On January 26, the Nebraska Huskers made a bold move in the transfer portal, shaking things up in the game. For over 50 days, no one came in, and no one went out of the portal. However, like an unexpected twist on Instagram, Baylor senior and opposite hitter Allie Sczech made a surprising announcement: she was planning to attend Nebraska for her final year of eligibility. In 2024, Sczech was not just any player for the Bears, she was a force to be reckoned with, starting 14 matches and scoring 2. 44 kills per set.

Let’s not forget her All-Big 12 Second Team honors in both 2022 and 2024. Oh, and in Baylor’s NCAA Tournament games? She smashed a ridiculous .508 hitting percentage across two matches—a program record, no less. Now, she’s taking her talents to Lincoln and going for a Master’s in Journalism while killing it (literally) on the court. And why Nebraska? Sczech just revealed a game-changing factor that sealed the deal for her.

Huskers Illustrated reported on January 26 that Sczech had only good things to say about her Baylor experience—yet as the second half of last season dawned, the idea of a transfer seemed inevitable. Being still an undergraduate student majoring in broadcast journalism, which she is to complete in May this year, she began to aim higher. The catch? There was no master’s in journalism at Baylor, so she had to expand her search for both her academic and volleyball pursuits.

Her journey led her to Nebraska Huskers, where Sczech got the full VIP treatment from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications crew. They laid it all out—how they’d support her in balancing the grind of grad school with the hustle of playing volleyball at a high level. It was like they were speaking her language, one that perfectly matched her ultimate career dream of becoming a sideline reporter or game analyst. “It just felt like home. It was a perfect fit, and it had everything I could possibly want, and it was a win-win on both sides of the spectrum,” said Sczech, speaking about her decision.

Now, Sczech is entering the scene, replacing Merritt Beason, the senior Nebraska Huskers’ player who finished her college career in 2024. Beason was the best opposite hitter in the roster, and the prospect of taking on her role was one more reason that drew Sczech to Nebraska:

“If someone told you you could go play somewhere where Merritt Beason was and be a miniature version, you would sign up, too.” Sczech’s arrival couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. Now, with her arrival along with some new faces is making Huskers’ roster an awesome team!

Nebraska Huskers move forward with a steady roster!

Nebraska Volleyball surprised many in November 2024 when the team signed five top athletes for the Class of 2025, securing the second-best recruiting class in the nation, according to PrepVolleyball.com. These future stars–Teraya Sigler, Campbell Flynn, Ryan Hunter, Keri Leimbach, and Manaia Ogbechie–have the USA Volleyball, high school, and club experience and will help the Nebraska Huskers step up.

Coach John Cook was full of praises for his new recruits, beginning with Teraya Sigler, an outside hitter: “Teraya has a heavy, heavy arm, but she’s also a very good all-round six-rotation player… She has amazing leadership skills and is a vocal leader who will be a voice in our gym from day one.” Setter Campbell Flynn brings poise and versatility to the court. “At 6-3, Campbell is a taller, left-handed setter. She’s very physical and athletic and can make sets from anywhere on the court,” opined Coach Cook on the reigning Gatorade Michigan Volleyball Player of the Year with 730 assists and 188 digs to her name.

Opposite hitter Ryan Hunter is also a fiery competitor who shines under pressure. “Ryan has a bubbly personality, but when the game starts, she’s an intense competitor,” Cook said. As far as defense is concerned, Lexi Rodriguez‘s alma mater can rely on Keri Leimbach. Cook also believes that she’ll have that extra bit of motivation playing for the Huskers: “Keri is a homegrown Nebraska girl who loves the school and the state.” Finally, middle blocker Manaia Ogbechie has also impressed the Nebraska coach with her “ability to change a game with her offense.” With this powerhouse class, the Huskers are stacking the deck for an exciting future!