Coming off the bye week Coach Long talks about how the team spent its time without a game, what it will be like to face two former Chadron High School stars, gambling in college sports, NIL, transfer portal, D2 advantages and much more!

<div><iframe title="Jay Long Show - 10/28/25" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=qempz-19a83f9-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=c73a3a" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Coming off the bye week Coach Long talks about how the team spent its time without a game, what it will be like to face two former Chadron High School stars, gambling in college sports, NIL, transfer portal, D2 advantages and much more!<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661545665356.png" alt=" " />
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🔊 PODCAST: Jay Long Show - 10/28/25

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Savannah Bananas are known for selling out ballparks across the country — and Nebraska fans are making sure the Cornhusker State isn’t left out of the fun.

In October 2025, the team announced its 2026 “Banana Ball World Tour” schedule, with Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium earning a spot among the 20 most in-demand venues out of 71 cities nationwide. According to team owner and Banana Ball founder Jesse Cole, more than 4 million fans have already joined the lottery list for tickets.

Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium ranked #12 overall, a standout position considering the lineup includes some of the most iconic venues in sports. The top 20 features 11 Major League Baseball stadiums and eight football stadiums, showing just how broad the Bananas’ appeal has become.

Top 20 Most Popular Stops for the 2026 Banana Ball Tour

Landing at #12 puts Memorial Stadium in impressive company. Most of the venues ahead of Lincoln are home to professional baseball or football franchises, meaning Nebraska fans have shown the same level of enthusiasm as some of the largest markets in the country.

For a stadium that already holds the NCAA record for most consecutive football sellouts, Nebraskans’ passion for the Bananas proves that when it comes to live sports, the Cornhusker State shows up.

Cole, who’s become famous for blending baseball with entertainment, said the demand has been “unlike anything the sport has seen,” noting that the team has sold out every game since 2020. The 2026 tour expands to 71 cities, stretching coast to coast, with several new stadiums added due to overwhelming fan interest.

If you haven’t seen a Bananas game yet, imagine baseball crossed with a circus act, improv comedy, and a pep rally — all at once. “Banana Ball” features no bunting, bat flips encouraged, and even dancing players. The rules are faster, the show louder, and the crowds bigger every year.

That mix of fun and competition seems to resonate with Nebraskans. When Memorial Stadium transforms from a football landmark into a baseball stage next year, it’ll join a small club of venues capable of drawing tens of thousands of fans for the one-of-a-kind event.

By Allison Peck<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761665303936.jpeg" alt="Banana Ball City Selection Show October 10, 2025 where Nebraska was announced as a destination for the 2026 Tour. (Courtesy Jesse Cole/Facebook)" />
 <figcaption>Banana Ball City Selection Show October 10, 2025 where Nebraska was announced as a destination for the 2026 Tour. (Courtesy Jesse Cole/Facebook)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. — The Savannah Bananas are known for selling out ballparks across the country — and Nebraska fans are making sure the Cornhusker State isn’t left out of the fun.In October 2025, the team announced its 2026 “Banana Ball World Tour” schedule, with Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium earning a spot among the 20 most in-demand venues out of 71 cities nationwide. According to team owner and Banana Ball founder Jesse Cole, more than 4 million fans have already joined the lottery list for tickets.Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium ranked #12 overall, a standout position considering the lineup includes some of the most iconic venues in sports. The top 20 features 11 Major League Baseball stadiums and eight football stadiums, showing just how broad the Bananas’ appeal has become.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjesse.cole.129%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0DLKuX4BG178EKfqc1RXo3aJHFYWGyqhmhSap5njeUvt6XvZVkQBmtYCjamPWuD8Xl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="652" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><h2>Top 20 Most Popular Stops for the 2026 Banana Ball Tour</h2><ol>
 <li>Chicago, Illinois – Wrigley Field – 172,169 ticket submissions
</li><li>Detroit, Michigan – Comerica Park – 171,551
</li><li>Minneapolis, Minnesota – Target Field – 127,356
</li><li>Knoxville, Tennessee – Neyland Stadium – 125,031
</li><li>Cincinnati, Ohio – Great American Ball Park – 124,844
</li><li>Denver, Colorado – Coors Field – 117,379
</li><li>Atlanta, Georgia – Truist Park – 116,904
</li><li>Milwaukee, Wisconsin – American Family Field – 114,707
</li><li>Foxborough, Massachusetts – Gillette Stadium – 107,492
</li><li>St. Louis, Missouri – Busch Stadium – 104,576
</li><li>College Station, Texas – Kyle Field – 102,559
</li><li>Lincoln, Nebraska – Memorial Stadium
</li><li>Eugene, Oregon – Autzen Stadium
</li><li>New Orleans, Louisiana – Caesars Superdome
</li><li>Arlington, Texas – Globe Life Field
</li><li>Iowa City, Iowa – Kinnick Stadium
</li><li>Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Kenan Stadium
</li><li>Anaheim, California – Angel Stadium
</li><li>Orlando, Florida – ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
</li><li>New York City, New York – Yankee Stadium
</li>
 </ol><h2>A Big Stage for the Big Red State</h2>Landing at #12 puts Memorial Stadium in impressive company. Most of the venues ahead of Lincoln are home to professional baseball or football franchises, meaning Nebraska fans have shown the same level of enthusiasm as some of the largest markets in the country.For a stadium that already holds the NCAA record for most consecutive football sellouts, Nebraskans’ passion for the Bananas proves that when it comes to live sports, the Cornhusker State shows up.Cole, who’s become famous for blending baseball with entertainment, said the demand has been “unlike anything the sport has seen,” noting that the team has sold out every game since 2020. The 2026 tour expands to 71 cities, stretching coast to coast, with several new stadiums added due to overwhelming fan interest.<h2>The Banana Ball Craze</h2>If you haven’t seen a Bananas game yet, imagine baseball crossed with a circus act, improv comedy, and a pep rally — all at once. “Banana Ball” features no bunting, bat flips encouraged, and even dancing players. The rules are faster, the show louder, and the crowds bigger every year.That mix of fun and competition seems to resonate with Nebraskans. When Memorial Stadium transforms from a football landmark into a baseball stage next year, it’ll join a small club of venues capable of drawing tens of thousands of fans for the one-of-a-kind event.

Nebraska Goes “Bananas”: Memorial Stadium Among Top 20 Most In-Demand Stops on 2026 Banana Ball Tour

Story by NU Athletic Communication

*-Braden Frager finished with 21 points, including six 3-pointers. NU has had three players hit at least five 3-pointers in the two exhibition games (Mast-7 and Essegian-5 vs. BYU).

*-Nebraska hit 15 3-pointers which would have eclipsed last season’s high.

*-Kendall Blue had a team-high five assists and no turnovers in 14 minutes off the bench

*-13 of the 15 players who played broke into the scoring column, as no Husker played more than 18:14

*-Nebraska averaged 90.5 ppg during its two exhibition wins

*-Nebraska improves to 20-0 all-time in exhibition games against in-state foes

On using the next week to figure out rotation spots.

“The one thing about this team is that it could be somebody different every night. And you know, Reink I think went for eight points in his 13 minutes, but you know, Ugnius (Jarusevicius) had a day in practice last week where he looked like Reink in the BYU game, where he hit 7 threes. So you know it could be anybody’s night, and our guys have to be okay with that. You might not play as much on certain nights, you know, we have talked about that, and I think this team is very selfless and very unselfish. If we continue with that throughout this season, we have a chance.

“Well, I think Jamarques (Lawrence) has been great with it. I thought Kendall (Blue) I said gave us good minutes, Sam and Cale both can initiate for us, and then you got Reink and Berke brought the ball down the floor quite a bit tonight as well. So again, I know I talked earlier about the point guard by committee, and we got a lot of guys that can initiate for us.”

“Well, I think he was the one guy that you know, played well against BYU, and he was the one guy that didn't score. So you know it was good to see, like this is what Braden can do. He can really get it going. He’s very streaky when he gets hot like that, and you saw it. It’s almost like there is nobody else on the floor, and you know sometimes that’s a great thing and sometimes it’s not. But you know, he really took the lid off the basket. Pryce obviously had it going as well between the two of them; they’re making 10 threes. Last week, it was Rienk and Connor that made 12 threes combined. That's the beauty of Braden Freger; he’s athletic. You know, I would love to see him go in there with two hands on the one he got going to the rim there in the

2nd half, but overall, this is a very important game for Braden, you know, to see that thing go in the hoop, and hopefully be a confidence builder for him heading into the open.

