Former Nebraska volleyball player Leyla Blackwell was left in awe as Merritt Beason stood out defensively in the recent Omaha Supernovas match against the Orlando Valkyries. The outside hitter recorded seven digs but couldn’t help her team complete the comeback.
Beason and Blackwell joined the Supernovas in 2025, with the former coming off a one-season stint with the Atlanta Vibe.
Former Nebraska Volleyball Player Blackwell Commends Beason’s Defense in Recent PVF Match-Up
Beason was a standout player on the Huskers team and graduated at the end of the 2024 season when she and her team reached the NCAA semifinals, but couldn’t go past Penn State in the final run. Having played all 36 matches and shining on defensively, she won her third consecutive AVCA All-Region honor and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team for the second straight year.
She then played with the Atlanta Vibe in her first professional season, where she was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. The 22-year-old helped her team reach the semifinals of the PVF Championships before moving to the Supernovas. As the 2026 season rolled in, the former Husker rediscovered the form that had impressed the loyal fanbase during her collegiate years.
In the recent game against Orlando, Beason stood out with her defensive skills, never losing sight of the ball, and earned a point for her team. She scored seven digs in the game, and a short clip of her performance prompted a reaction from her teammate, Blackwell.
The latter, who was a Husker only during her senior year of graduate school, shared the video on her Instagram story and expressed her awe with a mind-blown and a queen emoji.
Beason played with the Huskers when it reached the NCAA playoffs in 2023. Despite their best efforts, they fell to the Texas Longhorns. It was her first season in Nebraska after she spent her freshman and sophomore years with the Florida Gators.
The outside hitter, who was a finalist for the 2023 Honda Sport Award for Volleyball, once shared that her transition from Nebraska volleyball to the Supernovas was made easier by teammate Blackwell. The two were roommates during their final semester and built a deep bond of friendship that went beyond the court.
She also opened up about how her camaraderie with the middle blocker helps her better manage tough times, as professional volleyball can take a toll. They shared the court after Nebraska in Omaha’s season opener against San Diego Mojo, the latter’s former team, on Jan. 8, 2026. Beason also coaches the Gardendale High School volleyball team.
