The night unfolded like a dream for Nebraska volleyball. On December 6, the Huskers were all set to face Florida A&M at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Coming off their Big Ten volleyball championship win, it was their first match since that victory, and it was also the opening game of their NCAA championship run. Last year, they had to watch the Longhorns sweep the crown, a painful memory that still lingered for outside hitter Harper Murray. So, with everything on the line on Friday, the Huskers weren’t about to let history repeat itself—and they didn’t.

Nebraska handed Florida A&M a crushing defeat, advancing to the second round of the national championship with ease. And guess who led the charge? Harper Murray. The sophomore outside hitter was a force to be reckoned with, delivering a clinical performance to knock Texas A&M out of the match.

She came out swinging, finishing the game with 12 kills on 25 attempts. Talk about a stellar showing! Her hitting percentage? An impressive .440. As if her performance wasn’t enough to spark discussion, people started asking: Is Harper Murray on a mission? In the post-game press conference, she shared a little insight on the matter.

“We didn’t know how good we were. And we just played. And it definitely felt like we have less pressure on us this tournament,” she said, making it clear that while the title is the goal, she’s not getting bogged down by pressure. But, make no mistake, she’s definitely on a mission to fulfill a promise she made last year after that crushing loss in the finals.

Harper Murray wasn’t happy with the loss to Texas in the NCAA final, to say the least. The 6’2” outside hitter couldn’t shake the sting of the defeat, so she promised herself—and Husker Nation—a bigger dream. In her post-final press conference, she boldly claimed, “I think we’re going to win three national championships (in) the next three years.” While some took that as a defiant declaration, others didn’t quite get it. The backlash came fast and furious, and Murray had to endure the fallout for months. But that didn’t stop her.

Now, a year later, she’s more confident than ever. In the press conference, the 19-year-old wasn’t making wild promises, but she sure wasn’t lacking in belief. “We’re older. We’re more mature. And we’re experienced now. We’ve played in the tournament before. But I also think it’s just trusting that we’ve built relationships. And we’ve put the work in,” she said, confidently outlining the reasons behind her team’s renewed strength. But it’s important to remember—none of this would be possible without the leadership of coach John Cook.

Harper Murray owes coach John Cook 

With the backlash issue on social media, Harper Murray faced heartbreaking setbacks and woes in her life. The depression put a blanket on her for months. Apart from that, in April this year, she came under scrutiny on the charges of DUI in Lincoln. Moreover, a charge of shoplifting of $65 jewelry also chased her. The attack on her took a vicious form. Even the Michigan native had to lose her place on the U.S. national team. A loss can give birth to several more. That led the Murray family to expect Harper’s suspension from the Huskers. But coach John Cook stood as a rock behind his mentee. 

Veteran coach John Cook didn’t give up on Harper Murray when things got rough. Instead of sidelining her, he stayed in close contact, offering reassurance and making it clear to her family that she wasn’t going anywhere. Slowly but surely, the storm passed, and Harper returned to her best form. And boy, did she deliver, proving she was worth every ounce of belief her coach had placed in her.

Cook’s faith in his players is solid. “I learned a long time ago that you do everything you can before you give up on these kids,” he once said—a philosophy that seems to have paid off big time. Now, with the national championship in full swing, Murray has a chance to turn her bold words into reality. Last year, she talked about winning three titles. Could this be the first checkmark on that ambitious list? What do you think?