For Nebraska volleyball fans, it has been a somewhat anxious few weeks. After the legendary John Cook announced his retirement last month, the entire camp was eager to see how Dani Busboom Kelly would manage to fill his shoes. But it looks like the Huskers alum was already making moves behind closed doors.

Nebraska will be heading into the new campaign without several seniors who left the program last year. While that has also been a reason for fans’ distress, Busboom Kelly’s squad might have some relieving news to share.

The Huskers volleyball squad just gained a new member in Kenna Cogill, who had previously committed to Oregon. The rising volleyball star posted on Instagram on February 24 sharing her decision, captioned, “Change of plans.” “Due to recent changes, I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my education and play volleyball at the University of Nebraska! This has been a dream of mine since I started playing volleyball,” Cogill wrote in her post.

In her social media update, the new Huskers signee also thanked the head coach. “Special thanks to Coach Dani, Coach Jaylen, and Coach Kelly for giving me this amazing opportunity and making this dream come true,” the post read. Just days after Cook’s departure, it was announced that former coaching staff Jaylen Reyes and Kelly (Hunter) Natter both would retain their position in the Huskers camp, and it looks like they have also been doing everything to make sure there’s no gaping hole in the roster ahead of the new season.

Huskers Illustrated’s Lincoln Arneal also confirmed Cogill’s move via a post on X. “Former Oregon commit Kenna Cogill has flipped her college plans to Nebraska,” the Nebraska volleyball insider wrote, highlighting Dani Busboom Kelly’s first major signing after taking over the reins from her predecessor. But Kenna’s decision to head to Nebraska instead of Oregon shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Back in 2022, Nebraska staff writer Abby Barmore shared pictures from the Dream Team Camp, where Cogill and Teraya Sigler could be seen standing next to Jaylen. Bumping the social media post from almost three years ago, Barmore wrote on X on February 24, “This tweet has aged incredibly. Both Teraya Sigler and Kenna Cogill stood out during Nebraska’s 2022 Dream Team Camp. Now they are both Huskers.” Noting how Sigler and Cogill are former clubmates from their Arizona Storm Elite VBC days, one should rest easy knowing that Kenna’s new chapter in life will have someone to make the transition easy for her.

Dani Busboom Kelly’s roster is shaping up well

For twenty-five years, John Cook guided the Huskers volleyball program, taking it to newer heights not attained before. With multiple NCAA and All-American honors for both himself and his athletes during the period, one thing was clear: Coach Cook always had developed the talents to back up his dreams for Nebraska volleyball. The love and commitment came through once again, in the days before Cook left the Lincoln campus and left behind his last parting gift for Dani Busboom.

In mid-January this year, the Huskers announced the signing of Teraya Sigler, the 2024 Gatorade Arizona Volleyball Player of The Year. The No. 1 national recruit shared her glee in an interview and highlighted why playing for the Huskers has been a lifelong dream. “When I was 1o-years-old, they were the first match I watched on television….You know, the crowd, you can feel it through the screen how much people live watching volleyball,” Sigler said, even going on to reveal that her younger self would be over the moon if she knew one day she would be playing for the iconic Nebraska volleyball team.

Just days before that, Mercy High School graduate Campbell Flynn was also announced as the new setter, who would join the Huskers as a freshman in 2025. A Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year, Flynn should be a sturdy addition to the team. Along with Flynn and Sigler, the Junior Volleyball Association All-National Team for the class of 2025 honoree Ryan Hunter, 4x state championship winner Keri Leimbach, and the 2024 NORCECA Continental Championship MVP and gold medalist, Manaia Ogbechie will also be joining Cogill in the Huskers locker room.

With all these new stars and talents, how do you see Dani Busboom Kelly embarking on her new adventure? Share your predictions on Nebraska’s 2025 season with a comment below!