REPERCUSSIONS.

>> FOR SURE.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

YOU KNOW, I JUST HOPE PLAYERS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY STILL HAVE FIVE YEARS TO DEVELOP.

YOU KNOW, JUST IF THEY DON'T PLAY RIGHT AWAY, IT'S OKAY.

REDSHIRTING WAS KIND OF A MINDSET WHERE PLAYERS COULD REALLY JUST FOCUS ON THEMSELVES, NOT WORRY ABOUT PLAYING TIME, NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING.

AND NOW THE FACT THEY COULD PLAY CREATES A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT MINDSET.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR OUR SPORT.

>> THROUGHOUT THIS OFF SEASON, WHO ARE SOME OF THOSE PLAYERS THAT YOU'VE SEEN TAKE THAT LEAP AND ARE EXPECTING TO SEE THAT JUMP FOR THIS UPCOMING FALL?

[MUSIC] >> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM.

SO TERAYA SIGLER HAD AN AWESOME SPRING AND SUMMER.

MINAYA WAS, YOU KNOW, PLAYED GREAT AT THE END OF THE YEAR LAST YEAR AND STARTED OFF WHERE SHE LEFT OFF.

SKYLAR PEARCE IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE CONFIDENT EVERY DAY.

AND YOU KNOW, THE FRESHMEN CAME IN IN JANUARY.

SO THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.

SO THEY'RE PRETTY COMFORTABLE.

WHEREAS LAST YEAR WE HAD A COUPLE FRESHMEN AND VIRGINIA, THEY CAME IN JULY, SO THEY WERE ONLY HERE FOR FOUR WEEKS BEFORE WE STARTED.

WELL, NOW WE'VE HAD OUR ENTIRE TEAM SINCE JANUARY, AND THAT MAKES A PRETTY BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU START IN AUGUST.

>> YEAH.

ANY BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT RED AND WHITE SCRIMMAGE?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYTHING GROUNDBREAKING.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE STUFF WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS PAYING OFF.

SERVING WAS REALLY GOOD, ESPECIALLY FOR AN EARLY, EARLY SEASON MATCH, ESPECIALLY IN PINNACLE BANK ARENA, A VENUE THAT WE'RE NOT IN.

WE DIDN'T PRACTICE IN THERE BEFORE THE GAME, SO I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THAT.

AND OUR DEFENSE IS MUCH IMPROVED AND JUST WATCHED THE FILM OF THE SCRIMMAGE TOO.

AND THE MIDDLES DID AN AMAZING JOB TOUCHING BALLS AND REALLY DISRUPTING OUR OFFENSE.

>> YEAH.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER ONE PRESEASON TAG, HOW DO YOU APPROACH THAT WITH THE TEAM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE WITH THAT NUMBER ONE TAG?

>> WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT YET.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S PART OF BEING A HUSKER IS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A TARGET ON YOUR BACK FROM THE FIRST DAY OF THE SEASON.

OUR PLAYERS KNOW THAT WE HAVE A VETERAN LED TEAM.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO DISCUSS.

SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW PRESSURE'S A PRIVILEGE AND HOW YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBER NOW, IT'S AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

BUT ALL THAT THEY'VE HEARD BEFORE NOW IT'S BASICALLY WE GOT TO GET TO WORK, PUT OUR HEAD DOWN AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND WE CAN BE GREAT, BUT IT'S A JOURNEY AND WE WANT TO ENJOY IT.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE BIGGEST PRIORITIES FOR THIS TEAM THIS YEAR TO RAISE A TROPHY IN DECEMBER, WHAT DO YOU THINK THOSE ARE FOR YOU AND THE SPECIFIC TEAM?

[MUSIC] >> OUR PRIORITIES, YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE IS TO STAY TOGETHER.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF TALENT AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ADVERSITY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, HOW DO WE STAY TOGETHER AS A TEAM?

AND THAT'S GOING TO PAY OFF AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ON THE COURT, YOU KNOW, SERVING IS SO IMPORTANT.

EVERY CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS, YOU'VE SEEN SOME BIG SERVICE RUNS, OR MAYBE NOT IN THE FINALS, BUT LEADING INTO THE FINALS, THERE'S BEEN A SERVER THAT'S KIND OF TAKEN OVER.

SO CAN WE DEVELOP SOME SERVERS OR CAN WE DO THAT AS A GROUP?

