Nebraska Volleyball standout Bergen Reilly has been at the heart of a dream season, leading her team through an undefeated regular run and capturing the Big Ten Championship. On top of her team’s triumphs, Reilly’s own brilliance has shone through, earning her both the Big Ten Player of the Year and Setter of the Year honors, and firmly establishing her as one of the most formidable forces in college volleyball today.
Fueled by past heartbreak, Reilly and the Nebraska Volleyball team are more determined than ever to seize the national championship that narrowly slipped from their grasp before.
What Message Did Bergen Reilly Send Regarding Previous NCAA Championship Losses?
Reilly played a key role on the 2023 squad that stormed into the NCAA Championship final, boasting a stellar 33-2 overall record and a 19-1 conference record. Their remarkable run ended in heartbreak, however, as the Texas Longhorns swept them 3-0, leaving the Huskers devastated after a season that had come close to perfection.
Alexa Hendricks, who represented the Louisville Cardinals for four seasons as a defensive specialist, also faced the Longhorns in the NCAA Championship final in 2022, losing out to them with a 3-0 sweep as well. In a video posted on TikTok, she reflected on the defeat, stating that she cannot be a fan of Texas because of the loss, which was also her last volleyball game. She described the loss (getting swept) as “traumatic.”
Reilly commented on this video, expressing her sympathy for Hendricks: “Louisville and Nebraska 🤝 getting swept by Texas in the championship… I feel you 🥲 🥲 ,” she wrote.
Hendricks responded by saying that Reilly “gets it”, wishing her and the Huskers good luck at this year’s NCAA tournament.
In her video, Hendricks predicted Nebraska would claim this year’s national title, praising their dominance. Since graduating from Louisville in 2022, she has carved out a new path as a full-time content creator in the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle sectors.
Nebraska Volleyball Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly Makes Feelings Known On Undefeated Season
Nebraska head coach Dani Busboom Kelly has wasted no time making her mark, setting her sights on the NCAA Championship that has eluded the Huskers since 2017. With a flawless 30-0 record, her team is determined to maintain its momentum as it heads into the tournament.
In a press conference after their last regular season fixture, (1:49 onwards) Busboom Kelly stated that going undefeated was “super difficult”, adding that it was only possible thanks to the efforts of the team as a whole, not just the captains and main players.
This marked the second time Busboom Kelly has gone undefeated in her coaching career in the regular season, having first achieved this feat with Louisville in 2021. The Cardinals posted a 28-0 regular season record, exiting the NCAA Championship in the semi-final stage.