Huskers Show Depth, Offensive Prowess in Exhibition Win

Nebraska used two completely different lineups to dominate Iowa State in a spring exhibition match.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:26pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a volleyball match, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of bright red, blue, and yellow, conveying the dynamic energy and skill of the Huskers' performance.Nebraska's offensive depth and versatility were on full display in their dominant exhibition win over Iowa State.Sioux Falls Today

Despite playing two completely different lineups and using every player on the bench, Nebraska never missed a beat against Iowa State. The Huskers were relentless, showing a high level of play and depth, to earn a 25-17, 25-16, 25-16, 26-24 win over the Cyclones at the Sanford Pentagon Saturday afternoon.

Why it matters

Nebraska's ability to seamlessly substitute players and maintain a high level of play demonstrates the team's impressive depth, which will be crucial for a successful season. The Huskers' offensive prowess against a Big 12 opponent also signals that the team is primed for another strong campaign.

The details

Nebraska committed a few more hitting errors over the final two sets, but the level of play never suffered despite the lineup swap between the second and third sets. The Huskers used two completely different lineups, with only redshirt freshman Keri Leimbach playing in each set. In the first two sets, the lineup consisted of outside hitters Harper Murray and Skyler Pierce, middle blockers Kenna Cogill and Manaia Ogbechie, opposite Virginia Adriano, setter Bergen Reilly and libero Olivia Mauch. For the final two sets, Nebraska used Teraya Sigler and Gabby DiVita at outside hitter, middle blockers Andi Jackson and Keoni Williams, opposite Ryan Hunter, setter Campbell Flynn and libero Laney Choboy.

  • The match was played on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The players

Dani Busboom Kelly

The head coach of the Nebraska volleyball team.

Virginia Adriano

A sophomore opposite hitter for Nebraska who finished with eight kills and zero hitting errors.

Teraya Sigler

A sophomore outside hitter for Nebraska who carried the offense in the final two sets, using power shots to score.

Skyler Pierce

A Nebraska outside hitter who swung hard and found open court against Iowa State, recording nine kills on just nine swings.

Gabby DiVita

A true freshman outside hitter for Nebraska who finished with three kills on five attacks and an ace.

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What they’re saying

“We gave our players a plan, going into the day this morning, what we're going to do. They handled it really well.”

— Dani Busboom Kelly, Head Coach

“The first season started a little bit rough, but by the end, I was able to show what I've been working on. This game was really good, especially because it was the first game. I was a little bit stressed, but I think it went great.”

— Virginia Adriano, Opposite Hitter

“It really helps having teammates that help lift me up, especially if I'm having a bad practice. Throughout the last season and the seasons before that, having a group of girls that really lift me up when I'm doing good helps me build my confidence and have more confidence going out there to swing hard.”

— Skyler Pierce, Outside Hitter

“This has been a dream of mine for a really long time, getting to play with this group. We had so much fun out there, and it went really well.”

— Gabby DiVita, Freshman Outside Hitter

What’s next

Nebraska will continue its spring exhibition schedule with additional matches in the coming weeks as the team prepares for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Nebraska's ability to seamlessly substitute players while maintaining a high level of play and offensive production against a Big 12 opponent demonstrates the team's impressive depth and talent, which should make the Huskers a formidable force in the upcoming season.