Husker Volleyball- Spikes Under the Lights Preview

Nebraska volleyball is kicking off it’s 2026 season on Thursday night with an exhibition game against Florida in Spikes Under the Lights at AT&T Stadium. Nebraska and Florida start off the night at 7pm, followed by SMU and Penn State at 8pm, with the winners of each match facing off at 9 pm for a prize of one million dollars. The games will be played to the best of three sets.

We won’t be sure of Nebraska’s starting line up until game time, but here is my guess.

Outside– Obviously Harper Murray and

I think it will be a Skyler Pierce/Teraya Sigler combo in the other spot.

Middle- Again, another obvious is Andi Jackson and Mania Ogbechie opposite her.

Setter- Bergan Reilly

Opposite- Virginia Adriano – I think Ryan Hunter will be pushing for this, but I don’t know if she’s there yet.

Libero- This was the toughest choice. I think she starts with Lainey Choboy, with Olivia Mauch getting in there too.

Florida

Preseason Ranking: #17

Florida had a 16-12 season in 2025 under first year coach Ryan Theis. They advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament where they lost to SMU. The 2025 was the worst season for the Gators in thirty years. This will be a rebuilding year for Ryan Theis and company.

The Gators return Preseason All- SEC outside hitter Jordyn Byrd and middle blocker Alec Rothe as leaders on the team. Byrd recorded 425 kills on the season and Rothe had 111 blocks.

They will not have setter Alexis Stucky this season, as she transfered to Penn State. Florida will be led at setter by Taylor Parks who has limited experience while playing behind Stucky.

Florida added eight transfers to their roster this season and this first game will be a big test to see how they can compete against tough competition.

#17 Florida Gators

#2 Brianna Holiday 6’3” 2nd year- MB

#3 Emerson Hoyle 5’10” 5th year- DS/L

#4 Brooklyn Briscoe 6’4” 4th year- MB

#5 Selena Leban 6’1” 3rd year- OH

#7 Kamryn Chaney 6’1” 4th year- OH

#8 Logan King 6’2” 3rd year- OPP

#9 Aniya Madkin 6’2” 4th year- OH

#10 Milica Vidacic 6’4” 2nd year- OPP
#11 Nadi’ya Shelby 6’0” 1st year- OH/Opp

#12 Kira Hutson 6’3” 3rd year- OH

#13 Lily Hayes 5’9” 2nd year- L/DS

#14 Jordyn Byrd 6’4” 4th year- OH

#15 Madi Gravlee 6’4” 3rd year- OH

#20 Taylor Parks 5’11” 3rd year – S

#21 Bella Lee 5’5” 3rd year – L/DS

#22 Olivia Klimis 5’9” 2nd year – S

#23 Bri Denney 6’0” 5th year- S

#24 Lauren Harden 6’3’ 3rd year- OH

#25 Alec Rothe 6’3” 3rd year- MB

#55 Amaya Thomas 6’3” 5th year -MB

SMU

Preseason Ranking: #11

In 2025 SMU ended the volleyball season with a 27-6 record. In the NCAA tournament they reached the Sweet Sixteen before they ened their season with a loss to Purdue.

The Mustangs have already started their 2026 season, kicking it off with a sweep of defending champion, Texas A & M at the AVCA First Serve Showcase in Milwaukee. In that match SMU was led by Preseason All- ACC selection Suli Davis (a BYU transfer) with 15 kills and Hannah Beauford with 33 assists.

SMU lost six seniors last year, including their standout setter Averi Carlson, but that didn’t seem to slow them down last week. Looking to lead the way on offense of the Mustangs is Davis, Gabi Placide (Ole Miss transfer), and sophomore Christa Wilburn. Defensively they are led by Victoria Harris (South Carolina transfer) and Favor Anyanwu, another Preseason All-ACC selection.

SMU will take the momentum from last week’s match into it’s game against Penn State.

#11 SMU Mustangs

#0 Victoria Harris 5’4” JR. DS/L

#2 Sarah Frazee 5’6” SO DS/L

#3 Bojana Ambulija 6’3” FR OH/OPP

#4 Christa Wilburn 6’2” SO OH

#5 Elle Vandeweghe 6’5” FR MB

#6 Victoria Shupe 5’7” FR DS/L

#7 Ellie Moore 5’9” RS SO S

#8 Mia Silva 5’9” RS SO DS/L

#10 Brooke Gilmour 6’1” SO MB
#11 Hannah Beauford 5’11” RS FR S

#12 Natalia Newsom 5’11” JR MB

#15 Gabi Placide 6’0” SR Pin 

#17 Levariya Pinder 5’10” FR OH/OPP

#21 Favor Anyanwu 6’2” JR MB

#25 Suli Davis 6’2” SO OH

#42 Jadyn Livings 6’1” JR OH/OPP

Penn State

Preseason Ranking: #10

Penn State had a 19-13 final record for the 2025 season. They were knocked out of the NCAA tournament in the second round by Texas.

Leading the Nittany Lions is AVCA Player of the Year Watch List member, opposite, Kennedy Martin. Martin is a three time AVCA All American. She finished the 2025 season with 634 kills and led the team in all areas except for hitting percentage. This season she is joined by former Florida teammate, setter Alexis Stucky.

Other returning players for Penn State are outside hitter Emmi Sellman, opposite/outside hitter Caroline Jurevicious, middle blocker Gabrielle Nichols, and outside hitter Alexis Ewing.

Other notable transfers for Penn State are middle blocker Ryla Jones (from Pitt) and outside hitter Whit Lauenstein (Texas and Nebraska).

#10 Penn State Nittany Lions

#1 Kendall Northern 6’1” FR MB

#2 Ava Falduto 5’7” JR DS/L

#3 Danielle Whitmire 6’2” FR S

#5 Alexis Stucky 6’2” SR S

#7 Ryla Jones 6’2” JR MB

#8 Gabrielle Nichols 6’2” SO MB

#9 Lexi Gin 5’6” SO DS

#10 Ava Jurevicius 5’9” SO DS
#11 Jocelyn Nathan 5’6” SR DS

#13 Emmi Sellman 6’4” JR OH

#14 Caroline Jurevicius 6’2” JR OH/OPP

#18 Kennedy Martin 6’6” SR OPP 

#23 Haley Burgdorf 6’0” FR OH

#26 Whit Lauenstein 6’2” 5th Year OH

#27 Alexis Ewing 6’4” SO OH

#42 Finley Krystkowiak 6’4” FR OH

#1 Nebraska

#1 Keri Leimbach 5’4” SO DS/L

#2 Bergan Reilly 6’1” SR S

#3 Virginia Adriano 6’5 SO OPP

#4 Campbell Flynn 6’3” SO S

#6 Laney Choboy 5’3” SR DS/L

#8 Kenna Cogill 6’4” SO MB

#10 Olivia Mauch 5’6” JR DS/L
#11 Teraya Sigler 6’3” SO OH

#14 Mania Ogbechie 6’3” SO MB

#15 Andi Jackson 6’3” SR MB

#17 Keoni Williams 6’4” FR MB

#18 Ryan Hunter 6’2” SO OPP 

#20 Jayden Robinson 6’3” FR OH

#21 Skyler Pierce 6’2” JR OH

#23 Gabby DeVita 6’1” FR OH

#27 Harper Murray 6’2” SR OH