YOU KNOW, JUST HAVE A GREAT SERVING TEAM, YOU KNOW, AND NUMBER THREE IS, YOU KNOW, OUR OFFENSE.

CAN WE KEEP USING OUR MIDDLES THE WAY WE DID LAST YEAR?

CAN WE GET A LITTLE MORE PRODUCTION FROM OUR PINS WHEN IT COMES TO KILLING BALLS?

AND I THINK THOSE WOULD BE SOME BIG KEYS FOR US.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DANI WELL, WE'RE SO EXCITED FOR THE FALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY THE HEAD COACH OF THE CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS, BRIAN ROSEN.

COACH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

HOW ARE WE DOING TODAY?

>> WE'RE DOING GREAT.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WELL, SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

COACH, YOUR SECOND YEAR WITH THE BLUE JAYS.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU LEARNED MOST FROM YOUR ONE?

>> GIVE MYSELF GRACE.

LIKE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME.

AND I THINK OUR TEAM PROVED TO THEMSELVES LAST YEAR AND ME AS A COACH THAT LIKE NOT EVERY PRESEASON OR EVERY SEASON, LIKE HAS THE SAME PATH TO, TO GET TO THE SIMILAR DESTINATION.

YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO, WE LOST THREE GAMES THE WHOLE SEASON.

LAST YEAR WE WENT SEVEN AND FIVE IN THE PRESEASON, STARTED ZERO AND TWO, AND BOTH SEASONS ENDED IN THE ELITE EIGHT.

SO LIKE I LEARNED THAT IT'S NOT THE SAME PATH EVERY SINGLE TIME AND ENJOY THE JOURNEY, LIKE BE PROCESS ORIENTED EARLY ON AND MAKE SURE WE'RE PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIMES.

>> YEAH.

AND TO GO THROUGH A COACHING CHANGE LIKE THAT, OBVIOUSLY FROM COACH BOOTH AND WHAT SHE MEANT TO THE PROGRAM, HAND IT OVER TO YOU AND YOU CONTINUE THAT SUCCESS, THAT STANDARD GO TO YOUR SECOND ELITE EIGHT.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY JUST ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THE CULTURE OF CREIGHTON?

>> YEAH, THAT COACH BOOTH AND ANGIE CREATED AN INCREDIBLE CULTURE.

AND OBVIOUSLY I GOT TO BE A PART OF IT FOR, FOR THREE YEARS PRIOR TO TAKING OVER.

AND SO I THOUGHT THAT MADE THE TRANSITION A LOT SMOOTHER.

SOMETHING I PROMISED IN MY FIRST INTERVIEW WAS TO KEEP THAT CULTURE GOING, LIKE, YES, WE WANT TO GO TO A FINAL FOUR AND WE WANT TO BE REALLY SUCCESSFUL.

BUT LIKE, MY NUMBER ONE THING IS KEEPING THAT CULTURE TOGETHER.

AND SO, SO SIMILAR TO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE STATE OF NEBRASKA THING.

AND SO SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED WITH NEBRASKA AND US.

I THINK WHAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT WAS THAT EVERYONE STAYED AND EVERYONE STAYED TOGETHER.

AND I THINK THAT GOES TO THE POWER OF THE CULTURE OF, OF WHAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET IN THE STATE THAT EVERYONE WANTED TO BE HERE.

AND SO THEY BELIEVED IN US AS A COACHING STAFF.

AND WE KNEW THAT THAT TEAM WAS CAPABLE OF A LOT OF THINGS.

AND IT WAS IT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL YEAR FOR SURE.

>> YEAH.

AND OF COURSE, AVA MARTIN BEING A HUGE PART OF THAT TOO.

HOW DO YOU LOOK AT THIS TEAM AND FILLING THOSE SHOES?

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT JUST YEAR TO YEAR OF RELOADING THAT TALENT?

>> YEAH, OBVIOUSLY TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I TOOK OVER, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU REPLACE NORA, KENDRA, ELISE, MATTIE?

AND WE WENT TO THE ELITE EIGHT AND HAD A GREAT SEASON.

[MUSIC] AND NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU KIND OF TAKE OVER FOR AVA, FOR KIARA, FOR ANNA, LIKE THREE INCREDIBLE SENIORS.

AND THAT'S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL, THAT'S COLLEGE SPORTS.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO GRADUATE THESE INCREDIBLE HUMANS AND PEOPLE AND ATHLETES.

