The 2024 college volleyball season has officially begun, and two blockbuster matches are set to kick off a campaign that will thrust the sport into the national spotlight like never before. With matches televised nationally on ESPN, ABC, NBC and FOX, growth seems inevitable.

Leading that movement is Nebraska volleyball. For a program that produces stars year after year, 2024 looks no different. All of the starters return from a 2023 team that lost the national championship game to Texas. Nebraska sits at No. 2 heading into the fall and is looking to put that heartbreaking loss in Tampa behind them as they prepare for another challenging campaign.

The Huskers are one of four at-large teams heading to the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky as part of the AVCA First Serve Showcase. Nebraska will face its toughest opponent in years in the season opener against No. 9 Kentucky. It’s the first time since 2019 that the Huskers will face a ranked opponent to open the season and the first time since 2018 that their opponent is ranked in the top 10.

Here’s everything you need to know about Nebraska’s 2024 start.

How to participate

Kentucky Explorer

Head coach: Craig Skinner | 20th season | 444-147 All-Time Record

2023 record: 21-8 (17-1 SEC, 1st) | Lost in five sets to Arkansas in Sweet 16

Main returnees: Emma Grome, Setter, Sr. | Brooklyn DeLeye, OH, Soph. | Eleanor Beavin, L, Sr.

Main deviations: Reagan Rutherford, OH (Texas) | Azhani Tealer, MB (Admission Requirements) | Elise Goetzinger, MB (Admission Requirements)

Prospect: The Wildcats return a strong core heading into Craig Skinner’s 20th season at the helm. Three-time All-American setter Emma Grome is back to lead the offense after leading the power five in assists per set for the second straight season.

Star forward Reagan Rutherford has left for Texas, but the Wildcats return SEC Freshman of the Year Brooklyn DeLeye. The 6-2 sophomore has racked up nearly 400 kills in 29 matches, including 3.7 kills and 1.7 digs per set, along with 12 aces. She’ll have Oklahoma transfer Megan Wilson on the other pin. Wilson played in 22 matches last year, but is expected to take on an expanded role.

Eleanor Beavin leads the Wildcat defense in the back row as she looks to have her best season since winning the SEC Libero of the Year award in her freshman season in 2021.

Middle blocker will be a major area of ​​interest for Kentucky after losing its top four block leaders. Skinner dipped into the portal to nab Xavier transfer Delaney Hogan. The 6-foot senior was a three-time All-Big East selection while being named the 2021 Big East Freshman of the Year. She’ll be the only blocker with college experience as part of a position group that includes redshirt freshmen Jordyn Dailey and Brooke Bultema and true freshman Kennedy Washington.

Keys for Nebraska

The No. 2 Huskers are the favorites heading into Tuesday and have the edge on paper. Nebraska’s blocking appears to be the key to victory. Kentucky lost its top four blocking leaders from a year ago and has only one of its four middle blockers with college experience. Husker setter Bergen Reilly may try to target her middle blockers more to fill the hole in the Wildcats’ roster.

Sophomore middle blocker Andi Jackson was hard to ignore in Nebraska’s Red-White scrimmage on Saturday. The game appears to be slowing down for the Colorado native after spending the summer with USA Volleyball. Jackson exploded for a match-high 15 kills on a .583 hitting percentage to go with seven blocks. And that was against her teammates, who know her tendencies best. Jackson appears poised for a breakout season, and she’ll look to get it started against Kentucky on Tuesday.

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