On what he can take from this game, giving them confidence going into the season

“I can go back and look at the film, but for the first 14 or 15 minutes, we did some good things. We were within striking distance. We made a few shots. We made a few plays. We followed our script. We followed our scout. Just like anything, we wanted to get off to a good start, and we did. That gave us confidence right away. Their Big Ten bodies and athleticism just wear on you.”

Fred (Hoiberg) and their staff do a great job of their offensive actions. They are a tough guard, whether we switch ball screens or hedge. It has been an emphasis for us because we have to be better defensively in the half-court. And tonight, it's tough, because their bodies are different. We aren't going to see that type of athleticism and bodies night in and night out in our league. But it's a great experience for us.

On returning 3 of 4 top scorers from last year and being projected to finish 5th in their league

“It's not where you start, it's where you finish. We feel like we have taken a step. We have had some heated practices over this fall and summer. We have some good depth now. Going into my fourth year I feel like we have that athleticism, which didn’t show tonight because their athleticism is a bit different then ours. But we do have good athleticism, and I like our depth. I like the direction that we are headed. Quick turnaround for us, on Wednesday and our home opener on Friday. Just trying to stack days. We can teach film here tonight and be better. And just constantly working on the process to be better.”

Story by NU Athletic Communication*-Braden Frager finished with 21 points, including six 3-pointers. NU has had three players hit at least five 3-pointers in the two exhibition games (Mast-7 and Essegian-5 vs. BYU).*-Nebraska hit 15 3-pointers which would have eclipsed last season’s high.*-Kendall Blue had a team-high five assists and no turnovers in 14 minutes off the bench*-13 of the 15 players who played broke into the scoring column, as no Husker played more than 18:14*-Nebraska averaged 90.5 ppg during its two exhibition wins*-Nebraska improves to 20-0 all-time in exhibition games against in-state foesNebraska Head Coach Fred HoibergOn using the next week to figure out rotation spots.“The one thing about this team is that it could be somebody different every night. And you know, Reink I think went for eight points in his 13 minutes, but you know, Ugnius (Jarusevicius) had a day in practice last week where he looked like Reink in the BYU game, where he hit 7 threes. So you know it could be anybody’s night, and our guys have to be okay with that. You might not play as much on certain nights, you know, we have talked about that, and I think this team is very selfless and very unselfish. If we continue with that throughout this season, we have a chance.On narrowing down the guard spot“Well, I think Jamarques (Lawrence) has been great with it. I thought Kendall (Blue) I said gave us good minutes, Sam and Cale both can initiate for us, and then you got Reink and Berke brought the ball down the floor quite a bit tonight as well. So again, I know I talked earlier about the point guard by committee, and we got a lot of guys that can initiate for us.”On Braden Frager“Well, I think he was the one guy that you know, played well against BYU, and he was the one guy that didn't score. So you know it was good to see, like this is what Braden can do. He can really get it going. He’s very streaky when he gets hot like that, and you saw it. It’s almost like there is nobody else on the floor, and you know sometimes that’s a great thing and sometimes it’s not. But you know, he really took the lid off the basket. Pryce obviously had it going as well between the two of them; they’re making 10 threes. Last week, it was Rienk and Connor that made 12 threes combined. That's the beauty of Braden Freger; he’s athletic. You know, I would love to see him go in there with two hands on the one he got going to the rim there in the2nd half, but overall, this is a very important game for Braden, you know, to see that thing go in the hoop, and hopefully be a confidence builder for him heading into the open.Midland Head coach Tyler ErwinOn what he can take from this game, giving them confidence going into the season“I can go back and look at the film, but for the first 14 or 15 minutes, we did some good things. We were within striking distance. We made a few shots. We made a few plays. We followed our script. We followed our scout. Just like anything, we wanted to get off to a good start, and we did. That gave us confidence right away. Their Big Ten bodies and athleticism just wear on you.”On defensive intensity in the first halfFred (Hoiberg) and their staff do a great job of their offensive actions. They are a tough guard, whether we switch ball screens or hedge. It has been an emphasis for us because we have to be better defensively in the half-court. And tonight, it's tough, because their bodies are different. We aren't going to see that type of athleticism and bodies night in and night out in our league. But it's a great experience for us.On returning 3 of 4 top scorers from last year and being projected to finish 5th in their league“It's not where you start, it's where you finish. We feel like we have taken a step. We have had some heated practices over this fall and summer. We have some good depth now. Going into my fourth year I feel like we have that athleticism, which didn’t show tonight because their athleticism is a bit different then ours. But we do have good athleticism, and I like our depth. I like the direction that we are headed. Quick turnaround for us, on Wednesday and our home opener on Friday. Just trying to stack days. We can teach film here tonight and be better. And just constantly working on the process to be better.”

Huskers cruise past Midland, 91-50

Ansley-Litchfield def. Sandhills Valley 25-15, 25-8, 25-8 (3-0)

Brady def. South Loup (Callaway/Arnold) 25-22, 25-8, 26-24 (3-0)

Broken Bow def. Central City 25-22, 26-24, 25-21 (3-0)

Chadron def. Cozad 22-25, 25-12, 25-23, 25-18 (3-1)

Chase County def. Bridgeport 25-20, 25-7, 25-10 (3-0)

Dundy County Stratton def. South Platte 25-13, 25-14, 25-10 (3-0)

Garden County def. Banner County 25-9, 25-8, 25-8 (3-0)

Gothenburg def. Chase County 21-25, 25-12, 17-25, 25-19, 15-12 (3-2)

North Platte St. Patrick's def. Wood River 22-25, 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 15-11 (3-2)

Hastings St. Cecilia def. North Platte St. Patrick's 25-14, 25-14, 25-13 (3-0)

Hi-Line def. Medicine Valley 25-22, 25-16, 25-18 (3-0)

Hitchcock County def. Paxton 25-18, 25-13, 25-22 (3-0)

Maywood-Hayes Center def. Arapahoe 23-25, 19-25, 31-29, 25-21, 15-8 (3-2)

Ogallala def. Chadron 25-15, 25-6, 25-16 (3-0)

Ord def. Maxwell 25-18, 25-23, 26-24 (3-0)

Sandhills/Thedford def. Arthur County 25-12, 25-16, 25-13 (3-0)

South Platte def. Wallace 25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 25-17 (3-1)

Ansley-Litchfield def. Sandhills Valley 25-15, 25-8, 25-8 (3-0)Brady def. South Loup (Callaway/Arnold) 25-22, 25-8, 26-24 (3-0)Broken Bow def. Central City 25-22, 26-24, 25-21 (3-0)Chadron def. Cozad 22-25, 25-12, 25-23, 25-18 (3-1)Chase County def. Bridgeport 25-20, 25-7, 25-10 (3-0)Dundy County Stratton def. South Platte 25-13, 25-14, 25-10 (3-0)Garden County def. Banner County 25-9, 25-8, 25-8 (3-0)Gothenburg def. Chase County 21-25, 25-12, 17-25, 25-19, 15-12 (3-2)North Platte St. Patrick's def. Wood River 22-25, 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 15-11 (3-2)Hastings St. Cecilia def. North Platte St. Patrick's 25-14, 25-14, 25-13 (3-0)Hi-Line def. Medicine Valley 25-22, 25-16, 25-18 (3-0)Hitchcock County def. Paxton 25-18, 25-13, 25-22 (3-0)Maywood-Hayes Center def. Arapahoe 23-25, 19-25, 31-29, 25-21, 15-8 (3-2)Ogallala def. Chadron 25-15, 25-6, 25-16 (3-0)Ord def. Maxwell 25-18, 25-23, 26-24 (3-0)Sandhills/Thedford def. Arthur County 25-12, 25-16, 25-13 (3-0)South Platte def. Wallace 25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 25-17 (3-1)

Area NSAA Volleyball scores from 10-28

🏐 Nebraska Prep Subdistrict &amp; District Playoff Brackets

B-7 District ◼ #1 Gering vs #4 Omaha Mercy 10/30 - 4:00 MT at Lexington ◼ #2 Bennington vs #3 Gretna East 10/30 - 5:00 MT at Bennington ◼ Finals - 11/1&nbsp;