[MUSIC] AND SO WE'RE NEVER TRYING TO REPLACE THAT PERSON, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO REPLACE THEIR PRODUCTION.

AND SO I THOUGHT WE DID A REALLY NICE JOB IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

I THOUGHT WE HAVE REALLY GOOD FRESHMEN COMING IN AS WELL.

AND WE HAD TWO OF OUR TRANSFERS COME IN IN THE SPRING.

SO A LOT OF FANS GOT TO SEE US AGAINST NEBRASKA AND SEE THEM PLAY IN THE SPRING.

AND THEN WE HAD KATIE JOIN US THIS SUMMER, AND SO THAT'S BEEN GREAT TO GET HER KIND OF ACCLIMATED.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO GET BETTER ON WITH THOSE CONNECTION THINGS.

BUT I THINK JUST BETWEEN ALL THE PIECES THAT WE'VE BROUGHT IN, WE HOPE TO MAKE UP THAT PRODUCTION AND THEN WE EXPECT MORE FROM OUR RETURNERS.

YOU KNOW, ABBY HAYES WAS A FRESHMAN LAST YEAR, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HIGHER EXPECTATIONS OF HER IN YEAR TWO.

JAYA EVERY YEAR I'VE TOLD HER, OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT A LITTLE MORE AND A LITTLE MORE.

AND SHE'S REALLY EXCITED TO TAKE THAT ON AS WELL.

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THE BLUE JAYS MADE SOME BIG SPLASHES IN THAT TRANSFER PORTAL TOO.

NUMBER ONE BEING AYDEN AMES LEADING BLOCKER FOR TEXAS LAST YEAR.

TAKE ME THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF GETTING AYDEN BECAUSE I KNOW SHE ACTUALLY WASN'T ON OR YOU WEREN'T ON HER LIST INITIALLY FOR FOR SCHOOLS TO TRANSFER TO.

>> YEAH.

WHEN SHE ORIGINALLY WENT ON THE PORTAL, I REACHED OUT TO THE PERSON THAT WAS KIND OF HELPING HER WITH THE PROCESS.

AND I WAS, I WAS TOLD, YOU KNOW, SHE'S KIND OF ALREADY NARROWED DOWN HER LIST, BUT, YOU KNOW, THANKS FOR REACHING OUT.

AND I ASKED, JUST WHAT IS SHE LOOKING FOR?

AND, YOU KNOW, I GOT TOLD SHE'S LOOKING FOR, FOR CULTURE, FOR AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO VALUE HER AS, AS MORE THAN JUST A VOLLEYBALL PLAYER.

AND FAITH WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HER.

AND I, AND I TOLD HIM THAT THAT'S US.

LIKE THAT'S WHO WE ARE.

I'D LOVE JUST ONE CONVERSATION WITH HER.

AND WE ENDED UP HAVING A GREAT CONVERSATION.

SHE SQUEEZED IN LIKE THE SHORTEST VISIT I'VE EVER HAD, AND IT WAS A GREAT VISIT.

AND AGAIN, SHE SHE REALLY FIT WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, AND I THINK WE WERE A PERFECT FIT FOR WHAT SHE WAS LOOKING FOR.

AND I THINK SHE SAW THAT RIGHT AWAY.

AND SO SHE TOOK ANOTHER VISIT, LIKE RIGHT FROM US AND, AND COMMITTED MAYBE THAT NIGHT OR THE NEXT DAY.

AND SO AND SHE'S BEEN EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT SHE'D BE AGAIN, AS, AS A PERSON, AS A COMPETITOR, AS A TEAMMATE, AND OBVIOUSLY A REALLY GOOD VOLLEYBALL PLAYER AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

YOU ALSO BRING IN SETTER KATIE DALTON OUT OF KANSAS.

WHAT HAVE YOU LIKED SO FAR FROM HER?

>> REALLY COMPETITIVE, LIKE GREAT ATHLETE, LIKE BRINGS JUST REALLY GOOD ENERGY.

YOU KNOW, JOY'S ALWAYS OUR WORD AT CREIGHTON AND SHE BRINGS GREAT JOY TO OUR GYM.

SHE WANTS TO WORK HARD.

SHE WANTS TO GET BETTER.

AND SO THAT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN.

AND SHE'S HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT ROLES THROUGHOUT HER CAREER.

