Wherever the Nebraska volleyball team goes, they leave an unforgettable mark. Curious how? Well, just last week, the Huskers had one of those weekends that’s hard to forget. First, they completely dominated Oregon, sweeping them in three sets (25-12, 26-24, 25-18). But they weren’t done there. The very next stop took them north for a late-night showdown with the Washington Huskies, where they once again claimed a swift sweep (25-17, 25-11, 25-21), notching their 21st consecutive victory. With a season record of 24-1 and a perfect 14-0 in conference play, Nebraska’s power is undeniable.

But what made these wins even more memorable wasn’t just the triumph on the court. Against Oregon, Nebraska volleyball played in front of a record-breaking crowd of over 8,500 at Matthew Knight Arena, and when they took on Washington, they dazzled an even bigger crowd—nearly 9,800 strong—at Alaska Airlines Arena. It’s clear that Nebraska volleyball’s impact isn’t just about the game itself; it resonates far beyond the court. And now, that powerful presence has earned one of the team members a heartfelt tribute from a local coach.

Nebraska volleyball aces off the court!

On November 14, Hurrdat Sports shared a heartwarming story on X by reposting a clip from a podcast, unveiling the deep impact of Nebraska volleyball across Nebraska. The post captioned, “Want to know the impact of Husker volleyball across the state of Nebraska?” gave fans a glimpse into a personal and touching moment from Leyton’s assistant volleyball coach, Kali Miller. Just days before the state volleyball event, Miller welcomed her daughter into the world on a Monday, naming her Merritt after none other than Husker star Merritt Beason.

In the podcast clip, Ana Bellinghausen, Digital Director at Hurrdat Sports, shared the details of when one coach asked Merritt, “Yeah, tell her what you named your daughter,” and then revealed the significance of the name: “the baby’s name is Merritt, which is after Merritt Beason.” The story didn’t end there. Despite the monumental life event, Miller wasn’t letting anything stand in the way of her team’s commitment. “On Monday the assistant coach has a baby; state is on like Thursday for that team; they drive four, five, six hours from the panhandle of Nebraska to Lincoln with this newborn baby.”

It’s undeniable that Nebraska volleyball has made a massive impact off the court, but let’s not overlook the significant mark Merritt Beason has made on the court as well. In the game against Oregon, Merritt Beason played a key role, contributing six kills, and then followed it up with two aces in the match against Washington. Her valuable efforts on the court only add to the undeniable impact of Nebraska volleyball. It’s clear that the Nebraska Effect is real and powerful. But where did this term actually come from?

The ‘Nebraska effect’ is real!

Yep, you heard that right! The Nebraska Effect is real—and it’s making waves everywhere it goes. Let’s rewind a bit and take you back to a few days ago, during a post-game interview with Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook. The presenter, clearly awestruck by the team’s growing fanbase, asked, “Coach, you guys are so fun to watch, and you’re having a little bit of a Caitlin Clark effect. So what’s it like drawing these huge crowds everywhere you go?” Now, Coach Cook, ever the tactful leader, kept it cool, not diving too deep into comparisons.

“That’s a great call by you,” Cook replied with a touch of humor. “It’s been bizarre, I mean, everywhere we go, and I think this all started with a stadium match last year. There’s just the whole country knows about the Nebraska Volleyball, and, I mean, we broke a record every place we go. They’re selling out. But it’s great for women’s volleyball.” While Cook kept things neutral, the comment didn’t go unnoticed.

Kaleb Henry, Husker’s Max lead writer, couldn’t resist tweeting his reaction to a surprising comparison. “JFC @BigTenNetwork really called Nebraska’s impact on volleyball attendance records ‘a little bit of the Caitlin Clark effect,’” he wrote, clearly baffled. To be fair, Clark’s undeniable star power in women’s college basketball hasn’t just filled arenas for her own games—it’s sparked a broader surge in attendance across women’s sports, making the term a go-to for commentators.

But this didn’t sit too well with some passionate fans. And just like that, the Nebraska Effect was born! Annie Kates, for one, wasted no time bashing away on her keyboard, urging, “THIS IS THE NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL TEAM EFFECT!!” as she reminded everyone that Nebraska Volleyball had been making history long before Caitlin Clark ever stepped onto the scene. The fans weren’t about to let anyone steal the spotlight from their beloved team, and they took to social media, fired up and ready to set the record straight.