B-6 District ◼ #1 Columbus Lakeview vs #4 Lexington 10/30 - 5:00 MT at Lakeview ◼ #2 Lincoln Pius X vs #3 Sidney 10/30 - 5:30 MT at Lexington ◼ Finals - 11/1&nbsp;

B-3 District ◼ #4 Alliance vs #5 Schuyler 10/28 - 4:00 MT at Lexington ◼ #2 Scottsbluff vs #3 Seward 10/30 - 4:00 MT at McCook CC ◼ #1 Omaha Skutt vs ALL/SCH Winner 10/30 - TBD ◼ 11/1 - Finals

C1-10 Subdistrict at Ogallala ◼ #4 Chadron vs #5 Cozad - Chadron 3-1 10/27 - 1:00 MT ◼ #3 Chase County vs #6 Bridgeport - Chase County 3-0 10/27 - 2:30 ◼ #1 Ogallala vs CHD/COZ Winner - Ogallala 3-0 10/27 - 4:00 ◼ #2 Gothenburg vs CC/BPT Winner - Gothenburg 3-2 10/27 - 5:30 ◼ 10/28 - Finals - 6:00 MT - Ogallala vs Gothenburg

C2-10 Subdistrict at Valentine ◼ #4 Kimball vs #5 Gordon-Rushville - Kimball 3-1 10/27 - 5:00 at Hemingford ◼ #3 Hemingford vs #6 Mitchell - Hemingford 2-1 10/27 - 6:30 at Hemingford ◼ #1 Valentine vs Kimball 10/28 - 5:00 MT ◼ #2 Perkins County vs Hemingford 10/28 - 6:30 MT ◼ 10/29 - Finals - 6:00 MT

D1-12 Subdistrict at Morrill ◼ #1 Morrill vs #4 Bayard - Morrill 3-0 10/27 - 6:00 ◼ #2 Wauneta-Palisade vs #3 Sutherland - WP 3-0 10/27 - 5:30 MT at WP ◼ 10/28 - Finals - 6:00 - Morrill vs WP

D2-12 at Hay Springs ◼ #1 Hay Springs vs #4 Cody-Kilgore - Hay Springs 3-0 10/27 - 5:00 ◼ #2 Crawford vs #3 Minatare - Crawford 3-0 10/27 - 6:30 ◼&nbsp; 10/28 - Finals - 5:00 - Hay Springs vs Crawford

D2-11 Subdistrict at Garden County ◼ #4 Banner County vs #5 Creek Valley - Banner County 3-1 10/27 - 4:00 ◼ #2 Potter-Dix vs #3 Leyton - Potter-Dix 3-0 10/27 - 5:15 ◼ #1 Garden County vs BC/CV Winner - Garden County 3-0 10/27 - 6:30 ◼ 10/28 - Finals - 6:00 - Garden County vs Potter-Dix

D2-10 Subdistrict at Thedford ◼ #1 Sandhills/Thedford vs #4 Arthur County - S/T 3-0 10/27 - 4:30 MT ◼ #2 Mullen vs #3 Hyannis - Mullen 3-0 10/27 - 6:00 MT ◼ 10/28 - Finals - 5:00 MT - S/T vs Mullen

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633474113203.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>🏐 Nebraska Prep Subdistrict &amp; District Playoff BracketsB-7 District ◼ #1 Gering vs #4 Omaha Mercy 10/30 - 4:00 MT at Lexington ◼ #2 Bennington vs #3 Gretna East 10/30 - 5:00 MT at Bennington ◼ Finals - 11/1&nbsp;B-6 District ◼ #1 Columbus Lakeview vs #4 Lexington 10/30 - 5:00 MT at Lakeview ◼ #2 Lincoln Pius X vs #3 Sidney 10/30 - 5:30 MT at Lexington ◼ Finals - 11/1&nbsp;B-3 District ◼ #4 Alliance vs #5 Schuyler 10/28 - 4:00 MT at Lexington ◼ #2 Scottsbluff vs #3 Seward 10/30 - 4:00 MT at McCook CC ◼ #1 Omaha Skutt vs ALL/SCH Winner 10/30 - TBD ◼ 11/1 - Finals<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629461621684.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>C1-10 Subdistrict at Ogallala ◼ #4 Chadron vs #5 Cozad - Chadron 3-1 10/27 - 1:00 MT ◼ #3 Chase County vs #6 Bridgeport - Chase County 3-0 10/27 - 2:30 ◼ #1 Ogallala vs CHD/COZ Winner - Ogallala 3-0 10/27 - 4:00 ◼ #2 Gothenburg vs CC/BPT Winner - Gothenburg 3-2 10/27 - 5:30 ◼ 10/28 - Finals - 6:00 MT - Ogallala vs GothenburgC2-10 Subdistrict at Valentine ◼ #4 Kimball vs #5 Gordon-Rushville - Kimball 3-1 10/27 - 5:00 at Hemingford ◼ #3 Hemingford vs #6 Mitchell - Hemingford 2-1 10/27 - 6:30 at Hemingford ◼ #1 Valentine vs Kimball 10/28 - 5:00 MT ◼ #2 Perkins County vs Hemingford 10/28 - 6:30 MT ◼ 10/29 - Finals - 6:00 MT D1-12 Subdistrict at Morrill ◼ #1 Morrill vs #4 Bayard - Morrill 3-0 10/27 - 6:00 ◼ #2 Wauneta-Palisade vs #3 Sutherland - WP 3-0 10/27 - 5:30 MT at WP ◼ 10/28 - Finals - 6:00 - Morrill vs WP D2-12 at Hay Springs ◼ #1 Hay Springs vs #4 Cody-Kilgore - Hay Springs 3-0 10/27 - 5:00 ◼ #2 Crawford vs #3 Minatare - Crawford 3-0 10/27 - 6:30 ◼&nbsp; 10/28 - Finals - 5:00 - Hay Springs vs CrawfordD2-11 Subdistrict at Garden County ◼ #4 Banner County vs #5 Creek Valley - Banner County 3-1 10/27 - 4:00 ◼ #2 Potter-Dix vs #3 Leyton - Potter-Dix 3-0 10/27 - 5:15 ◼ #1 Garden County vs BC/CV Winner - Garden County 3-0 10/27 - 6:30 ◼ 10/28 - Finals - 6:00 - Garden County vs Potter-DixD2-10 Subdistrict at Thedford ◼ #1 Sandhills/Thedford vs #4 Arthur County - S/T 3-0 10/27 - 4:30 MT ◼ #2 Mullen vs #3 Hyannis - Mullen 3-0 10/27 - 6:00 MT ◼ 10/28 - Finals - 5:00 MT - S/T vs Mullen

🏐 UPDATE: Nebraska Prep Subdistrict Playoff Brackets & Scores

Alliance 28 @ Ogallala 21Arthur County 52 vs Hay Springs 12Chase County 35 @ Holdrege 14Cozad 45 @ Minden 28Gothenburg 14 @ Broken Bow 0Medicine Valley 53 @ Wauneta-Palisade 51Mitchell 41 vs Hershey 40North Platte 51 vs Lincoln High 7Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 54 vs Wallace 40

Area High School Football scores from 10-24

On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, Paxton sat down with Jeff Thurman, Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Women's Basketball team, and discussed the team's journey to Lawrence, Kansas for the second preseason jamboree. As well as his thoughts going into the last preseason game this Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655346441244.png" alt="<a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a>" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="🎙️ Knight's Weekly #2 2025 featuring North Platte Community College Women's Basketball Coach Jeff Thurman" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=4xrtp-19a1e1b-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=1b1b1b" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, Paxton sat down with Jeff Thurman, Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Women's Basketball team, and discussed the team's journey to Lawrence, Kansas for the second preseason jamboree. As well as his thoughts going into the last preseason game this Saturday.

🎙️ Knight's Weekly #2 2025 featuring North Platte Community College Women's Basketball Coach Jeff Thurman

On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, Paxton sat down with Jacob Brandl, Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Men's Basketball team, to discuss the final preseason games that took place last week in Colorado and how he feels going into the first match against Lamar coming up on October 31st.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655346441244.png" alt="<a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a>" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="🎙️ Knight's Weekly #3 2025 featuring North Platte Community College Men's Basketball Coach Jacob Brandl" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=89xwi-19a1dbb-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=1b1b1b" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, Paxton sat down with Jacob Brandl, Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Men's Basketball team, to discuss the final preseason games that took place last week in Colorado and how he feels going into the first match against Lamar coming up on October 31st.