YOU KNOW, FIRST STARTING OUT AT KANSAS BEHIND CAM, WHO WAS ONE OF THE BEST SETTERS IN THE COUNTRY AND THEN FIGHTING FOR PLAYING TIME.

SHE'S BEEN A SHE'S BEEN A SERVING SPECIALIST.

AND SO WE LIKE THAT.

SHE'S A COMPLETE SETTER.

SHE CAN DEFEND, SHE CAN SERVE.

SHE CAN DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE'VE BEEN SAID HER BALL AT OUR SCRIMMAGE THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, SEE.

SO SHE CAN DO IT ALL.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY WE'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH HER.

SHE HAD TO TAKE A SEMESTER OFF THIS PAST YEAR BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL GRADUATING FROM KANSAS.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET HER FULLY BACK.

BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT SHE'S DOING SO FAR.

>> AND THEN ONE OF THE MOST EXPLOSIVE PLAYERS YOU'LL SEE ON A VOLLEYBALL COURT EVER.

TRINITY SHADD-CERES WHAT WENT INTO HER DECISION TO ALSO COMPETE IN TRACK AND FIELD, GO TO THE NCAA FINALS, AND THEN CONTINUE, OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS WITH VOLLEYBALL?

>> YEAH, IT'S JUST AGAIN, BEEN AN INCREDIBLE ADDITION TO OUR PROGRAM.

IT'S SUCH A JUST SUCH A KIND, LIKE FUN PERSON AND AGAIN, WANT IT CULTURE, WANT IT ALL, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MAKE CREIGHTON UNIQUE.

AND SO SHE'S BEEN A GREAT FIT THERE.

[MUSIC] AND YOU KNOW, WORKING HER IN THIS SPRING TO A BIGGER ROLE.

LIKE SHE HAD A GREAT ROLE AT WISCONSIN LAST YEAR AND HELPED THEM GET TO A TO A FINAL FOUR.

BUT LIKE, SHE WANTS MORE THIS SEASON.

SO SHE PUTS SUCH A HUGE FOCUS ON VOLLEYBALL.

AND I ASKED HER LIKE, WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO DO TRACK?

AND I'D ALREADY HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH COACH GANNON BEFORE, AND OBVIOUSLY HE WAS LICKING HIS LIPS.

TO HAVE SOMEONE AS ATHLETIC AS HER KIND OF DOING THAT.

AND AT FIRST SHE KIND OF SAID, I DON'T I DON'T THINK I'D BE GOOD ENOUGH RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS HER NUMBER ONE THING THAT SHE'S GOT TO WORK ON IS JUST KIND OF THAT, THAT SELF-CONFIDENCE ON HOW GOOD SHE CAN BE.

SO SHE SKIPPED THE INDOOR SEASON, AND THEN OUTDOOR SEASON CAME AROUND LIKE, RIGHT AS WE WERE FINISHING OUR SPRING SEASON AND SHE DECIDED LIKE, ALL RIGHT, I'LL GIVE IT A TRY.

AND HER AND COACH GANNON WORKED SO CLOSELY TOGETHER.

HE DID SUCH A GREAT JOB, LIKE GIVING HER THE SPACE AND TIME THAT SHE NEEDED TO, TO FIGURE SOME THINGS OUT.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A TRACK AT CREIGHTON.

AND SO SHE WAS PRACTICING SPRINTS IN AN INDOOR LIKE REC FACILITY.

SHE WAS JUMPING ONTO LIKE PADS BECAUSE WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A SAND PIT.

AND THEN HER FIRST JUMP INTO A PIT IN TWO YEARS, SHE WON.

SHE WON THE MEET.

SHE WON SEVERAL OTHER MEETS.

AND TO COME IN SIX IN THE COUNTRY AND BE A FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN WAS I MEAN, NO ONE COULD HAVE WRITTEN THAT STORY.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK MY FAVORITE PART OF THE STORY IS WHAT'S TO COME.

LIKE NOW, SHE WANTS TO BE A NATIONAL CHAMPION.

SHE WANTS TO LIKE DO ALL THESE INCREDIBLE THINGS, NOW GO TO THE OLYMPICS, WHICH SHE HAD KIND OF GIVEN UP ON A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

AND I JOKED WITH HER, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUT MY NAME IN THE IN THE DRAW FOR LIKE OLYMPIC TICKETS FOR, FOR THE LAST WHILE.

I FINALLY GOT MY NAME PICKED.

