It had almost been a perfect run. After dominating the conference, Nebraska has reached the 2023 NCAA Championship final as the Big 10 champions. Yet, it all fell apart in front of the Texas Longhorns. The Huskers were distraught after losing the final 3-0 to Texas. Yet, probably no one took the loss harder than Harper Murray, as she wore a respondent expression.

“If I go in there, it’s not going to go well,” Murray told the staff members who asked her to join the press conference. While they succeeded in getting Murray to face the media, the Outside Hitter was right. “I think we’re going to win three national championships in the next three years,” said the 19-year-old. Although she barely spoke, this one statement was enough to start a chain reaction.

Harper Murray’s statement went viral almost immediately and then came the backlash. Despite earning Big 10’s Freshman of the Year, many doubted Murray as a member of the team that had lost in the finals. However, this year, as Nebraska once again gears up for the NCAA championships, the 19-year-old feels ready. “I feel like I have something to prove,” Murray told the New York Times.

However, the journey to regain her confidence was one filled with trials and tribulations. While the sophomore contributed massively to make Nebraska the 2024 Big 10 season tables toppers. She felt scared to even step on the court at the start of the season. That’s because the December 2023 backlash was only the tip of the iceberg of Murray’s troubles.

The mental and emotional stress of the loss and the online backlash sent Harper Murray spiraling. Depression replaced the champion’s mindset, culminating in a DUI arrest in April 2024. What’s more? The prodigy lost her spot in the U21 U.S. Volleyball Team. Thankfully, it was through the support of her teammates and John Cook that Murray bounced back stronger than ever.

How John Cook became the architect of Harper Murray’s redemption

As one of the most talented freshmen, John Cook had developed a fondness for the Ann Arbor native. After winning multiple AVCA Coach of the Year awards and National Championships, Cook knew excellence when he saw it. So when Murray hit rock bottom, he didn’t give up on the hitter. “You do everything you can before you give up on these kids,” said Coach Cook.

So instead of repeating the USA Volleyball’s actions, the 68-year-old didn’t cut Murray from the Huskers’ roster. “It’s one thing to say that… It’s another to act on it.” said the 19-year-old, according to the New York Times. It was this faith and “unconditional love” from both her coach and teammates that got Harper Murray back on track.

Today, as the Nebraska Huskers bask in the glory of a 25-game win streak in the regular season, the 68-year-old head coach is confident. John Cook is confident that no matter the outcome, his star pupil won’t repeat the same mistakes she made after December 2023. And his confidence is not misplaced.

Last season, Murray, “passed 2.21/55.7 GP%. That’s higher than every Nebraska freshman OH since VolleyMetrics started to compile stats.” posted  Avid Volleyball on X. Working tirelessly to achieve 313 kills and a hitting percentage of 0.257 (so far) in 2024, Harper Murray is more determined to win the National title than ever before.