🎙️ Knight's Weekly #3 2025 featuring North Platte Community College Men's Basketball Coach Jacob Brandl

• The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team returns home for back-to-back matches this weekend.&nbsp;

• The Huskers host Northwestern at 6 p.m. on Friday, which will be Nebraska’s annual “Pink Match” for breast cancer awareness.

• Nebraska then welcomes Michigan State at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

• Friday’s match will be televised on Nebraska Public Media and streamed on B1G+. Larry Punteney and John Cook will be on the call.

• Saturday’s match will be televised on Big Ten Network and streamed on FoxSports.com. Larry Punteney and John Cook will be on the call.

• Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations, on Huskers.com and on the Huskers App.

• Nebraska is off to an 18-0 start for just the second time since joining the Big Ten in 2011. The 2023 Huskers started the year 27-0.

• Nebraska has recorded nine sweeps in a row, its most since 10 in a row in 2010 and 17 in a row in 2007.&nbsp;

• Nebraska has won 28 sets in a row dating back to Sept. 16, 2025 at Creighton. The 2010 team won 30 sets in a row. The 2009 team won 31 sets in a row. The 2007 team won 53 sets in a row.

• Nebraska is 50-0 this season in sets when reaching the red zone (20 points) first.&nbsp;

• NU’s offense ranks first nationally with a .332 hitting percentage. The Huskers haven’t hit better than .300 in a season since 2007 (.327). The school record for hitting percentage in a season is .331 in 1986. The school record in the rally scoring era is .327 in 2007.

• The Huskers rank second in the nation in opponent hitting percentage at .112. NU led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in 2022 and 2023 and was sixth in 2024.

• The school record for opponent hitting percentage in a season is .103 in 2004.

• The gap between Nebraska’s hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage is .220, by far the best in the nation. The next closest is Hofstra (.160) and Wisconsin (.149).

• Over the last five seasons (2021-25), Dani Busboom Kelly has a 138-15 record for an .902 winning percentage, which is the best by any Division I head coach in that span.

• Outside hitter Harper Murray is having a sensational junior season. She leads the team with 3.71 kills per set and is hitting .322. Murray averages 2.16 digs per set and has a team-high 17 aces.

• Last week at Michigan State, Murray became the 25th Husker in school history to reach 1,000 career kills at Nebraska.

• Murray is 10th in school history in the rally-scoring era in career aces with 92. She is within reach of Michelle Lynch (93), Christina Houghtelling (94) and Lexi Sun (97).

• Senior middle blocker Rebekah Allick is having the best offensive season of her career with 2.48 kills per set on .412 hitting with 1.33 blocks per set.

• Allick ranks No. 5 in career blocks at Nebraska in the rally scoring era with 484.

• Junior setter Bergen Reilly paces the Husker attack with 9.89 assists per set, and she also contributes a team-high 2.80 digs per set.

• Reilly ranks No. 5 in school history in career assists in the rally scoring era with 3,158. She needs 40 more to tie Lauren Cook (3,198).&nbsp;

• Junior middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.51 kills per set on .417 hitting with 1.11 blocks per set.&nbsp;

• Jackson has a career hitting percentage of .420, which is the No. 1 mark in school history and the No. 1 mark among active Division I players.

• Jackson has been heating up of late. In Big Ten play only, the first-team All-American is averaging 2.67 kills per set with a blistering .574 hitting percentage.

• Senior outside hitter Taylor Landfair provides 2.02 kills per set. Landfair has played in 138 career matches, which is second most by any active Division I player. Her 1,449 career kills rank ninth among active DI players.

• Freshman opposite hitter Virginia Adriano adds 2.08 kills per set.

• Olivia Mauch (2.78 digs per set) and Laney Choboy (2.52 digs per set) lead the Husker back row.&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Nebraska’s non-conference schedule included matches against three top-10 teams and five ranked teams. The Huskers went 3-0 against top-10 teams and 5-0 against ranked teams. NU is 6-0 against ranked teams this season.&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Northwestern (13-7, 3-5 Big Ten) already has eight more wins than it did all of last season and has equaled its Big Ten win total from 2024 with 12 matches to play.

• Rylen Reid leads the Wildcats with 3.25 kills per set, and Ayah Elnady adds 2.88 kills per set.

• Michigan State (15-3, 5-3 Big Ten) plays at Iowa Friday night.

• Taylah Holdem averages a team-high 4.00 kills per set on .271 hitting. Karolina Staniszewska adds 2.93 kills per set.

• Freshman setter and Lincoln native Malayah Long (10.00 assists per set) is a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

• Nebraska is 21-1 against Northwestern and has won 17 in a row. The Huskers swept the Wildcats in Evanston last season, 25-18, 25-15, 25-15.

• Nebraska is 29-2-2 against Michigan State and has won 18 in a row. The teams played last Friday in East Lansing with Nebraska winning 25-15, 25-18, 25-20.

• Select conference matches played during the month of October will count toward the Big Ten Discover Challenge, which is in its inaugural season. Each team will play five designated challenge matches throughout the month, with the winner determined by the highest win total across the five matches.

• Nebraska and Purdue are the only teams with unbeaten 3-0 records heading into the final two weeks of the challenge. Friday’s match against Northwestern counts toward the challenge, as does Purdue’s match at Illinois on Friday night.

• The top three tiebreakers in order are: head-to-head results that were part of the Big Ten Discover Challenge, winning percentage against common opponents, and highest percentage of total sets won.

• Eight of the 17 players on the 2025 roster are newcomers.

• Senior opposite hitter Allie Sczech is the lone transfer the Huskers brought in for 2025. Sczech was a two-time All-Big 12 Second Team performer at Baylor, averaging 2.44 kills per set with a .273 hitting percentage in 2024. Sczech posted a career-high 21 kills and hit .463 in Baylor’s NCAA Tournament second round defeat to Dayton last year. She totaled 754 kills in three seasons at Baylor.

• In addition to Sczech, seven freshmen have joined the fold. Campbell Flynn (6-3, Setter), Ryan Hunter (6-2, Opposite Hitter), Keri Leimbach (5-4, Libero) and Teraya Sigler (6-3, Outside Hitter) all enrolled at Nebraska in January. Virginia Adriano (6-5, Opposite Hitter), Kenna Cogill (6-4, Middle Blocker) and Manaia Ogbechie (6-3, Middle Blocker) joined the Huskers in June.

BUSBOOM KELLY DEBUTS AS NEW HEAD COACH&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Nebraska native Dani Busboom Kelly was named the fourth head coach in program history on Jan. 29, 2025 by Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen. Busboom Kelly succeeds her former coach and mentor, John Cook, who announced his retirement following the 2024 season after 25 seasons as Nebraska’s head volleyball coach.

• A Husker national champion player and assistant coach, Busboom Kelly spent eight years (2017-24) building Louisville into a national power. The Cardinals reached two NCAA Championship matches, three NCAA Semifinals, five regional finals and won four ACC titles.

• Busboom Kelly compiled a 203-44 (.822) record in her eight seasons at Louisville, including a 120-15 (.889) mark from 2021-24, which was the second-best winning percentage in the country during that span. In 2024, the Cardinals reached the NCAA Championship match for the second time in three seasons.

• Busboom Kelly was the starting libero on Nebraska’s 2006 national championship team, and she was an assistant coach when the Huskers won the 2015 national championship in Omaha. She took the helm at Louisville late in 2016 after being named AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year in her final season as a Husker assistant, and she guided the Cardinals to heights the program had never experienced.&nbsp;

• Nebraska has won 53 home matches in a row dating back to Dec. 1, 2022, which is the longest active streak in the nation.

• The Huskers’ home win streak is its longest since moving into the Devaney Center in 2013, and it’s the third longest home win streak in program history.

• Nebraska’s longest all-time home win streak was 88 matches from 2004-09.

• The Huskers went 22-0 at home in 2024, a school record for home wins in a season.

• Nebraska’s second-longest home win streak is 61 matches from 1988-93.

• Nebraska has won 26 consecutive NCAA Tournament matches played in the Devaney Center, a school record.