SO I PRACTICED THE OTHER DAY.

I SAID LIKE, HEY, I JUST, I JUST GOT PICKED FOR OLYMPIC TICKETS.

LIKE, SHOULD I, SHOULD I CLICK ON THIS LINK OR SHOULD I JUST COUNT ON YOU TO GET ME IN?

AND SHE SAID, OH, DELETE THAT LINK.

AND SO SHE'S, SHE'S REALLY CONFIDENT IN THOSE THINGS.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT TO TRANSFER TO WHAT SHE CAN DO ON THE VOLLEYBALL COURT AS WELL.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

AND PLENTY OF AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BLUE JAYS, TOO.

WITH THE NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE THAT YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER.

TAKE ME THROUGH THAT PROCESS TOO, OF GETTING ALL THESE OPPONENTS, INCLUDING TEXAS A&M.

>> YEAH, AGAIN, WE KNOW THE BIG EAST IS A REALLY GOOD LEAGUE AND IT'S HELPED PREPARE US FOR THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT AS STRONG AS THE P4.

AND SO WE HAVE TO SCHEDULE REALLY TOUGH IN THE PRESEASON TO KIND OF MATCH THE SEED THAT WE WANT TO GET TO BE A TOP FOUR, TO BE A TOP 16 SEED, TO BE HOSTING THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.

SO WE REALLY LOOK FOR TOP 50 RPI TEAMS THAT HAVE NCAA TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE WINS YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO TO BE WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

AND SO HONESTLY, WE TAKE ON ANYONE AND EVERYONE.

AND SO WE STARTED TALKING WITH THIS TOURNAMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE IN SIOUX FALLS, WHICH WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

AND THEY JUST REACHED OUT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS TEAM?

OKAY, SURE.

LET'S PLAY THEM.

SO IT STARTED WITH US AND PURDUE AND THEN IT ADDED MINNESOTA AND THEN IT ADDED USC.

SO WE'RE THE ONLY TEAM THAT'S GOING TO PLAY THREE MATCHES THAT WEEKEND.

BUT WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO KIND OF SEE WHERE WE'RE AT AGAINST THREE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE BIG TEN.

AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL GET TO BE AT HOME FOR THREE TOP 50 TEAMS ARIZONA, TULSA, PEPPERDINE.

THEN WE GO ON THE ROAD FOR RICE, YOU AND I, AND LOUISVILLE, WHICH IS A FOUR YEAR ROTATION THAT WE PLAY EVERY YEAR, WHICH IS SUCH A GREAT TOURNAMENT.

THREE TOP 25 RPI TEAMS THAT ALL CHALLENGE US IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

THEN WE GET THE MIDWEEK AT NEBRASKA, WHICH I'M SURE WE'LL TALK ABOUT, SO MAYBE I WON'T GO INTO THAT ONE AS MUCH YET.

BUT AND THEN YEAH, WE GET TO HOST K-STATE AND TEXAS A AND M, SO TO GET THE NATIONAL DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPION, LIKE AT OUR PLACE WAS SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR TEAM, FOR OUR FANS.

AND JAMIE WAS AWESOME TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL PROBABLY GO TO TEXAS A AND M AT SOME POINT TO KIND OF PAY IT BACK.

BUT YEAH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PRESEASON SCHEDULE.

AND AGAIN, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT AND WE NEED TO GET BETTER EACH WEEK.

AND WE NEED TO SEE KIND OF LIKE WHAT OUR IDENTITY IS.

AND IT FORCES US TO REALLY GET AFTER IT THIS PRESEASON, KNOWING THAT IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T START EASY.

>> ALL RIGHT, COACH, WELL, WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THIS FALL.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND THE BLUE JAYS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

GO JAYS.

>> EXCITED TO BE CHATTING WITH VOLLEYBALL BEAT WRITER LINCOLN.

LINCOLN.

APPRECIATE THE TIME.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> YOU BET.

AND IT WAS A PLEASURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, LET'S START WITH THE NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS.

THOSE POSITION BATTLES BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING SEASON FOR DBK.

AND WHO WILL GET THOSE STARTING SPOTS?

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE POSITION BATTLES OF INTEREST MOST FOR THE CORNHUSKERS?

>> I THINK UNLESS YOU'RE A RETURNING ALL AMERICAN, EVERY POSITION IS UP FOR GRABS TOO.

