Get to Know: '26 Keoni Williams

Nebraska Volleyball is one of the top recruiting programs in the country, and they take immense pride in discovering young athletes abundant with raw talent, cultivating them into successful stars ready to take on the big stage. The 2026 class – a trio of highly-athletic offensive stars and the last of the recruits under the John Cook era, have earned themselves the number two overall class rankings. 

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Keoni Williams (PPV 287) out of Plano, Texas, will carry the torch of the new generation of Nebraska middle blockers. She is ranked No. 5 overall by Prep Dig, and has earned a vast assortment of accolades over her high school and club career. Williams plays for Boswell High School, where she averaged 1.8 kills/set on a .376 clip, and 1 racked up 187 blocks on the season. She uses all the length of her 6’4 build to reach across the net – that, in tandem with her impressive read blocking skills, suffocate opposing attacks, forming a literal wall at the net. A reigning champion in the club game; Keoni implements a unique combination of explosiveness and experience that sets her apart from the rest.

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Keoni started playing volleyball when she was twelve – despite both of her parents being former basketball players. Her aunts played in college, and encouraged her to give it a try; “I fell in love instantly,” Keoni says. “I knew from that moment that I wanted to push myself everyday because I wanted to play at the highest level.” She quickly proved she had what it takes to do so – and the offers quickly began pouring in from top schools across the nation. While she wanted to keep her options open, there was always an inclination in the back of her mind that yearned towards the Huskers. “Nebraska’s culture and grit to be great always stood out to me, and going to Dream Team Camp opened my eyes even more to the fact that Nebraska was an environment that I wanted to surround myself in.”

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Keoni was originally recruited under former Head Coach John Cook, and while she would have loved being coached by him, she has faith in the new era. “I believe Dani is a great coach and will only add to the success,” she says. “I look forward to growing a relationship with her!” When asked which current middle blocker’s game she admired and most wanted to emulate, she replied Chiaka Ogbogu – arguably one of the best in the world. But Keoni was drawn to the nuance and demeanor of her play style, the intangibles that made her great; “She is such a calm and efficient middle, I strive to play in that way!”

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Last year, Keoni and the other 2026s took a trip to Lincoln and got to experience what it felt to be a Husker. “The trip was great,” Keoni says. “My favorite part was getting a feel of what living in Lincoln would be like!” She got to bond with current and future Huskers, and you can tell simply from the Instagram posts and TikToks that they were having a blast just being in each other's company – something that will surely bleed into their chemistry and culture. “Interacting with my future teammates was so exciting! Everyone was so welcoming and I cannot wait to grow closer to them all.” 

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I have been following Keoni’s volleyball journey for several years now, and I am ecstatic to watch her grow as a Husker! Not only does she bring talent and potential to the team, but her mental fortitude and intrinsic motivation will make her an important piece off the court as well. She has big dreams and goals, but all of them are well within reach, and she hones all of the qualities necessary to become one of the greats. Keoni was recently invited to train and compete for a spot on the U19 National Team.