REGENTS APPROVE NAMING OF JOHN COOK ARENA

• The home of Nebraska Volleyball will now officially bear the name of one of the legendary coaches in the history of the sport, as the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the naming of John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

• Cook retired in January following a remarkable 25-year run as the Huskers’ head coach. He guided the Huskers to four national championships, 12 NCAA Semifinal appearances and 14 conference championships. Cook achieved a career record of 883-176 (.834), the fifth-best winning percentage all-time for a Division I volleyball coach. His record of 722-103 at Nebraska was the best winning percentage (.875) for any DI program from 2000-24.

• In addition to the naming of John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, the project also includes a bronze statue honoring Cook on the north side of the Devaney Sports Center. Nationally recognized sculpture artist and Nebraska native George Lundeen was commissioned to produce the life-size tribute to Cook and his career.

• The court inside John Cook Arena will continue to hold the name of Terry Pettit Court to recognize Cook’s predecessor and fellow Hall of Famer. Additionally, the full athletics complex will continue to be named the Bob Devaney Sports Center in honor of Nebraska Hall of Fame football coach and long-time athletic director Bob Devaney.

• Nebraska volleyball airs on television 24 times this season. The Huskers have 19 national TV appearances on Big Ten Network, FOX, FS1, NBC, ABC and ESPN.&nbsp;

• Additionally, Nebraska Public Media was granted the rights to televise the Red-White Scrimmage (Aug. 9), the Alumni Match (Aug. 16), and three regular-season home matches: Grand Canyon (Sept. 13), Maryland (Sept. 27) and Northwestern (Oct. 24).

• All matches that are televised on Nebraska Public Media are also streamed on B1G+. All home matches and Big Ten road matches not selected for TV are streamed on B1G+.

• NU’s match at Lipscomb is available on ESPN+.

• Four student-athletes from the Nebraska volleyball team were named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team after a vote by the league’s 18 head coaches.&nbsp;

• Juniors Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly were three of just five unanimous selections to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. They were joined on the 20-player team by senior Rebekah Allick.

• The coaches picked Nebraska as the top team in the preseason poll. The Huskers won their fifth Big Ten title in 2024 with a 19-1 conference record to share the crown with Penn State. Nebraska finished the season at 33-3 and reached the NCAA Semifinals. Penn State, Wisconsin, Minnesota and UCLA rounded out the top five.

• Jackson, a junior middle blocker, had a breakout year in 2024, earning AVCA All-America First Team and unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors. Jackson averaged 2.62 kills per set with a .439 hitting percentage, which ranked sixth in the nation and fourth in school history. She also put up 1.18 blocks per set.

• Murray, a junior outside hitter, was an AVCA Second Team All-American last year after earning third-team honors as a freshman. Murray led the Huskers in 2024 with 3.40 kills per set and a team-high 39 service aces. She is a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection. Murray was selected to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team last season and was the NCAA Lincoln Regional Most Outstanding Player.

• Reilly, a junior setter, is the first player in Big Ten history to win Big Ten Setter of the Year as both a freshman and sophomore, and she is coming off her second straight AVCA All-America Second Team honor. Reilly averaged 11.08 assists per set in 2024 while leading the Huskers to a .284 hitting percentage, their best since 2016.&nbsp;

• Allick, a senior middle blocker, recorded 1.82 kills per set in 2024 with a career-best .357 hitting percentage. She had a team-high 1.43 blocks per set, which ranked third among Big Ten players and 14th nationally. Allick ranks sixth in school history with 415 career blocks entering the 2025 season. She was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection in 2022 and 2023.

FOUR HUSKERS ON PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST

• Rebekah Allick, Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly are on the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List. Jackson, Murray and Reilly were on the 30-player watch list announced in July. Allick was one of 17 additions to the list in October.

• The Player of the Year Watch List is compiled by the AVCA Division I Women’s Volleyball Awards Committee. They will also be the group working on the additional phases of the Player of the Year process. Semifinalists will be named in November. Finalists will be announced on Dec. 15, and the Player of the Year Award will be presented in Kansas City at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 19.

• Freshman Campbell Flynn was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year on Jan. 10.

• Flynn, a 6-3 setter from Oakland, Mich., was a two-time Gatorade Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year. She recorded 730 assists and 180 digs in her senior season for Mercy High School, leading the Marlins to a 31-3 record and the Division I regional semifinals in 2024. Flynn also compiled 131 kills, 52 blocks and 36 service aces while posting a .394 hitting percentage at net.

• Flynn was a member of the U.S. U21 Women’s National Team that won the gold medal at the NORCECA Championships in 2024 and was ranked as the nation’s No. 4 overall recruit and top setter recruit in the Class of 2025 by PrepDig.com. Flynn concluded her prep volleyball career, which included a state championship in 2023, with 1,973 assists and 737 kills. She also competed in the Under Armour All-America Game. Off the court, Flynn maintained a 3.94 GPA in the classroom.

• Flynn is the sixth Husker all-time to be named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The others are Harper Murray (2022-23), Ally Batenhorst (2020-21), Lexi Sun (2016-17), Mikaela Foecke (2014-15) and Gina Mancuso (2008-09).

FLYNN, SIGLER EARN GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• In addition to being named Gatorade National Player of the Year, Campbell Flynn was named the Gatorade Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight year, while fellow Husker newcomer Teraya Sigler was named the Gatorade Arizona Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight time.

• Sigler, a 6-2 outside hitter from Scottsdale, Ariz., led Horizon High School to a 25-5 record and a fourth straight Conference 5A state championship in 2024. Sigler amassed 619 kills and 354 digs, including 33 kills and 20 digs in the state championship match. She also had 65 service aces and 28 blocks while posting a .398 hitting percentage.

• Ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2025 by PrepDig.com, Sigler was a member of the U.S. U21 Women’s National Team that won the gold medal at the NORCECA Championships in 2024. She concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,951 kills and 1,128 digs and competed in the Under Armour All-America Game.

• Nebraska finished the 2024 season 33-3 overall and advanced to the NCAA Semifinals for the second year in a row and seventh time in the last 10 years.

• Nebraska won its 36th all-time conference title and fifth Big Ten title with a 19-1 record in Big Ten play last season. The Huskers went back-to-back as Big Ten champions for the second time, also accomplishing that feat in 2016 and 2017.

• The Huskers’ 29 regular-season wins last year tied the 1983 school record for most wins in a regular season in the NCAA era.

• The Huskers’ 33 wins last season were tied for the most victories by a Husker team since the 2000 national championship team went 34-0.

• The Huskers ranked 11th nationally with a team hitting percentage of .284 in 2024.

• The Huskers ranked sixth nationally and first in the Big Ten in opponent hitting percentage at .143 last season. NU led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in 2022 and 2023.