I THINK THE BARREL CARRIES OVER FROM LAST YEAR WITH OLIVIA MOCK AND LAINEY CHO BOE, SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A TIME SHARE.

THE WHOLE YEAR THEY'LL BE GOING IN AND OUT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A BATTLE MORE SO, MORE SO THAN JUST THE BOTH GET SHOTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY PROVE THEMSELVES FOR BATTLES.

I THINK OUTSIDE HITTER TWO TREY SIGLER COMES BACK.

SHE WAS A PART TIME STARTER LAST YEAR, GOT A LITTLE BIT OF RUN.

AND THEN SKYLER PIERCE CONTINUES TO PUT PRESSURE ON.

AND THEN LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE FRESHMAN GABBY DEVITO, JADEN ROBINSON.

THEY ALSO MAKE GREAT CASES.

WHY THEY DESERVE TO BE ON THE COURT, TOO.

BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO SIGLER AND PIERCE AND WHICH ONE OF THOSE CAN REALLY PERFORM WHEN NEBRASKA NEEDS UPON THAT.

AND THEN I THINK THE OTHER ONE IS THE SECOND MIDDLE BLOCKER.

I OBEY CHASE.

SHE'S A BEAST UP THERE.

SHE CAN BLOCK ANYTHING THAT COMES WITHIN HER RANGE.

AND THEN I THINK ALSO, YOU CAN'T WORRY ABOUT TWO.

COMING OFF A REDSHIRT, WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF GLIMPSES OF HER LAST YEAR ON THE SCRIMMAGE.

I THINK SHE HAD ANOTHER GREAT SCRIMMAGE THIS YEAR.

SO IT'S.

NEBRASKA HAS A LOT OF TALENT.

IT'S WHO WANTS TO STEP UP, SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY.

SO AND I THINK WHAT WE'LL SEE FROM LAST YEAR TOO IS THAT DANI.

BUSBOOM KELLY'S GOING TO GO TO HER BENCH OFTEN.

EVERYONE'S GOING TO GET A SHOT TOO.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THINGS SETTLED BY THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SEASON.

IT'S GOING TO GO ON TILL AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER WELL INTO THE SEASON.

>> WE KNOW NEBRASKA HAS THAT NUMBER ONE PRESEASON RANKING.

OF COURSE, THAT COMES WITH A LOT OF PRESSURE EXPECTATIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE SENIORS GOING INTO THEIR FOURTH YEAR.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU DO HAVE THAT FIFTH YEAR OPTION.

WE DON'T KNOW THE FUTURE YET, BUT HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS ON THIS GROUP OF SENIORS?

>> YEAH, YOU DON'T WANT TO RELY ON THAT FIFTH YEAR.

WHEN YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU WANT TO SEIZE IT.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.

I MEAN, THIS IS A CLASS THAT PLAYED IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR.

SO THEY'VE BEEN THERE.

THEY'VE BEEN ON THE BIG STAGES, BUT IT'S JUST CLOSING THE DEAL.

AND WE HEARD A LOT FROM THEM IN PRESEASON AVAILABILITY ABOUT HOW HOW THEY START DOESN'T MATTER, BUT IT'S HOW THEY FINISH.

THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON FINISHING, PUSHING PRACTICE, FINISHING MATCHES AND FINISHING THE SEASON STRONG.

SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE USED TO DEALING WITH THE PRESSURE.

I MEAN, THEY LOST ONE MATCH ALL OF LAST YEAR.

SO THAT PRESSURE OF BEING UNDEFEATED CARRIED OUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SEASON.

SO THEY'RE USED TO DEALING WITH IT.

BUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN CAPITALIZE THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT.

THEY DON'T WANT TO WORRY ABOUT THAT FIFTH YEAR.

THEY WANT TO GET IT DONE THIS YEAR WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY IS IN FRONT OF THEM.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENTS THIS NEBRASKA TEAM NEEDS TO MAKE IN TERMS OF WHAT DBK HAS SAID ABOUT HER SQUAD AND THE CHALLENGES SHE WANTS THEM TO FACE?

>> ONE OF THEIR MANTRA MANTRAS THIS YEAR HAS REALLY BEEN SERVING.

THEY WANT TO SERVE AGGRESSIVELY.

WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN THE PRESEASON, THE RED WHITE SCRIMMAGE OF JUST HAVING THAT MINDSET OF ALWAYS BE ATTACKING, WHETHER IT'S YOU'RE AT THE NET OR WHETHER YOU'RE FROM THE SERVICE LINE.

