Nebraska Cornhuskers Make Waves in AVCA Player of the Year Watchlist

An increasing number of athletes from the Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball team are gaining national recognition as contenders for the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I Player of the Year Award. The AVCA watch list initially began with 36 players last month, and recently expanded to include 16 more individuals, as reported on Friday.

Initially, the list featured Nebraska players Merritt Beason, Harper Murray, Bergen Reilly, and Lexi Rodriguez. The updated list now includes Andi Jackson, a middle blocker, making five Cornhuskers named. Jackson, who hails from Brighton, Colorado, has been notable in her sophomore season. After securing All-Big Ten Second Team honors last year, she ranks third on the team for kills and is second in both hitting percentage and blocks. Her performance places her fifth in hitting percentage among players in the Big Ten Conference who have played in at least 50 sets.

The AVCA commented that the players added to the list have “emerged as the season progressed.” Additionally, finalists for the prestigious award will be announced in November, paving the way for the 2024 AVCA Player of the Year winner, which will be declared on December 20 in Louisville, Kentucky.

In related news, the watchlist also includes new additions from other collegiate teams. Penn State‘s Izzy Starck and Taylor Trammell have joined their fellow player Jess Mruzik on the list, highlighting their impressive performances. Starck, a freshman, has already garnered 639 assists, averaging 11.02 per set this season. Meanwhile, Trammell, serving as a middle blocker, has achieved 117 kills with a .458 hitting percentage and a total of 59 blocks in 2024.

Kaleb Henry, an experienced sports journalist with a decade of covering Big Ten Conference teams, has reported extensively on collegiate athletics, including the Nebraska Cornhuskers. His insights continue to contribute to a broader understanding of sports dynamics within these prominent university programs.