Story by NU Athletic Communication• The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team returns home for back-to-back matches this weekend.&nbsp;• The Huskers host Northwestern at 6 p.m. on Friday, which will be Nebraska’s annual “Pink Match” for breast cancer awareness.• Nebraska then welcomes Michigan State at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.• Friday’s match will be televised on Nebraska Public Media and streamed on B1G+. Larry Punteney and John Cook will be on the call.• Saturday’s match will be televised on Big Ten Network and streamed on FoxSports.com. Larry Punteney and John Cook will be on the call.• Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations, on Huskers.com and on the Huskers App.ABOUT THE HUSKERS• Nebraska is off to an 18-0 start for just the second time since joining the Big Ten in 2011. The 2023 Huskers started the year 27-0.• Nebraska has recorded nine sweeps in a row, its most since 10 in a row in 2010 and 17 in a row in 2007.&nbsp;• Nebraska has won 28 sets in a row dating back to Sept. 16, 2025 at Creighton. The 2010 team won 30 sets in a row. The 2009 team won 31 sets in a row. The 2007 team won 53 sets in a row.• Nebraska is 50-0 this season in sets when reaching the red zone (20 points) first.&nbsp;• NU’s offense ranks first nationally with a .332 hitting percentage. The Huskers haven’t hit better than .300 in a season since 2007 (.327). The school record for hitting percentage in a season is .331 in 1986. The school record in the rally scoring era is .327 in 2007.• The Huskers rank second in the nation in opponent hitting percentage at .112. NU led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in 2022 and 2023 and was sixth in 2024.• The school record for opponent hitting percentage in a season is .103 in 2004.• The gap between Nebraska’s hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage is .220, by far the best in the nation. The next closest is Hofstra (.160) and Wisconsin (.149).• Over the last five seasons (2021-25), Dani Busboom Kelly has a 138-15 record for an .902 winning percentage, which is the best by any Division I head coach in that span.ROTATION RUNDOWN• Outside hitter Harper Murray is having a sensational junior season. She leads the team with 3.71 kills per set and is hitting .322. Murray averages 2.16 digs per set and has a team-high 17 aces.• Last week at Michigan State, Murray became the 25th Husker in school history to reach 1,000 career kills at Nebraska.• Murray is 10th in school history in the rally-scoring era in career aces with 92. She is within reach of Michelle Lynch (93), Christina Houghtelling (94) and Lexi Sun (97).• Senior middle blocker Rebekah Allick is having the best offensive season of her career with 2.48 kills per set on .412 hitting with 1.33 blocks per set.• Allick ranks No. 5 in career blocks at Nebraska in the rally scoring era with 484.• Junior setter Bergen Reilly paces the Husker attack with 9.89 assists per set, and she also contributes a team-high 2.80 digs per set.• Reilly ranks No. 5 in school history in career assists in the rally scoring era with 3,158. She needs 40 more to tie Lauren Cook (3,198).&nbsp;• Junior middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.51 kills per set on .417 hitting with 1.11 blocks per set.&nbsp;• Jackson has a career hitting percentage of .420, which is the No. 1 mark in school history and the No. 1 mark among active Division I players.• Jackson has been heating up of late. In Big Ten play only, the first-team All-American is averaging 2.67 kills per set with a blistering .574 hitting percentage.• Senior outside hitter Taylor Landfair provides 2.02 kills per set. Landfair has played in 138 career matches, which is second most by any active Division I player. Her 1,449 career kills rank ninth among active DI players.• Freshman opposite hitter Virginia Adriano adds 2.08 kills per set.• Olivia Mauch (2.78 digs per set) and Laney Choboy (2.52 digs per set) lead the Husker back row.&nbsp;&nbsp;• Nebraska’s non-conference schedule included matches against three top-10 teams and five ranked teams. The Huskers went 3-0 against top-10 teams and 5-0 against ranked teams. NU is 6-0 against ranked teams this season.&nbsp;&nbsp;SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN• Northwestern (13-7, 3-5 Big Ten) already has eight more wins than it did all of last season and has equaled its Big Ten win total from 2024 with 12 matches to play.• Rylen Reid leads the Wildcats with 3.25 kills per set, and Ayah Elnady adds 2.88 kills per set.SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE• Michigan State (15-3, 5-3 Big Ten) plays at Iowa Friday night.• Taylah Holdem averages a team-high 4.00 kills per set on .271 hitting. Karolina Staniszewska adds 2.93 kills per set.• Freshman setter and Lincoln native Malayah Long (10.00 assists per set) is a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week.SERIES HISTORY• Nebraska is 21-1 against Northwestern and has won 17 in a row. The Huskers swept the Wildcats in Evanston last season, 25-18, 25-15, 25-15.• Nebraska is 29-2-2 against Michigan State and has won 18 in a row. The teams played last Friday in East Lansing with Nebraska winning 25-15, 25-18, 25-20.BIG TEN DISCOVER CHALLENGE UP FOR GRABS• Select conference matches played during the month of October will count toward the Big Ten Discover Challenge, which is in its inaugural season. Each team will play five designated challenge matches throughout the month, with the winner determined by the highest win total across the five matches.• Nebraska and Purdue are the only teams with unbeaten 3-0 records heading into the final two weeks of the challenge. Friday’s match against Northwestern counts toward the challenge, as does Purdue’s match at Illinois on Friday night.• The top three tiebreakers in order are: head-to-head results that were part of the Big Ten Discover Challenge, winning percentage against common opponents, and highest percentage of total sets won.HUSKERS WELCOME EIGHT NEWCOMERS• Eight of the 17 players on the 2025 roster are newcomers.• Senior opposite hitter Allie Sczech is the lone transfer the Huskers brought in for 2025. Sczech was a two-time All-Big 12 Second Team performer at Baylor, averaging 2.44 kills per set with a .273 hitting percentage in 2024. Sczech posted a career-high 21 kills and hit .463 in Baylor’s NCAA Tournament second round defeat to Dayton last year. She totaled 754 kills in three seasons at Baylor.• In addition to Sczech, seven freshmen have joined the fold. Campbell Flynn (6-3, Setter), Ryan Hunter (6-2, Opposite Hitter), Keri Leimbach (5-4, Libero) and Teraya Sigler (6-3, Outside Hitter) all enrolled at Nebraska in January. Virginia Adriano (6-5, Opposite Hitter), Kenna Cogill (6-4, Middle Blocker) and Manaia Ogbechie (6-3, Middle Blocker) joined the Huskers in June.BUSBOOM KELLY DEBUTS AS NEW HEAD COACH&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Nebraska native Dani Busboom Kelly was named the fourth head coach in program history on Jan. 29, 2025 by Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen. Busboom Kelly succeeds her former coach and mentor, John Cook, who announced his retirement following the 2024 season after 25 seasons as Nebraska’s head volleyball coach.• A Husker national champion player and assistant coach, Busboom Kelly spent eight years (2017-24) building Louisville into a national power. The Cardinals reached two NCAA Championship matches, three NCAA Semifinals, five regional finals and won four ACC titles.• Busboom Kelly compiled a 203-44 (.822) record in her eight seasons at Louisville, including a 120-15 (.889) mark from 2021-24, which was the second-best winning percentage in the country during that span. In 2024, the Cardinals reached the NCAA Championship match for the second time in three seasons.• Busboom Kelly was the starting libero on Nebraska’s 2006 national championship team, and she was an assistant coach when the Huskers won the 2015 national championship in Omaha. She took the helm at Louisville late in 2016 after being named AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year in her final season as a Husker assistant, and she guided the Cardinals to heights the program had never experienced.&nbsp;HOME SWEET HOME• Nebraska has won 53 home matches in a row dating back to Dec. 1, 2022, which is the longest active streak in the nation.• The Huskers’ home win streak is its longest since moving into the Devaney Center in 2013, and it’s the third longest home win streak in program history.• Nebraska’s longest all-time home win streak was 88 matches from 2004-09.• The Huskers went 22-0 at home in 2024, a school record for home wins in a season.• Nebraska’s second-longest home win streak is 61 matches from 1988-93.• Nebraska has won 26 consecutive NCAA Tournament matches played in the Devaney Center, a school record.REGENTS APPROVE NAMING OF JOHN COOK ARENA• The home of Nebraska Volleyball will now officially bear the name of one of the legendary coaches in the history of the sport, as the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the naming of John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.• Cook retired in January following a remarkable 25-year run as the Huskers’ head coach. He guided the Huskers to four national championships, 12 NCAA Semifinal appearances and 14 conference championships. Cook achieved a career record of 883-176 (.834), the fifth-best winning percentage all-time for a Division I volleyball coach. His record of 722-103 at Nebraska was the best winning percentage (.875) for any DI program from 2000-24.• In addition to the naming of John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, the project also includes a bronze statue honoring Cook on the north side of the Devaney Sports Center. Nationally recognized sculpture artist and Nebraska native George Lundeen was commissioned to produce the life-size tribute to Cook and his career.• The court inside John Cook Arena will continue to hold the name of Terry Pettit Court to recognize Cook’s predecessor and fellow Hall of Famer. Additionally, the full athletics complex will continue to be named the Bob Devaney Sports Center in honor of Nebraska Hall of Fame football coach and long-time athletic director Bob Devaney.HUSKERS SET FOR 24 TV BROADCASTS• Nebraska volleyball airs on television 24 times this season. The Huskers have 19 national TV appearances on Big Ten Network, FOX, FS1, NBC, ABC and ESPN.&nbsp;• Additionally, Nebraska Public Media was granted the rights to televise the Red-White Scrimmage (Aug. 9), the Alumni Match (Aug. 16), and three regular-season home matches: Grand Canyon (Sept. 13), Maryland (Sept. 27) and Northwestern (Oct. 24).• All matches that are televised on Nebraska Public Media are also streamed on B1G+. All home matches and Big Ten road matches not selected for TV are streamed on B1G+.• NU’s match at Lipscomb is available on ESPN+.FOUR HUSKERS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN• Four student-athletes from the Nebraska volleyball team were named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team after a vote by the league’s 18 head coaches.&nbsp;• Juniors Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly were three of just five unanimous selections to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. They were joined on the 20-player team by senior Rebekah Allick.• The coaches picked Nebraska as the top team in the preseason poll. The Huskers won their fifth Big Ten title in 2024 with a 19-1 conference record to share the crown with Penn State. Nebraska finished the season at 33-3 and reached the NCAA Semifinals. Penn State, Wisconsin, Minnesota and UCLA rounded out the top five.• Jackson, a junior middle blocker, had a breakout year in 2024, earning AVCA All-America First Team and unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors. Jackson averaged 2.62 kills per set with a .439 hitting percentage, which ranked sixth in the nation and fourth in school history. She also put up 1.18 blocks per set.• Murray, a junior outside hitter, was an AVCA Second Team All-American last year after earning third-team honors as a freshman. Murray led the Huskers in 2024 with 3.40 kills per set and a team-high 39 service aces. She is a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection. Murray was selected to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team last season and was the NCAA Lincoln Regional Most Outstanding Player.• Reilly, a junior setter, is the first player in Big Ten history to win Big Ten Setter of the Year as both a freshman and sophomore, and she is coming off her second straight AVCA All-America Second Team honor. Reilly averaged 11.08 assists per set in 2024 while leading the Huskers to a .284 hitting percentage, their best since 2016.&nbsp;• Allick, a senior middle blocker, recorded 1.82 kills per set in 2024 with a career-best .357 hitting percentage. She had a team-high 1.43 blocks per set, which ranked third among Big Ten players and 14th nationally. Allick ranks sixth in school history with 415 career blocks entering the 2025 season. She was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection in 2022 and 2023.FOUR HUSKERS ON PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST• Rebekah Allick, Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly are on the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List. Jackson, Murray and Reilly were on the 30-player watch list announced in July. Allick was one of 17 additions to the list in October.• The Player of the Year Watch List is compiled by the AVCA Division I Women’s Volleyball Awards Committee. They will also be the group working on the additional phases of the Player of the Year process. Semifinalists will be named in November. Finalists will be announced on Dec. 15, and the Player of the Year Award will be presented in Kansas City at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 19.FLYNN NAMED GATORADE NATIONAL POTY• Freshman Campbell Flynn was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year on Jan. 10.• Flynn, a 6-3 setter from Oakland, Mich., was a two-time Gatorade Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year. She recorded 730 assists and 180 digs in her senior season for Mercy High School, leading the Marlins to a 31-3 record and the Division I regional semifinals in 2024. Flynn also compiled 131 kills, 52 blocks and 36 service aces while posting a .394 hitting percentage at net.• Flynn was a member of the U.S. U21 Women’s National Team that won the gold medal at the NORCECA Championships in 2024 and was ranked as the nation’s No. 4 overall recruit and top setter recruit in the Class of 2025 by PrepDig.com. Flynn concluded her prep volleyball career, which included a state championship in 2023, with 1,973 assists and 737 kills. She also competed in the Under Armour All-America Game. Off the court, Flynn maintained a 3.94 GPA in the classroom.• Flynn is the sixth Husker all-time to be named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The others are Harper Murray (2022-23), Ally Batenhorst (2020-21), Lexi Sun (2016-17), Mikaela Foecke (2014-15) and Gina Mancuso (2008-09).FLYNN, SIGLER EARN GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR• In addition to being named Gatorade National Player of the Year, Campbell Flynn was named the Gatorade Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight year, while fellow Husker newcomer Teraya Sigler was named the Gatorade Arizona Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight time.• Sigler, a 6-2 outside hitter from Scottsdale, Ariz., led Horizon High School to a 25-5 record and a fourth straight Conference 5A state championship in 2024. Sigler amassed 619 kills and 354 digs, including 33 kills and 20 digs in the state championship match. She also had 65 service aces and 28 blocks while posting a .398 hitting percentage.• Ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2025 by PrepDig.com, Sigler was a member of the U.S. U21 Women’s National Team that won the gold medal at the NORCECA Championships in 2024. She concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,951 kills and 1,128 digs and competed in the Under Armour All-America Game.2024 SEASON IN REVIEW• Nebraska finished the 2024 season 33-3 overall and advanced to the NCAA Semifinals for the second year in a row and seventh time in the last 10 years.• Nebraska won its 36th all-time conference title and fifth Big Ten title with a 19-1 record in Big Ten play last season. The Huskers went back-to-back as Big Ten champions for the second time, also accomplishing that feat in 2016 and 2017.• The Huskers’ 29 regular-season wins last year tied the 1983 school record for most wins in a regular season in the NCAA era.• The Huskers’ 33 wins last season were tied for the most victories by a Husker team since the 2000 national championship team went 34-0.• The Huskers ranked 11th nationally with a team hitting percentage of .284 in 2024.• The Huskers ranked sixth nationally and first in the Big Ten in opponent hitting percentage at .143 last season. NU led the nation in opponent hitting percentage in 2022 and 2023.

