Nebraska and Texas are the NOW and the Future

Reporting live from the Final Four!  Last night I was part of almost 20,000 fans to take in the Final Four, establishing yet another record breaking crowd in 2023.  I'm at the point where a lot of these athletes I have seen play for years on the club courts.  From convention centers full of courts as far as the eye can see to know the main stage, the biggest stage of college volleyball.  I'm not an expert at the college game (I'm trying), but I've been covering the future for these programs.   The athletes who are coming to these final four programs in the Class of 2024 and 2025.  These programs are going to remain really strong, but for the final two in Nebraska and Texas, the future looks dangerously bright. 

Class of 2024 National Recruiting Rankings #1-#10

Class of 2024 National Recruiting Rankings – #11-#20

The rivalries of Wisconsin vs. Nebraska, Texas vs. Stanford, Louisville vs. Pitt, and Texas vs Nebraska are great for the game of volleyball.  The fan bases know the game, they are fiercely loyal, the arena was full with no teams being within driving distance of Tampa.  As for the finals, the Nebraska/Texas rivalry goes way back.  Nebraska won their first national title in 1995, defeating Texas 3-1 to take home the crown.  From there, it was always a battle in the Big 12 and multiple post season appearances with the season on the line for these teams.  It's only fitting that Texas closes out their final season in the Big 12 with an old foe before they head to the SEC. They have also been part of plenty of recruiting battles as well. 

There is a strong chance we will be seeing Nebraska and Texas back in this position for years to come.  Texas will lose All America Asjia O'Neal who was the top pick in the Real Pro Volleyball Federation draft this past week. Her ability to control the frontline and terminate on a slide is a thing of beauty. They also graduate Molly Phillips who has been a staple on the right side for this program and has found ways to step up in key moments. Nebraska didn't even have a senior day, they're all able to come back next year.  And both teams are led by freshmen setters in Ella Swindle for Texas and Bergen Reilly of Nebraska. 

But what's coming for these teams?  

With no seniors leaving, there isn't a ton of room for a huge recruiting class in 2024.  They will bring in Prep Dig's #11 National recruiting class with Skyler Pierce out of the Kansas City area, one of the top outsides in 2024 and Olivia Mauch Olivia Mauch 5'7" | DS/L Bennington | 2024 State #49 Nation NE who is the top libero out of Nebraska in the 2024 class and a top 50 recruit.  Both of these athletes have spent time playing with USA Youth National Teams.  There was going to be another one in this class in Ayden Ames Ayden Ames 6'4" | MB Prosper | 2024 State #3 Nation TX out of Texas.  However, she flipped her commitment from Nebraska to Texas weeks before signing day.  Ames in the top middle in the Class of 2024. 

But wait - there's more!  Nebraska is already building a big time Class of 2025 recruiting class that includes the top ranked setter in the country in Campbell Flynn out of Legacy Volleyball Club in the Detroit area.  Coming from Arizona will be Teraya Sigler, one of the more powerful outside in the country who has had great success with the USA Youth National Teams.  Ryan Hunter is an uber athletic 6'2 lefty right side out of North Carolina.  They've rounded out the class with Keri Leimbach Keri Leimbach 5'4" | DS/L Lincoln Lutheran | 2025 State #45 Nation NE , another home state defender right out of Lincoln, Nebraska.  As always there is still more recruiting to happen, but all of these 2025s are ranking in the top 40 nationally in the Class of 2025 Prep Dig Rankings. 

What About Texas? 

Ayden Ames Ayden Ames 6'4" | MB Prosper | 2024 State #3 Nation TX headlines the Class of 2024 and with the graduation of O'Neal, she could potentially contribute right away.  Texas always has depth and there are middles on the current roster who will be battling for a spot, but Ayden Ames Ayden Ames 6'4" | MB Prosper | 2024 State #3 Nation TX is one who could play right away out of the middle or even right side.  They will also bring in Reese Emerick Reese Emerick 5'9" | DS/L Westlake | 2024 State #33 Nation TX , a libero right from Austin along with setter, Rella Binney out of Hawaii and DS Brennan Ramirez out of Texas. 

Madisen Skinner and Jenna Wenaas each have one more year left to play.  Texas was in need of two big time commits from 2025 and they sure got it.  They will bring in the top two outsides in the country in Macaria Spears Macaria Spears 6'3" | OH Prestonwood Christia | 2025 State #4 Nation TX out of the Dallas area and Abby Vander Wal out of Chicagoland.  Spears has been a star for TAV and Vander Wal at 1st Alliance.  Vander Wal was named MVP and Best Spiker of the U19 World Youth Championships this past year.  They are also bringing in top local players right from the Austin area in libero Callie Krueger Callie Krueger 5'5" | DS/L Cedar Park | 2025 State #24 Nation TX and right side Addison Gaido Addison Gaido 6'5" | RS Georgetown | 2025 State #51 Nation TX .  Krueger and Gaido have played together for Austin Skyline and have a perennial competitor at the open level.