Nebraska State University trainer John Cook always remembers that he rarely saw program legend Jordan Larson nervous before her first Red-White practice game. With 10 players returning from last season’s team that reached the national championship game, the nerves shouldn’t be as great.
But that doesn’t change how important Saturday will be in determining playing time for a roster that’s well-stocked at every position. Here’s what to look for in Saturday’s upcoming Red-White scrimmage.
Pinning the pin hitters
Ally Batenhorst packed her bags for USC and left in the offseason, prompting Cook to use the transfer portal and pull out the 2022 Big Ten Player of the Year and 6-5 outside hitter Taylor Landfair from Big Ten rival Minnesota.
Landfair is a three-time All-American and is considered one of the best hitters in the country, but her performance dropped off sharply when she switched from Hugh McCutcheon to Keegan Cook, whom the Gophers acquired from Washington. Her 6-foot-5 abilities as a hitter and blocker should cause plenty of misses on offense, but her ability to finish at a high rate will determine her fate.
Star student in the second year of study Harper Murray has put her rocky offseason behind her and is looking to build on her freshman season, in which she was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was selected to the AVCA’s Third Team All-America. The Michigan native led the team in aces last season, but more consistency in blocking and hitting efficiency will be areas of focus.
senior Lindsay Krause is back for her final appearance in her home state uniform. The Omaha Skutt graduate’s season was ended early by an ankle injury sustained in practice, forcing her to miss the final 21 games of the season. Before her injury, Krause had a batting average above .350 and looked like an All-American. An offseason to get healthy and refocus should pay off for the former No. 1 recruit, who is looking to put together her most complete season yet.
Highly praised freshman outside attacker Skyler Pierce will also push for playing time, but expect her to end up at the bottom of the order. The No. 4 recruit mixes her shots well, and the Kansas native showed that in the win over Denver in the spring game in April. If she didn’t go to Nebraska, she would be in the starting lineup from day one.
Who does Nebraska leave behind in the back row?
Lexi Rodriguez will look to earn her third Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award this season and is firmly established as the Huskers’ starting libero after three All-American seasons. Who steps in as the defensive specialist is another question.
Second semester Laney Choboy would have been the starting libero for nearly any other program in the country, but she’ll have to wait another season to get her chance. That didn’t stop her from hitting the ground running as DS in 2023, averaging 1.82 digs per set and 14 aces in 34 matches played. However, freshman Olivia Mauch could get some playing time this season. The Bennington native turned heads in the spring with her aggressive serve, which led to an ace during the Spring Match Sweep.
The underdog may be walk-on Maisie Boesiger from the small town of Norris, Nebraska. Boesiger, who is entering her junior year, has 30 career digs and three aces in her first two seasons. Boesiger, who is a baker in her spare time, has caught Cook’s attention as the most up-and-coming player on the Huskers’ roster.
“She’s No. 1 or 2 every day in passing. She makes great passes. She digs great,” Cook said. “Last year I used her when I needed her. Now she’s in everything. She improves on every side she’s on. I’m really impressed with her.”
What does Harper Murray look like after her offseason?
It’s been well documented the struggles Murray has faced in the offseason, and more answers from Murray appear to be coming in the form of ESPN’s E:60 documentary on the Huskers, set to premiere on Sunday, August 25. It’s only natural to see how that will affect their performance on the court.
Murray was one of the better passers in the rotation six last season, and Nebraska needs her to repeat that performance and meet the lofty expectations for the 2024 season. The Huskers will rely on depth this season, but Murray is instrumental in this season’s ultimate success. On Saturday, everyone will get a glimpse of Murray’s progress on the court, but it was Cook who shed some light on the former No. 1 player’s development off the court.
“She’s done a lot better, but there are still ups and downs with her. She’s navigating through it. The biggest thing I’ve seen with Harper is she’s really matured,” Cook said. “In our conversations and how she’s handled things. She’s a lot more mature, whereas last year she was a moody freshman. I think she’s become more humble and she’s mature. She’s put in a lot of work. It’s not perfect every day. Like all of them, they struggle. I’ve seen Lexi and Merritt (Beason) both break down in the last two weeks. It’s not easy what we do. We push them.
“…We have to believe in these kids because there is so much doubt and negativity out there. If I don’t believe in them and my staff doesn’t believe in them, who will? Times have changed a lot. As we say, the grown-ups adapt.”
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