The Implications of Adriano's Commitment

After several months of circulating rumors and uncertainties, Virginia Adriano made it official; putting pen to paper to become a Husker. The 6 ’5 international opposite out of Italy brings height, experience, and efficiency to a team already abundant with talent – the only question now is how it will be distributed. Last week, I broke down the position battle between lefty right sides in Ryan Hunter and Allie Szcech, as well as their own career achievements and distinct playing style. Virginia herself is certainly not lacking accolades herself, having spent her last season in the top Italian League; Serie A1, where she averaged 2.39 kills per set on a .385 clip. That hitting percentage is incredibly efficient for a pin hitter, and her game is fully developed as a 6-rotation player. She can hit a quick ball out of the back row (like Merritt often did), as well as being a strong presence at the net and service line – tallying 27 aces and 24 blocks. Adriano recorded 21 kills, 3 blocks, and an ace in her team's season finale match.

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Virginia’s experience extends even beyond that of the world's best club leagues, representing the U23 National Team in 2024, where she won a gold medal in the European Championships. While Lincoln is certainly a change of scenery from a baroque city of Northern Italy, both areas share a commonality – their love for volleyball. Jaylen Reyes expressed his excitement for the commitment, alongside Dani Busboom-Kelly, who praises Adriano for her size, well-rounded game, and high-level experience. She will certainly bring a different look to the game that many are used to, and I’m super thrilled that the coaching staff is trying to pursue more international talent. Right now, it seems like riches upon riches for the Huskers, and my only concern is whether this unexpected recruitment may affect the team culture or create tension between teammates. In this modern age of the transfer portal, there’s always a fear that a player could sneak in after a minor inconvenience, but I have trust in these girls.

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Here are several possibilities I’ve mulled over as a result of Virginia's commitment – ranging from ideal to catastrophic. In a paragon reality (where we also beat Penn State in 4 sets and won the natty), Nebraska maintains both Adriano and Hunter for the full width of their eligibility. Virginia only received three years after being denied one for not enrolling early in the spring, meanwhile Ryan is posed for a four-year tenure, unless she uses a redshirt or transfers. Both of them bring a very different style and energy to the court, could be utilized separately on a day-to-day basis, and each hone the qualities necessary to become All-American fan favorites. With two terminal opposites on the roster locked down for the next several seasons, there would be few teams able to take down the Huskers. 

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It’s for this reason that it is so imperative that Nebraska is able to maintain the two of them, and that Busboom-Kelly manages to keep them both satisfied instead of letting their talent go stale on the sidelines. We’ve all seen what happens when a redshirt decision is communicated poorly – and the last thing we want is a Caroline 2.0 situation. From what I’ve heard and seen from Ryan, she is incredibly invested in this program, coaching staff, and her teammates, and something severe would have to happen to change her perspective. As an incredibly competitive person, it could be disheartening to have two older, more experienced players recruited into her position, creating a sense of inferiority. If these emotions are left unaddressed, to foment in the back of her mind until they work their way to the surface, then I could see it becoming an issue later on and maybe resulting in a transfer. Similarly, if Virginia decides to pull a one-and-done (hopefully, at least after winning a Championship – in a similar vein to Simeon Nikolov) that would leave Nebraska scrambling with one freshman opposite on the roster, in the exact same position they were a year prior. 

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None of this would be a conversation if Ryan Hunter’s performance in the spring games hadn’t been so eye-catching and impressive. Many had already tossed her aside this season for intangibles like her age and prior injury, but she distilled many of the lingering notions with the pure firepower of her heavy arm and jaw-dropping shots. Ideally, Virginia and Allie’s presence alongside her in practice will only heighten her already incredibly-high ceiling – you know what they say, “iron sharpens iron.” Nebraska Volleyball is a cavern glittered with dozens of jewels – refined through years of geological processes and meticulous purification. It may require patience and persistence, but the result will be more than worth it; coming to fruition in a tangible form, after endless hours of toiling and cultivation, as an exquisite, indispensable pearl.