In the realm of volleyball, Harper Murray shares uncanny similarities with someone, and she knows that. Last week in her Instagram story, the outside hitter posted, “So so proud of you campbell. i can’t wait to be a part of your journey as a husker…see you soon husker nation.” The celebratory message she dropped for that ‘someone’ for achieving a milestone: the Gatorade National Player of the Year title. Notably, in 2022-2023, Harper claimed that title while representing the same state, Michigan. Furthermore, in a few weeks, the duo will share the same volleyball camp, Nebraska Cornhuskers. Is there any more similarity left? 

Yes, there are a few. Such as? The ‘someone,’ Campbell Flynn, has witnessed a clear impact of Harper’s entry into the Huskers in her recruitment in the same program. How? They are from the same state, Michigan. But is that connection enough to influence Campbell Flynn’s recruitment? Not much, though. Then?

Harper Murray leaves a solid mark in junior’s career 

Campbell Flynn is one of the five fresh recruits for the Nebraska volleyball program’s upcoming season. The 6’3” setter comes with massive experience of playing in the club and national lineups. But also, she has another plus point. She and Harper Murray have played for the same volleyball club, Legacy. So did this shared club tenure help her settle her feet in the Huskers? No. But the shared timing brought her an opportunity. How? In her interaction with Hail Varsity, the Gatorade National Player of the Year said, “They [Huskers] were trying to recruit Harper at an early age, and then one of my coaches kind of told them, like, ‘Hey, this girl could be really good,’ and so they just followed me since like 8th grade, seventh 8th grade, and I went to their first camp in eighth grade.” And we can say that those interactions along the sideline dictated Flynn’s volleyball fate. 

Afterward, the junior grew a special feeling for the Big Red. She continued to follow the Huskers’ volleyball matches. Meanwhile, she never felt herself as someone away from the program. This bonding worked in leading her to sign up for Nebraska after landing the call. How was the entire excitement? While replying to this question, Campbell said, “It was crazy. It’s I still like don’t feel like I’m going there in a week, but it’s just so I’m so excited and I can’t wait.” And what about Harper Murray? Did she guide the Mercy High School alum in navigating her route to Nebraska? 

Campbell Flynn had a fantastic answer. She still counts her visual experience of seeing Murray at Legacy as learning lessons for her. “I remember seeing her play, and she’s just obviously a great volleyball player, but she actually has helped me a lot, and she tells me if I have any questions, I can ask her,” Campbell claimed in the interaction.

Meanwhile, she laid out, “She’s just been a really good mentor.” What a deeply emotional journey it is that Murray’s influence has transformed someone into one of the nation’s top players currently and guided her to the Huskers! Soon, the similarities will touch another height when the duo will rub their shoulders together in Nebraska. But remember, Harper Murray isn’t the only Husker whom Campbell knows closely. Then? Who’s the other? 

Another Husker great leaves a mark in the recruit’s heart

At the end of the 2024 volleyball season, Nebraska fans had to bid goodbye to outside hitters like Merritt Beason and Lindsay Krause. The duo is on their professional volleyball journey now. Fortunately, the squad still has someone like Bergen Reilly. Last season, Bergen had 81 kills with a hitting percentage of 0.383. Also, she had 348 digs, averaging 2.85 per set. In the upcoming season, Reilly will probably grace the court again and have someone with her who once played with her. 

Yes, as per Campbell Flynn, she shared the court with Bergen in the past. Her presence in the lineup is another reason Flynn signed up for the role. In the conversation, she claimed, “I played on U21 with her [Bergen Reilly] and she’s just obviously a great player, but she’s also a better person, and I’m so excited to see and learn from her.” Campbell Flynn is coming to the Nebraska Huskers with lots of familiar bonds and possibilities of performing top-notch. The fans will now count the days they will watch her perform at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.