Nick Saban’s football legacy is probably the first thing to strike you when you hear the name of Alabama. Such infested is the state with football, that while growing up in the city of Gardendale, this mighty volleyball talent, like most girls in Alabama, had initially thought of becoming a cheerleader for the Crimson Tide squad. “Volleyball wasn’t a big thing. I didn’t even know you could play volleyball at a young age. I didn’t grow up watching it,” comes her simple confession. And why only her? Look at her father.

The first travel volleyball match her father remembers, the girl’s team lost 25-0. The same girl served the entire match. “I was like ‘What are we doing?’ This is the craziest sport ever,” he thought. Come 2024, he stands as a proud dad because her daughter just became the No. 1 pick in the second-ever Pro Volleyball Federation Draft: “I never saw it coming, but we’re super glad she’s here.” Not only that, taking a roundabout, he now has a piece of advice for all the dads.

“I would advise all the dads out there that they just need to find out about volleyball. Get involved with it and see what a great sport it is. It’s been amazing.” That is how Scott Beason’s perspective on volleyball has changed, thanks to her daughter, Merritt Beason, the two-year captain for the No. 2 Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s volleyball team who was named an AVCA First-Team All-American last season. On November 25, the Pro volleyball team Atlanta Vibe traded their second and ninth picks in the 2024 PVF Draft to the Indianapolis Ignite for the right to select Beason first. The opposite hitter will start her professional career in January in a sport she didn’t even know she could love. But looks like, watching her in a uniform other than Nebraska’s red is something yet to sync in for the Nebraska fans.

On December 28, Atlanta Vibe and the PVF uploaded a joint post of her training shots and wrote, “Oh hey 👋👋 @merbson.” A visibly happy Beason was featured in the Vibe’s ice blue and black colors. That was all needed to turn on the emotions of the Husker nation who loved, cheered, and cared for Beason for all these years. Notably, Beason was not a Husker throughout. She initially joined the University of Florida where she became an All-SEC and AVCA All-Region selection as a sophomore and helped the Gators win a share of the SEC championship. At that point, she longed for a change. That is where Nebraska came into the picture. But Merritt was apprehensive.

“She was worried about it, leaving Florida and coming (to Nebraska),” Scott said. “Then everybody here has been so warm. It’s just been great. There is no place like Nebraska, and that’s just the truth.” Who can deny that? After all, we have the instance of Ninety-two-thousand of them filling a stadium for a volleyball match, something that is unimaginable in Beason’s hometown. Do we need more of it?

Kali Miller, an assistant coach at the Leyton High School volleyball team in the panhandle of the state named her baby “Merritt” after her! She used to be one of the lifelines for her coaches and teammates as well. Merritt was often referred to something new on what has ended. to as the “mom” of the team. However, head coach John Cook can not praise her more.

“Those people are hard to find in this world anymore, people that are servants and want to give back. I just think that is the greatest example of how I can explain to people what Merritt brings to our team,” Cook said of her. While a national championship would have been a fitting end to her collegiate career, Merritt can not be happy enough for what she has got.

“These girls, this coaching staff and all of the support staff took me in and allowed me to flourish in who Merritt is and accepted me for who Merritt is,” Beason said. “There’s countless memories and history that was made, but I think that alone is what I’ll forever be thankful for.” But as they say, you start something new on what has ended. So, Merritt is excited to start her Pro career. And guess what? She actually has a piece of the Huskers in the Vibe squad as well.

Kayla Banwarth, the head coach of the Vibe, has served as an assistant coach with the Huskers from 2017 to 2019. To top it, Merritt will also have Marlie Monserez, her teammate from the Florida Gators, to play beside her. “I am super excited to be going to Atlanta obviously, it’s close to home for me and so I’ll be able to see my family and friends a little bit more and then also my freshman year setter Marlie Monserez. So I am super excited to just be playing with her again and Kayla (Banwarth) obviously played here and coached here. So I am super excited to have a Husker as my coach and be able to learn from her,” Merritt said.

On the other hand, Colleen Craig, owner of Atlanta Vibe, sees Merritt as a great recruit that will be crucial in their championship bid. And why not? As Scott says, “Even when she was little, she’s always been a worker. I’m not surprised (about her success) based on her work ethic.” The Nebraska community has yet to find someone who can replace that void. Their comments on the Vibe’s Instagram post was a succinct reminder of that. Here is how they came out.

Fans pour in reactions as Nebraska Huskers’ alum starts training for PVF

One of them took to the comments and wrote, “I was so confused about why she’s not in Nebraska training clothes and then it hit me lol.” Merritt Beason joined the Huskers for the 2023 season and ever since, has been one of the most dominant players in Division I. No wonder people are used to seeing her in red! And are unable to process the change. Thus, another fan wrote, “No red warmups for Merritt is jarring lol.”

Beason served as a two-year team captain for the Nebraska Huskers and earned AVCA First-Team All-American honors last season after shifting from the Gators’ tent. Interestingly, that’s when the Florida-to-Nebraska move made her feel like she was thrown into the deep end. After all, she’d called it, ‘nerve-wracking.’ But she gradually eased into it. Perhaps that experience should help her as she now trains with the Atlanta Vibe.

But one thing is sure, the fans miss her dearly. Another one wrote, “This makes me so happy for you, but so sad for us! Husker Nation will miss you! ❤️“ Well, it truly will. After all, per coach John Cook, Beason was a ‘gift’ to them. You go through her records and you’ll know exactly why. This season, Beason averages 3.00 kills per set with a .246 hitting percentage with 121 digs, 82 blocks, and 24 aces.

Thus, it won’t be surprising if coach Kayla Banwarth feels the same as John Cook first did at Beason’s arrival. And Beason has a good feeling about this shift too. She had initially stated, “This is an incredible opportunity to play for such a dynamic team with a winning culture. With their success last year motivating them, I am ready to gear up and strive for that championship title.” 

But the Nebraska Huskers’ fans are truly missing her. In fact, one of them commented on the post with a heartfelt request to the Atlanta Vibe. They wrote, “Take good care of her for us😞💔” The team in turn replied, “We will ❤️.” Well, that’s truly big of them! On the other hand, it might be much needed for Beason. She knows a thing or two about how important support is.

When Beason had newly joined the Nebraska Huskers, she said that the GBR girls took her in at a time when she hated volleyball. She wasn’t confident at all! But the coaches and the team allowed her to flourish. And now, there are countless memories in her heart and history in the record books. All of which, she is extremely thankful for.

But whether its in red or blue, Merritt Beason’s fans are not going to leave her side. One of them assured, “Gonna miss you in husker red! 😭😭😭 atlantavibe yall better take care of her, husker nations still loves her! Will be cheering for you merb! ❤️🔥 good luck in your career!” Safe to say, Beason has created a loyal fanbase of her own and they won’t leave her side wherever she goes. We keep our fingers crossed to see her rule the court again, albeit in different colors!