(Volleyball) Husker preview vs Northwestern, Michigan State

The No. 6 Nebraska rifle team will head to West Point, N.Y., for a pair of matches this weekend. The Huskers will face off against No. 3 Kentucky and No. 14 Army on Saturday, Oct. 25, and then compete against No. 3 Kentucky, Mount Aloysius, and Norwich on Sunday, Oct. 26. Both of this weekend’s matches are set to begin at 8 a.m. (CT).

The Big Red enters the weekend at 2-0 after a record-breaking match against UAB on Oct. 11. NU shot program high team aggregate (4,734) and smallbore (2,360) scores on its way to a 4,734-4,597 victory over the Blazers.

“It’s always a fun time of year when we start traveling and it is exciting to be heading to USMA again,” said Head Coach Richard Clark. “Travel always provides a unique challenge to go out and stay true to who we are as a program in an environment that’s not our usual comfort zone. This weekend will be a great test for the team to be on the line and do exactly that; stay true to their process and doing the little things right.”&nbsp;

Kentucky enters the weekend having posted wins over No. 8 Memphis, No. 9 Navy, and No. 10 Ohio State. Nebraska has a 13-44 all-time series record, and most recently fell to Kentucky, 4,706-4,731 at last season’s Withrow Invitational.&nbsp;

Army comes into the match with a 3-1 record, posting wins over The Citadel, North Georgia, and Schreiner, with a loss against No. 2 Georgia Southern. The Huskers have competed against Army 46 times and have won 28 of those matches. The Big Red last defeated the Black Knights 4,731-4,672 on Jan. 25.

In just its second year with a collegiate rifle team, Mount Aloysius has an 0-3 record so far this season. NU defeated the Mounties 4,731-4,566 on Jan. 25 in its first match against the program.

The Huskers have a 3-0 all-time record against Norwich, with their last match being a 6,121-6,070 victory at the 2000 NCAA Championships.

Next up, the Nebraska rifle team will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, for another pair of matches. The Huskers will take on No. 7 TCU on Saturday, Nov. 1, and Schreiner on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationThe No. 6 Nebraska rifle team will head to West Point, N.Y., for a pair of matches this weekend. The Huskers will face off against No. 3 Kentucky and No. 14 Army on Saturday, Oct. 25, and then compete against No. 3 Kentucky, Mount Aloysius, and Norwich on Sunday, Oct. 26. Both of this weekend’s matches are set to begin at 8 a.m. (CT).The Big Red enters the weekend at 2-0 after a record-breaking match against UAB on Oct. 11. NU shot program high team aggregate (4,734) and smallbore (2,360) scores on its way to a 4,734-4,597 victory over the Blazers.“It’s always a fun time of year when we start traveling and it is exciting to be heading to USMA again,” said Head Coach Richard Clark. “Travel always provides a unique challenge to go out and stay true to who we are as a program in an environment that’s not our usual comfort zone. This weekend will be a great test for the team to be on the line and do exactly that; stay true to their process and doing the little things right.”&nbsp;Kentucky enters the weekend having posted wins over No. 8 Memphis, No. 9 Navy, and No. 10 Ohio State. Nebraska has a 13-44 all-time series record, and most recently fell to Kentucky, 4,706-4,731 at last season’s Withrow Invitational.&nbsp;Army comes into the match with a 3-1 record, posting wins over The Citadel, North Georgia, and Schreiner, with a loss against No. 2 Georgia Southern. The Huskers have competed against Army 46 times and have won 28 of those matches. The Big Red last defeated the Black Knights 4,731-4,672 on Jan. 25.In just its second year with a collegiate rifle team, Mount Aloysius has an 0-3 record so far this season. NU defeated the Mounties 4,731-4,566 on Jan. 25 in its first match against the program.The Huskers have a 3-0 all-time record against Norwich, with their last match being a 6,121-6,070 victory at the 2000 NCAA Championships.Next up, the Nebraska rifle team will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, for another pair of matches. The Huskers will take on No. 7 TCU on Saturday, Nov. 1, and Schreiner on Sunday, Nov. 2.

