Husker Position Breakdown: Middles, Setters, & Liberos

Although DBK may not see it as positional battles, the roster this season is deep. DBK has said on repeat that she's gonna put the best group on the court & I can't wait to see who that ends up to be. Like I said, the roster’s deep. Anyone could be the star at any time. I'd be interested to see at what point the Huskers stick with ONE consistent lineup. Each player brings different strengths to the table making it really anyone's game. Here is a breakdown of the Setters, Liberos, and middle hitters on the 2025 Husker roster. 

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Setters: Having two setters in the gym is a MUST. In order to run a practice well you have to have a setter on both sides of the net. The Huskers are also lucky enough to have assistant coach Kelly Hunter to set in their gym too. BUT they don't need her as often as you may think, having two really strong setters on the roster.

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Bergan Riley: the 2024 returning Big Ten Setter of the year averaging 11.08 assists per set. Bergan has been referred to by coach Cook in the past as a silent killer. She doesn't seem to be leading with her voice a ton but more so with her calm demeanor. On the court she is a baller. She & Andi Jackson have really figured out that slide tempo. I think she could work on her location out of system (we all could) as well as forcing some different options other than the OH in inopportune situations. 

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Campbell Flynn: the freshman setter from Michigan was the 2024 Gatorade player of the year. What she lacks in court experience, being a freshman, she makes up for in location and finding her hitters. Flynn is also not the most outspoken setter, but again, her ability to put up a really strong ball makes her an incredible option. She is a bit more of a risk taker and will force some tough situations that usually work out in her favor. I would like to see her ability to get to balls 15-20 feet off the net improve. 

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Liberos: WOW will we have a battle here. I can't wait to see who gets the bro jersey and if it even sticks. I would call this libero group the third strongest in the country (behind Penn State & Texas) and that is simply because the liberos across the country are insane right now. But I am really looking for them to prove me wrong. Depending on the system the Huskers run this season, we could see quite a few DS’s on the court. 

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Laney Choboy: the fire on the court. You need someone to get you fired up… Choboy’s your girl. She is flying all over the court making some pretty crazy diving saves. Laney is a strong defender and makes some incredible digs. This is what sets her apart from others. Her serve receive could use a bit of work, but with the work she's put in in the off season I can't imagine how much better she’s gotten

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Olivia Mauch: a passing wizard. It was painful last season watching other teams serve her game after game when she was DIMING everything hahaha. I love watching her play. She brings a consistency to the court that you want and need. She was a strong digger but the key for her is her serve and pass game. If she can keep her consistency here the Huskers are in good hands!

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Maisie Boesinger: the DS/ Serving specialist is a critical piece of the Nebraska puzzle. She is a ray of sunshine on the sidelines as well as on the court. Last season she was clutch coming in and serving or DSing for the Huskers when they needed a point most. I think we can expect a similar role for her this season as well.

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Keri Leimbach: the freshman from Lincoln, Nebraska could show up and show out. She's never played in a collegiate game so that definitely sets her behind her three other position group members, but she's got game. She is a talented DS that if needed the Huskers could throw out on the court. I think Boesinger will see the court as a DS before she does though. This will truly be a freshman year where Leimbach can develop and become what DBK and the Huskers will need her to be. 

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Middles: Well we can all agree that one of the best middles in the country plays for the Huskers but there's two middle spots and Nebraska is returning both of them. This may be one of the stronger middle groups in the country. This season I would like to see more production from the slide in out of system situations and more production from the middle of the court in general (1’s & 31’s). 

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Andi Jackson: All I have to say is that she's really good. Watching her hit a back row attack in one of the spring matches this season made me SO HYPE for this fall. I am excited to see her continue to be a strong blocker this fall as well. I'd like to see her focus on keeping her hands up longer on the block so the ball doesn't fall in front of her as much as it has in the past. I also think she can be a HUGE threat in her single 3 hitter rotation by running the 31 or the 1 or even right behind the setter. I think this season is going to be a big one for the middles, especially Jackson.

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Rebekah Allick: all 6-4 of her is going to be needed for her senior year. I would love to see more offensive production out of her this year. I think she can really work on opening up to her setter and being an option in 3 hitter rotations. Whether that's on the 1 ball or pushed on the 31 I want to see Allick getting more balls in transition.  Her block has been solid and as long as she's continued to work on her eye-work this off season I think she's in for a big year of big numbers. 

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Mania Ogbechie: the 6-3 freshman is going to be a big time threat in the Big Ten in her career. Watching her in club ball and with the U19 team, she is a heavy hitter. She is coming in swinging and is ready to go. I think the speed of the game will be an adjustment for her, especially in the Big Ten, but she has some awesome leaders to look up to. Unless she gets redshirted, I think we will see some court time for her and I am excited to see how she does with the speed of the game blocking wise. I think attacking she will adjust fine, but blocking and moving laterally will be her challenge to overcome! Can't wait to see her do it!

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Kenna Cogill: freshman middle blocker from Arizona comes from a really strong club team. I think again, like any freshman entering the Big Ten, speed is going to be something she needs to improve. I am also interested in seeing her connection with the setters and how that will develop over the season. I can see her also redshirting or getting a few minutes here and there.