Recapping the Nebraska Huskers’ Team Shake-Up as NCAA Volleyball Winter Transfer Portal Closes

If the Texas Longhorns fell short of extending the Nebraska Huskers’ woes, the current scenario might add some extra pinch of salt to the Huskers’ scars. The transfer portal fiasco is yet to stop from glowering on the teams. In the zeitgeist of bringing new players into the volleyball team, the NCAA bigwigs cannot delve into a firm position so far. The reason seems to be the scholarship chapfallen as previously a fellow Matt Burnell discussed in length. But for the Nebraska Huskers, the situation went pretty south. 

Even after bringing Taylor Landfair into the squad, the John Cook-coached team invited some serious questions on the team depth. Rather, the legendary coach’s decisions might face an unfashionable spitchcock. 

The obvious barnacle Nebraska Huskers enters 

In the last few weeks, Nebraska Huskers were hit by the criticisms of sending three players into the transfer portal whose multiple years of eligibility remained in the book. However, the team authority tried to settle the dust by bringing Taylor Landfair, the Minnesota OH, into the pack. The salubrious treaty on the last day of the portal seemed overly sweet as the 6-feet-5 passed her Bechdel test by repeatedly claiming the top performance in the Big Ten conference. But as per hurrdatsports. com, the move might hamper the situation more. Keeping Landfair’s past moves in Minnesota in mind, she might now have to battle with Ally Baetenhorst or Lindsay Krause. Increasing the kerfuffle, Harper Murray is already there with Merritt Beason to play six rotation pins. That might leave John Cook little options to include the 2022 Big Ten Player of the Year into the scholarship or last team. 

Moreover, with Taylor Landfair in the final countdown, Nebraska Huskers now have five OHs compared to two MBs and one opposite hitter. That might grow another grueling point as backups in the limiting positions might not be available in the absence of the regular ones. The untimely, or rather unplanned, demotion of the players may have brought that to life. 

The lack of preparedness 

When the last bell in the transfer portal rang, Nebraska Huskers had three of its players there- OH Hayden Kubik, MB Maggie Mendelson, and opposite hitter Carolina Jurevicius. In the presence of Beason, Jurevicius was the least choice to enter the ultimate team, whereas, in the 2023 season, she warmed the bench. Maggie Mendelson had the luxury of being a blue-chip recruit, whereas Hayden Kubik was evaporated in the umbriferous of the trio of Baetenhorst, Murray, and Krause. That might be a supporting factor in sending them outside. But in the absence of them, it rooted several vacuums in. 

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After Maggie’s departure, the MBs are meek now in the Huskers. Moreover, one scholarship also sees an open position that might not go to another. So, to improve things, Nebraska Huskers will have to wait for the second portal which will come live in May this year. 

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