Nebraska Volleyball players and coach Dani Busboom Kelly are set to compete in the spring season following the conclusion of the beach volleyball tournaments. They will kick off the spring matches on Saturday in a faceoff against Iowa State at the Sioux Falls Sanford Pentagon.
Sioux Falls is the hometown of Huskers’ senior setter Bergen Reilly, who attended O’Gorman High School in South Dakota. Along with leading her high school to back-to-back Class AA state championships in 2020 and 2021, she was also a three-time South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year. In an interview ahead of the Spring season, she shared her excitement about returning to Sioux Falls, highlighting the opportunity to play in front of her friends and family.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Reilly said. “There are a lot of people who have wanted to see me for the last three years and haven’t been able to come down to Lincoln because it’s pretty hard for me to get tickets for people. So, I’m really excited just that so many friends and family get to come and I get to see them and I have a lot of memories at the Pentagon. So, I feel like that’ll be kind of fun to just go through some of those again.”
Along with the players, Coach Busboom Kelly also expressed her opinion about the match, stating that it will be like a practice game, but with pressure from fans. She also emphasized the improved coordination between the players and coaching staff.
“Sort of like a glorified practice. And we get to, you know, not only do we get to play against an opponent, but in front of fans and have that added pressure and a different vibe. And I think that’s what this team needs. We have a deep roster, so we’re not going to be overworking anybody on Saturday. Everybody’s going to get to play. And I think it’ll be really fun and a great arena and I know the people of Sioux Falls are pretty fired up for it,” she said.
“Definitely think it’s a little more volleyball and from a coaching staff we have a little bit better flow and I think it’s been better and easier from a coaching standpoint just because the personal relationships are there. We’ve had a year under our belt,” coach Busboom Kelly added.
Nebraska Volleyball’s Associate HC Jaylen Reyes Credits Coach Dani Busboom Kelly For Recording Zero Transfers
Associate HC Jaylen Reyes, who has been Nebraska Volleyball’s assistant coach since March 2018, highlighted Coach Dani Busboom Kelly’s role in recording zero transfers in 2026, stating the Huskers are content with her approach of assigning specific roles to each player.
“I think the one thing she’s done a really nice job of is defining roles, which I think players, even if they’re not happy with their current role, understand where they stand with their head coach,” Reyes said.
“And there’s a plan to get them to, hey, if they want a bigger role, there’s a plan for it, you know. And I think a lot of kids nowadays are willing to believe and maybe wait and be patient if they feel like there is a plan specifically for them, and there are people here to help them execute that plan,” he added (11:48 onwards).
Nebraska Volleyball recorded zero transfers for the second straight season.
Also read:
Nebraska Volleyball Ends 2nd Straight Transfer Portal with Zero Exits As Sigler, Hunter Return
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