YOU HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND REALLY, REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PUTTING THE OTHER TEAM OUT OF SYSTEM AND REALLY DICTATING THE TEMPO OF THE GAME TO FROM THE SERVICE LINE TOO.

SO I THINK IF THEY COULD BE A LOT MORE AGGRESSIVE SERVING, THAT'LL DO THEM WONDERS AS FAR AS JUST DEFENSE AND THEN CARRY OVER TO THEIR OFFENSIVE GAME AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL MOVING ON TO THE CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS NUMBER 13 IN THAT PRESEASON POLL.

THEY'VE REALLY RELOADED WITH TALENT.

THEY WENT INTO THE TRANSFER PORTAL GOT A LOT OF GOOD NAMES.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT OUT OF THE CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS.

>> THE CRANE THE NAMES CHANGE.

THE FACES CHANGE.

BUT IT'S THE SAME CULTURE.

EVEN THE COACHES HAVE CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, TOO.

THEY'VE REALLY ESTABLISHED A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE TO.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE TRANSFERS KATIE DALTON COMING FROM KANSAS AND THEN AYDEN AMES FROM TEXAS TO.

I THINK THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO CARRY THAT.

THE BANNER OF BEING THE ONLY NON-POWER FOUR CONFERENCE TEAM THAT'S READY TO.

CREIGHTON HAS REALLY ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS ONE OF THE NATION'S POWERS, AND I THINK THEY'RE STILL.

LOOK, THEY GOT TO GET TO THAT FINAL FOUR TOO.

AND WITH THE TALENT THEY HAVE IN THEIR ROSTER, I THINK THEY HAVE A LOT OF GROWTH POTENTIAL TO BE ABLE TO BE IN CONTENTION BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> I THINK WHAT'S ALSO INCREDIBLE, JUST AT THE STATE OF NEBRASKA ACROSS, IS JUST THE TALENT LEVEL THROUGHOUT NOT ONLY CREIGHTON AND NEBRASKA, BUT ALSO OMAHA WAYNE STATE.

KEARNEY CAN GO DOWN TO THE NANAIA LEVEL TWO.

WHAT IMPRESSES YOU SO MUCH ABOUT THE STANDARD OF VOLLEYBALL IN THIS STATE?

ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> IT'S THE COACHES.

I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT YOU LOOK AT BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY WAS IN A NATIONAL TITLE GAME A COUPLE YEARS AGO TO UNK KEARNEY.

THEY'RE ALWAYS.

AND WAYNE STATE THEY'RE ALWAYS IN CONTENTION FOR THAT CENTRAL REGION.

IF YOU GET OUT OF THE CENTRAL REGION DIVISION TWO, THAT'S LIKE A MINI NATIONAL TITLE TWO.

AND THEN WE'RE DOING GREAT THINGS AT OMAHA, TOO.

I MEAN, THEY MADE THE TOURNAMENT HERE RECENTLY.

SO I THINK THAT IS THE COACHING AND THE CULTURE, THAT KIND OF EXCELLENT BREEDS OF THAT.

I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE A HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER MAY NOT GET TO GO DIVISION ONE, THEY'RE STILL DOING GREAT THINGS AND CARRYING ON THE CULTURE OF VOLLEYBALL WITHIN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

>> ALL RIGHT, LINCOLN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

AND WE'RE SO EXCITED FOR ANOTHER FALL SEASON.

>> YEAH.

IT'S HERE.

LET'S GET GOING.

>> AS THE FALL SEASON GETS UNDERWAY, WE WANT TO WISH ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS THE BEST OF LUCK.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING YOU THIS EXCITING SERIES EVERY MONTH.

JOIN US FOR NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL ON SEPTEMBER 12TH AS THEY TAKE ON GEORGIA TECH AT 2 P.M.

CENTRAL.

OUR NEXT STATE VOLLEYBALL EPISODE WILL AIR SEPTEMBER 17TH AT 9 P.M.

CENTRAL, BOTH ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO DANI BUSBOOM KELLY BRIAN ROSEN AND LINCOLN ARNEILL FOR JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE STATE OF VOLLEYBALL.

I'M ANNA BELLINGHAUSEN AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE SOON.

ON YOUR HOME FOR VOLLEYBALL.

NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.