Last week, the Nebraska Huskers put the brakes on their dominant 13-game win streak with a clean sweep victory against the Rutgers. The Cornhuskers put on a clinic, beating Rutgers on every set, and at the end of the day, the scoreboard read 25-15, 25-16, and 25-12. However, after their long and successful run, some of Nebraska’s volleyball stars, such as Harper Murray, may’ve been in dire need of some rest.

Murray has proven herself as a standout in the defending Big Ten Champion team. The outside hitter has excelled in both offense and defending duties for her team. However, the nearly non-spot pressure of the competitive season, which started on August 27, has had its effects. Nate Johnson, the sports director at Channel 8 KLKN-TV, posted a clip of Murray confessing the same.

“I don’t want to say yes, but like I think it probably does here and there,” Harper Murray said in the clip from a press conference that Johnson posted on X. The volleyball player has noticed how during certain plays her body has refused to respond in the way she wanted. “I might not transition as hard because my legs are tired,” the athlete explained.

“I don’t mean to do it, or it’s on purpose, but I think like overtime wears on me,” the former Big Ten Freshman of the Year confessed in the clip. However, the Nebraska Husker didn’t pay much heed to the slight discrepancies. “She leads the team in kills, K/S, and is third in digs,” Johnson revealed in his post, and Harper herself didn’t seem too worried about the workload.

In fact, it was Harper Murray who led the charge against Rutgers on October 12. The 19-year-old shined with 13 kills and 11 digs on “Pink Night at The Bob!” where Nebraska honored a lineup of honorary starters who have battled breast cancer. Harper’s performance and the Husker’s triumph only made the evening at Bob Devaney Sports Center even more special. However, there may be another reason the outside hitter doesn’t mind giving it to her all this season.

Harper Murray is on the road to redemption

While the AVCA All-America Third Team member is excelling on the volleyball court, she had a tumultuous off-season. After a stellar freshman season, things spiraled out of control in mid-2024 as the Huskers’ standout had multiple run-ins with the law. The consequences followed her to the court, where Murray found herself suspended from the Volleyball Spring Match in April.

Needless to say, the athlete’s mental health took a nose dive during the period. Thankfully, Harper Murray didn’t face any suspensions for the ongoing season and turned a new leaf for the sophomore year. Harper’s teammate stood beside her during her off-season troubles, and the 19-year-old hopes to return the favor.

“I think we’ve done a really good job of helping Harper through all the stuff that she’s had to deal with, but also that’s just the culture of Nebraska volleyball,” co-captain Merritt Beason told Sports Illustrated in August. So while Harper Murray may appreciate a week’s rest ahead of their October 18 clash against Michigan State, she’s most likely itching to extend Nebraska’s win streak to 14.