It seems like Dani Busboom Kelly is indeed getting comfortable at the helm of the Husker’s playground! Just a month ago, she had some massive shoes to fill after John Cook’s retirement, stepping in as the Huskers’ new head coach. Nebraska fans have been riding an emotional rollercoaster ever since, wondering how their squad would take shape without the legendary leader. But behind the scenes, Busboom Kelly has been making some serious moves to keep the program on solid ground. With several seniors leaving, the situation was uncertain–but then she hired a new star for the team. Enter Kenna Cogill!

The former Oregon commit had a change of heart, dropping an Instagram post on February 24 with the caption, “Change of plans.” In her announcement, she shared, “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.” And now? Kenna Cogill’s arrival has sparked some bold confessions from none other than an ex-Louisville volleyball star!

Dani Busboom Kelly’s ex player confesses!

Sydney Hilley threw out a fun hypothetical question on TikTok, asking volleyball players: “Okay, you’ve been granted an extra year of eligibility, but you can’t go back to the school you came from. Where are you going and why?” And guess what? Anna DeBeer didn’t hesitate with her answer! Flashing that signature confidence, she chimed in, “Only coz I can’t go back to Louisville, I’d go to Nebraska with Dani.” Looks like her love for Louisville runs deep, but if she had to switch it up, she’d be all in for Nebraska under Dani Busboom Kelly, her former coach. Talk about a plot twist!

And honestly, who would not want to be led by Dani Busboom Kelly? The Huskers sure did! They embraced her with open arms and she reciprocated it. Earlier this month, in a reel shared by Huskers Volleyball, Dani opened up about the overwhelming support she received from the team during her transition. “I thought that was amazing. You know, I don’t know these players very well. I recruited them, some of them. I might have had one or two conversations with some of them, but nothing more than very surface level.” And yet, despite losing a legend like John Cook, the team wasted no time embracing their new coach.

“For them to lose someone like John and immediately be able to turn their focus into, you know, what’s next and what can we do to support Dani, it was huge to hear that,” she added, proving just how much the Huskers were ready to rally behind her and knowing she had found the right place at the perfect time. The players’ support made her transition smoother, making Nebraska feel more like home every day. But speaking of deep connections—Dani and Anna DeBeer’s bond runs even deeper. So deep, in fact, that Dani once teared up for Anna.

Dani tears up for Anna DeBeer!

Back in December, the NCAA volleyball season came to a heartbreaking close for Louisville, as Penn State took the championship away from their home ground. However, for the Cardinals, one question remained unanswered—what if Anna DeBeer had been on the court instead of watching from the sidelines? Her semifinal injury cast a shadow over what could have been, leaving fans and teammates wondering how different the outcome might’ve looked. As emotions ran high, Louisville’s head coach, Dani Busboom Kelly, reflected on the season with teary eyes, knowing just how much this team had poured into the journey.

And when it came to Anna, Dani didn’t hold back. “I think it’s emotional when you have a player like Anna out, who—you know that, I mean, everybody in this building knows that outcome… it might not be different, but it would have been a different match, and she’s sacrificed a lot,” she admitted, the weight of the moment clear in her voice. The loss of a player like DeBeer at such a stage was not only difficult, but it was a disaster.

But even through the heartbreak, Dani found pride in the way her team rallied. “It was an incredible performance by Charitie and Sofia,” she said, spotlighting the teammates who stepped up in Anna’s absence. “We had Nay (Nayelis) running a 51 this week for really the first time all year. As a freshman, she really stepped up.”

Despite the bittersweet ending, Dani made one thing clear—Louisville’s fight never wavered. “really impressive to see,” she said, holding back the emotions that had been building up. They may not have walked away with the title, but they walked away with something just as powerful—pride, resilience, and a fire that won’t burn out anytime soon.