While women’s volleyball is incredibly popular, it also demands highly of the athletes. Naturally, the teams at the top of the food chain have to rise up to the expectations more than the others. And this can sometimes become a burden on the players. With the Nebraska Huskers being one of the top contenders for this year’s NCAA title, it’s only normal that the athletes are having to cope with immense pressure. But outside the hitter, Harper Murray might already have some knowledge of how to deal with the daunting intensity.

The sophomore volleyball star joined John Cook’s team in 2023 and was named the AVCA Region Freshman of the Year on her first run. This year, the Huskers are eyeing to win their first national title since 2017, and Murray is likely to play a central role in the NCAA campaign. However, in her very first year, Harper got a taste of how the fans can be blatant with their words.

A YouTube upload from December 5 by ESPN shares how Lexi Rodriguez’s teammate had to walk through hellfire as sneering comments flew at Murray after a rather flamboyant comment she made last year. “Making that comment just opened up like a whole new world of hate that I never thought I was going to get. I just got a bunch of hate comments, a lot of DMs,” Harper can be heard saying in the recent video.

In a presser in 2023, the volleyball athlete noted that the Huskers would go on to win three back-to-back NCAA titles in the next three years. Fans immediately flocked to social media to jeer at Harper Murray for her confidence, and she was caught off-guard. With allegations that she ruined the sport, Harper’s trip to Hawai’i was a nightmare. “I’m in Hawaii like posting all this stuff on Instagram and like, me and my team look so happy and we look like we’re having an amazing time but little does everybody know I basically cried myself to sleep every other night,” she confesses with a bitter look on her face.

As the comments got harsher, things started looking even grimmer for Murray, “I never thought that I would be at such a low point,” she told ESPN. She also revealed that a pervasive thought of hurting herself kept occupying her mind, as a reaction to all the jibes that came her way. “I was just trying to numb myself,” she says in a recent YouTube video. However, while the experience might have left a bitter taste in her mouth, Harper will need to find a way to deal with the upcoming task, and fast!

Harper Murray could be John Cook’s centerpiece for NCAA dominance

Coach Cook has a lot to look forward to this year’s national campaign. The Huskers finished the regular season with a stellar 29-2 overall record and went on to share the Big Ten trophy with Penn State. One of the major highlights of the season has definitely been sweeping arch-enemies Wisconsin 3-0 twice in November. And yet, the veteran volleyball coach couldn’t stop noting how incredible it would be to win the NCAA championship as a fitting parting gift to the seniors who will be leaving the Lincoln campus after their final run together. On the other hand, facing Florida A&M in the first round of the tournament has Cook and his girls fired up.

Back in 2004, the Florida team beat the Huskers 3-1. And with the fixture slated to pan out on December 6 at the Devaney Center, Cook is eager to even the scores this time around. Murray has been on a roll all season. With 338 kills in 103 sets, the OH could play a pivotal role in aiding John Cook in his quest. But will Harper Murray be able to overcome her past challenges to make the Huskers the national champions once again? Share your predictions for Friday’s game below!