The head coach of Nebraska Volleyball, Dani Busboom Kelly, recently revealed the emotional significance of the Huskers’ Pink Out Night. That evening, the Huskers faced Northwestern, recording a 3-0 victory.
Kelly took charge of the program after legendary coach John Cook announced his decision to step down in January 2025. Since then, she has led the Huskers to a strong start, with the team yet to lose a match this year.
What Dani Busboom Kelly Said About Her Personal Connection to Nebraska Volleyball’s Pink Out Game
Kelly opened up about her personal connection to Pink Out Game, sharing that the event was meaningful to her because her grandmother passed away from breast cancer. In a post-match press conference, the former Louisville head coach described the night as a ‘pretty big deal.’
“My grandma died of breast cancer, so it’s a pretty big deal. I thought the honorary starters were really neat. I haven’t been a part of that here, I think that’s new since I was here as an assistant. We didn’t do that at Louisville. So to see them on the court, it just means a lot. Obviously, it helps bring more awareness to something that affects so many people. I thought it was a really great night.”
She also appreciated Nebraska’s new tradition of having honorary starters, the individuals personally affected by cancer, as a heartfelt way to honor them. Speaking about Ryan’s mother, who is herself a survivor, she said: “Yeah, it was awesome..I thought that was fun, and the moment between her and Ryan was great.”
Kelly also described the sweatshirt worn by Ryan’s mother, Kim, as one of the cutest pink sweatshirts she had ever seen. On the occasion, Kim sported a pink sweatshirt with a Nebraska logo in the center, paired with blue knee-length jeans and red boots.
Currently a freshman for the Huskers, she impressed as a junior with an average of 4.3 kills per set and a hitting percentage of .317, along with 169 digs and 51 blocks. This was one of the reasons behind her being one of Nebraska’s top recruits, despite missing her senior year due to injury.
How Has Nebraska Fared this Season?
Despite contending with formidable opponents such as Penn State, Stanford, and Kentucky, among others, Nebraska has continued its dominant run, with an unbeaten record, with its most recent triumph against Michigan State, also a commanding 3-0 sweep on home soil.
The victory elevated the Huskers to a 20-0 record, marking their 11th straight-set sweep of the season. Their upcoming clashes include an away game against Wisconsin on October 31 and a home matchup with Oregon on November 2.