Former Nebraska Volleyball player Merritt Beason expressed pride in the Huskers team and how they’ve maintained their momentum in the 2025 season. The Big Red had a heartbreaking end to their NCAA campaign, losing to Texas A&M in the Regional Finals.
Beason was an opposite hitter on the Nebraska team after playing with the Florida Gators for two years. She has since been balancing a professional volleyball career and coaching.
Former Nebraska Volleyball player Merritt Beason Shares Her Admiration For The Huskers
Beason was a prominent member of the Nebraska squad, earning All-Big Ten and AVCA First-Team All-American honors in her first year. She also contributed crucial points to help her team advance to the NCAA Finals, where they lost the title to the Texas Longhorns. In her final year with the Big Red, the 22-year-old started all 36 matches and once again earned a place on the All-Big Ten team.
In an interview with Hail Varsity, the former Husker commended the depth of talent on the No. 1 team. It said that she takes pride in her beloved juniors for sustaining their performance throughout the entire season, despite the challenges. She said:
“They’re insane. They’re stacked and I know somebody said it recently I genuinely think you could split that team into two and have two probably top-five teams. They’re absolutely loaded, and to be able to sustain that for an entire year is really really difficult so I’m just super proud of them.”
She also mentioned the team captains and the excellent volleyball they’ve played at the NCAA Tournament.
The Huskers moved past Long Island University, Kansas State, and Kansas in the first two rounds and the Regional Semifinals before falling to the Aggies in a five-set thriller.
How Did Nebraska Volleyball Perform In The Elite Eight?
Nebraska Volleyball entered as the No. 1 seed, coming off an unbeaten season with an overall record of 33-0. They even cemented their status as the top performers in the Big Ten, winning the title outright for the third consecutive year. They were scheduled to face the Aggies in the Elite Eight at home on Dec. 14, 2025.
Interestingly, the Huskers were riding a 63-match home-winning streak at the Bob Devaney Sports Center when their Regional Final opponents dashed their title-winning dreams. The Aggies dominated the net and didn’t allow the Big Reds to break through. Despite forcing a fifth set, they failed to punch their 19th ticket to the Final Four. Harper Murray recorded 25 kills, Rebekah Allick had 15 kills, and Bergen Reilly had 13 digs.
In the previous season, Nebraska’s title-winning campaign came to an end in the NCAA Semifinals, as the team fell to Penn State. This time, they were onto a unique record of winning the title after an undefeated season, but the Aggies pulled off the biggest upset of the season.
