Nebraska volleyball team and head coach John Cook sweep Big Ten postseason honors
In a recent announcement following a vote by the league's head coaches, seven members of the Nebraska volleyball team, along with Head Coach John Cook, secured .
The Huskers dominated the individual awards, clinching four out of the five distinctions.
Junior libero Lexi Rodriguez claimed her second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year title, making her the fifth player in Big Ten history to achieve this honor twice in a career.
Freshman setter Bergen Reilly became the inaugural freshman to be named Big Ten Setter of the Year since the award's inception in 2012. Freshman outside hitter Harper Murray was voted Big Ten Freshman of the Year, joining a select group of Huskers to receive this honor.
John Cook was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, marking his fourth career Big Ten Coach of the Year and eighth overall conference Coach of the Year recognition.
Alongside the individual awards, Merritt Beason, Murray, Reilly, and Rodriguez secured spots on the 18-player All-Big Ten First Team, with Beason and Rodriguez being among the seven unanimous selections.
Nebraska's four first-team honorees tie the program's record since joining the conference in 2011.
Bekka Allick and Andi Jackson, as middle blockers, earned spots on the All-Big Ten Second Team, contributing to the Huskers' six total All-Big Ten honorees, a historic high for the program in a single season.
Jackson, Murray, and Reilly were recognized on the seven-player All-Freshman Team, with Murray and Reilly receiving unanimous selections. Additionally, sophomore middle blocker Maggie Mendelson received Nebraska's Sportsmanship Award.
Lexi Rodriguez, a defensive powerhouse averaging 3.60 digs and 1.24 assists per set with a .979 serve reception percentage, leads a formidable Husker defense that ranks third nationally in opponent hitting percentage.
Rodriguez, a Sterling, Ill., native, previously earned first-team AVCA All-American honors in 2021 and second-team honors in 2022, along with being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in her freshman year.
Bergen Reilly, the second true freshman setter under Coach John Cook, boasts impressive stats with 10.74 assists and 2.60 digs per set, leading all Big Ten players in assists per set and ranking 13th nationally. Reilly's standout performances earned her multiple weekly accolades throughout the season.
Harper Murray, a freshman outside hitter from Ann Arbor, Mich., showcased her skills, ranking second on the team in kills and contributing significantly to the Huskers' offensive prowess.
Merritt Beason, a junior opposite hitter and team captain, emerged as a key player with a team-leading 3.81 kills per set, earning numerous weekly honors and the AVCA National Player of the Week title.
Bekka Allick, a sophomore middle blocker from Lincoln, Neb., played a crucial role as Nebraska's top defensive presence at the net, leading in blocks per set.
Andi Jackson, a freshman middle blocker from Brighton, Colo., impressed with her offensive and defensive contributions, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors in November.
John Cook, guiding the young Nebraska team with no seniors, steered the Huskers to their first Big Ten title since 2017.
Despite a starting lineup featuring four true freshmen and a junior transfer, the Huskers dominated the regular season, finishing 28-1 overall and securing the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
This achievement marked Nebraska's return to the NCAA Tournament's upper echelons, showcasing the resilience and determination of a team that overcame challenges and defied expectations.
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