Harper Murray has been playing with a new spark this year, building off her recognition as the Big Ten’s top freshman and her third-team All-American selection. Last month, she took home Big Ten Player of the Week honors after putting up 12 and 16 kills against Washington and Purdue, showing her ability to deliver when it matters.
But what’s grabbed just as much attention as her kills is the energy Murray brings off the court. The junior outside hitter surprised some when she openly admitted to being somewhat of a villain. This playful admission landed well with her teammate, Rebekah Allick. Like Murray, Allick has also picked up Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season, making the duo stand out for more than just their stats.
What Did Harper Murray Say About Being a Villain?
The conversation took an entertaining turn during “Big 10 Volleyball Media Day,” where Murray, Allick, Averie Hernandez, Kayla Burbage, and a few other top players took part in a lie detector challenge. When asked who would be the villain if Nebraska Volleyball starred in a reality show, Murray answered after only a brief pause: “Probably me.”
Allick quickly agreed, saying Murray might fit the “villain” label because she’s not afraid to be direct. “You just be telling people. You’d be like, I don’t like that you said that,” Allick said. Murray didn’t shy away from the idea, but put her own twist on it. She admitted she might be controversial, but she doesn’t think anyone on Nebraska’s team is a true villain. Instead, she feels everyone on the roster brings a little controversy to the table.
“I would just be controversial, but I don’t feel like anyone would be the villain. I feel like everyone on our team would be controversial,” she added.
Ultimately, both Murray and Allick agreed that all those little team controversies make Nebraska Volleyball a fascinating group to watch. With that kind of mix, they’re confident a Nebraska Volleyball reality show would be a must-see, thanks to their interesting everyday lives together.
At the beginning of 2025, Nebraska Volleyball faced a significant change when Dani Busboom Kelly took over for John Cook as head coach. That switch marked a massive moment for the players, who had grown used to Cook’s style and approach.
Discussing the experience of going through such a major change, Murray said it has definitely been tough at times, but credits the staff and athletic department for making the process as smooth as possible. She shared that seeing Kelly step in for Cook wasn’t a massive surprise for the team. According to Murray, everyone saw it coming.
“I think we all knew going into it, if this were to ever happen with John, Dani would be that person. I feel like the volleyball world knew that too, so it wasn’t a shock,” she added, per Hurrdat Sports.
Currently, Murray says the group is still adjusting to Kelly’s team dynamics and culture, but the transition has been relatively smooth so far.
