“Oh hey 👋👋 @merbson,” says a post on the official Atlanta Vibe page. In said post, the former Husker Merritt Beason is all smiles, thoroughly enjoying her time at the Georgia State gym. Fans received another glimpse of Beason’s initial days in Atlanta in a TikTok video posted by the pro volleyball outfit, and they loved what they saw. Beason was seen killing it on the court, showing off her skills like it was nobody’s business! “Oh nothing just Merrit Beason,” said the caption. It is safe to say, the Alabama native is settling in quite well.

But what is the secret behind such a smooth transition? Well, it is of course her hunger to make it big as a pro. This is her first season as a pro volleyball player, and she would want to prove that she is worth her salt sooner than later. But there’s something else as well. A Nebraska connection.

If Nebraska is a dish, then you know who the Cook is. Come on! It was right there! Very few volleyball coaches in the country can hold a candle to John Cook. The man has had a 43-year-long coaching career, 24 out of which he has dedicated to Nebraska. And it’s not just time that he has given. He has won four national titles with the team and has been responsible for coaching the finest volleyball talents for the side. Thankfully, for Beason, she has found some of the Nebraska vibe in Atlanta coach, Kayla Banwarth.

Her connection with Nebraska? Well, she played libero for the Huskers from 2007 to 2010. That is not all. After shifting to coaching in 2017, she returned to the Huskers camp as an assistant coach and guided the team to a Big Ten Championship and a NCAA Championship title in just her debut season. So, when Beason was asked about how it felt to have a former Husker in Atlanta, she revealed how she found it comforting. “So, it’s pretty comforting. Obviously, she was a great volleyball player and a great coach, and just having that connection is… really special,” she said. Beason’s statement goes on to show how deep her love for Nebraska runs. Even though she has moved on to the big leagues, she is comforted by the thought of being guided by a Nebraska star.

“I have been here a few days, but so far it’s pretty similar. So, it’s comforting, and it makes the switch a little bit easier to ease into things,” she added. That’s what a player wants, right? For a transition to a new setup to be easy. The sooner an athlete settles in a new side, the sooner they can hit the ground running. All things considered, things look good for Atlanta Vibe and Merritt Beason.

Beason’s connection with Nebraska is obviously special. After all, the team and Coach Cook catapulted her into volleyball stardom. However, what made her time with Nebraska even more special was actually something much bigger.

Beason witnessed history as a Husker

“Little Merritt hoped to go to community college right down the road… volleyball wasn’t a big thing.” This was Beason’s reply to a journalist who asked her if her young self could have ever imagined being so successful. Yes, little Merritt would have never played volleyball because it just wasn’t a big enough phenomenon in Alabama. If only the Beason who witnessed history on August 30, 2023, could talk to little Merritt.

On the day, “Volleyball Day in Nebraska” saw the Nebraska Huskers beat the Omaha Mavericks 3-0 in front of a record-breaking crowd of 92,003. And it wasn’t just any record that was broken that day. It was the world record for the biggest attendance for a women’s sports game previously held by the UEFA Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Wolfsburg.

Merritt Beason was right in the thick of things on the day, witnessing history. A day later, the athlete expressed her gratitude in an Instagram post. She wrote, “Husker nation is truly one of a kind! 92,003 strong, a world record, and an unforgettable night. Thank you to everyone who made this possible. Can’t wait to see what’s next for women’s sports.” Perhaps little Merritt smiled that day, proud of her choice to play volleyball. Because the day showed that volleyball is big, and so are women’s sports.