NU look toward pair of matches in West Point

Dundy County Stratton 49 vs Elkhorn Valley 6

Johnson-Brock 57 vs North Platte St. Patrick's 30

Wauneta-Palisade def. Arthur County 25-18, 25-12, 25-13 (3-0)

Kearney Catholic def. North Platte 25-21, 25-12, 25-16 (3-0)

Potter-Dix def. South Platte 18-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-13 (3-1)

Medicine Valley def. Sutherland 30-28, 23-25, 25-20, 25-21 (3-1)

Holdrege def. Broken Bow 27-25, 17-25, 25-13, 25-21 (3-1)

<h2>Football</h2>Dundy County Stratton 49 vs Elkhorn Valley 6Garden County 59 @ Creek Valley 16Hitchcock County 42 vs Franklin 14Johnson-Brock 57 vs North Platte St. Patrick's 30Mullen 54 vs Maxwell 13Potter-Dix 51 vs South Platte 0Thayer Central 47 vs Perkins County 6Southwest 55 @ Paxton 13<h2>Volleyball</h2>Wauneta-Palisade def. Arthur County 25-18, 25-12, 25-13 (3-0)Kearney Catholic def. North Platte 25-21, 25-12, 25-16 (3-0)Potter-Dix def. South Platte 18-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-13 (3-1)Medicine Valley def. Sutherland 30-28, 23-25, 25-20, 25-21 (3-1)Holdrege def. Broken Bow 27-25, 17-25, 25-13, 25-21 (3-1)

Area NSAA High School results from 10-24 including playoff football scores

🏈 Nebraska Class D 8-Man Playoffs: Round 1 Scoreboard

◼ D1: #13 Hemingford 64, #20 East Butler 14

◼ D1: #6 Bridgeport 48, #27 Clarkson/Leigh 26

◼ D1: #5 Crofton 90,&nbsp;#28 Kimball 20

◼ D2: #1 Howells/Dodge 60, #32 Hyannis 12

◼ D2: #11 Mullen 54,&nbsp;#22 Maxwell 13

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601073390785.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>🏈 Nebraska Class D 8-Man Playoffs: Round 1 Scoreboard◼ D1: #13 Hemingford 64, #20 East Butler 14◼ D1: #6 Bridgeport 48, #27 Clarkson/Leigh 26◼ D1: #5 Crofton 90,&nbsp;#28 Kimball 20◼ D2: #1 Howells/Dodge 60, #32 Hyannis 12◼ D2: #11 Mullen 54,&nbsp;#22 Maxwell 13

🏈 Nebraska Class D 8-Man Playoffs: Round 1 Scoreboard

A7 - Tuesday, 28th, #4 North Platte High vs. #1 Elkhorn South

      winner plays on Wednesday for District title

      1pm MT - #4 Chadron vs. #5 Cozad

      2:30pm MT - #3 Chase County vs. #6 Bridgeport

      4pm MT - #1 Ogallala vs. Chadron/Cozad Winner

      5:30pm MT - #2 Gothenburg vs. Chase Co/Bridgeport Winner

      TUESDAY, Oct 28 - C1-10 Championship Match at 6pm MT in Ogallala

      5pm MT - #4 Kimball vs. #5 Gordon-Rushvill (played in Hemingford)

      6:30pm MT - #3 Hemingford vs. #6 Mitchell (played in Hemingford)

      6pm CT - #1 Valentine vs. Kimball/Gordon-Rushville Winner (in Valentine)

      7:30pm CT - #2 Perkins County vs. Hemingford/Mitchell Winner (in Valentine)

      WEDNESDAY, Oct 29 - C2-10 Subdistrict Championship Match 7pm in Valentine

      ?pm - #4 Alma vs. #5 Superior

      ?pm - #3 Doniphan-Trumbull vs. #6 Gibbon

A7 - Tuesday, 28th, #4 North Platte High vs. #1 Elkhorn South      winner plays on Wednesday for District titleC1-10 - Monday, 27th in Ogallala      1pm MT - #4 Chadron vs. #5 Cozad      2:30pm MT - #3 Chase County vs. #6 Bridgeport      4pm MT - #1 Ogallala vs. Chadron/Cozad Winner      5:30pm MT - #2 Gothenburg vs. Chase Co/Bridgeport Winner      TUESDAY, Oct 28 - C1-10 Championship Match at 6pm MT in OgallalaC2-10 - Monday, 27th      5pm MT - #4 Kimball vs. #5 Gordon-Rushvill (played in Hemingford)      6:30pm MT - #3 Hemingford vs. #6 Mitchell (played in Hemingford)      TUESDAY, Oct 28th      6pm CT - #1 Valentine vs. Kimball/Gordon-Rushville Winner (in Valentine)      7:30pm CT - #2 Perkins County vs. Hemingford/Mitchell Winner (in Valentine)      WEDNESDAY, Oct 29 - C2-10 Subdistrict Championship Match 7pm in ValentineC2-9 - Monday, 27th at Centura      ?pm - #4 Alma vs. #5 Superior      ?pm - #3 Doniphan-Trumbull vs. #6 Gibbon      Tuesday, 28th at Centura      ?pm - #1 Centura vs. Alma/Superior Winner      ?pm - #2 Hershey vs. Doniphan/Trumbull Winner      Wednesday, 29th - C2-9 Championship Match at ?pmC2-8 - Monday, 27th at Hastings St. Cecilia      ?pm - #4 North Platte St. Pat's vs. #5 Wood River      #3 Elm Creek vs. #2 Sandy Creek      #1 Hastings St. Cecilia vs. NPSP/Wood River Winner      Tuesday, Oct 28th - C2-8 Championship MatchC2-7 - Monday, 27th      #4 Ravenna vs. #5 Arcadia/Loup City      #2 Ord vs. #3 Maxwell      #1 St. Paul vs. Ravenna/ALC winner      Tuesday, Oct 28 - C2-7 Championship MatchD1-12 - Monday, 27th      #1 Morrill vs. #4 Bayard      #3 Sutherland vs. #2 Wauneta-Palisade      Tuesday, Oct 28 - D1-12 Championship MatchD1-11 - Monday, 27th in Bartly      4:30pm CT - #4 Hi-Line vs. #5 Medicine Valley      6pm CT - #3 Arapahoe vs. #2 Maywood-Hayes Center      7:30pm - #1 Southwest vs. Hi-Line/Med Valley Winner      Tuesday, Oct 28 - 6:30PM - D1-11 Championship MatchD1-10 - Monday, 27th in Ansley      6pm - #1 Ansley-Litchfield vs. #4 Sandhills Valley      7:30pm - #2 Brady vs. #3 South Loup      Tuesday, Oct 28 - 7pm - D1-10 Championship MatchD2-11 - Monday, 27th at Garden County      4pm MT - #4 Banner County vs. #5 Creek Valley      5:15pm MT - #2 Potter-Dix vs. #3 Leyton      Tuesday, Oct 28 - D2-11 Championship MatchD2-10 - Monday, 27th at Thedford      5:30pm CT - #1 Sandhills/Thedford vs. #4 Arthur County      7pm CT - #2 Mullen vs. #3 Hyannis      Tuesday, Oct 28th - 6pm CT - D2-10 Championship MatchD2-9 - Monday, 27th at Dundy County-Stratton in Benkelman      ?pm - #4 South Platte vs. #5 Wallace      ?pm - #2 Paxton vs. #3 Hitchcock County      ?pm - #1 Dundy County-Stratton vs. South Platte/Wallace Winner