It’s about to go down at Nebraska! And Dani Busboom Kelly isn’t wasting any time—she’s suiting up for her coaching debut sooner than we all thought. On March 6, Lincoln Arneal dropped the scoop: “Nebraska will play Kansas in a spring exhibition on April 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Devaney Center.” That’s right—DBK is stepping into the spotlight for her first game at the helm, and honestly, the vibes are already through the roof. Kansas’ Matt Ulmer is also stepping in as a fresh face, with both squads reloaded after their legendary coaches called it a day. But hold up—this ain’t your usual spring scrimmage scene.

Head coach Matt Rhule’s flipping the playbook with The Husker Games—a full-blown sports fest packed with football, volleyball, and even soccer spice. Rhule made it loud and clear back in February: no basic spring game this time. Why? To keep poachers at bay. So now it’s 7-on-7 action, Pro Bowl-style skill battles, Husker legends back in the mix, and even women’s flag football. But before the fireworks fly, Dani Busboom Kelly opened up about how missing pieces—aka Lexi Rodriguez and Merritt Beason—have reshaped the squad.

When Hail Varsity threw the question at Dani Busboom Kelly—“What’s up this spring, kind of taking the other one under the wing?”—she didn’t sugarcoat it. DBK straight-up said, “Yeah, part of this spring that’s new for this team is the leadership roles that Merritt and Lexi have been told played and that they’re absent now.” With those two not around, the team’s been feeling that gap big time. She even admitted, “There has been moments where it’s been… I don’t want to like—‘power struggles’ has a negative connotation. But that’s kind of what it is.”

The vibes? Very much a “who’s going to step up here?” kind of situation. Players are figuring out who’s got the voice, who’s got the vibe, and who’s ready to rally the crew. But instead of spiraling, the squad’s been leveling up. DBK gave major props, saying, “The team’s done a really good job of having those conversations with each other and trying to figure out what works best for them.”

Sure, the coaching staff has been nudging them here and there, but she made it clear—“They’ve taken the reins on most of that.” It’s been a spring of shakeups, glow-ups, and finding that new rhythm without their usual anchors. And hey, no better time than now to find out who’s built to lead the next era of Husker heat.

So, yep, rewind to December—Husker Nation had to wipe a few tears as seniors like Lexi Rodriguez and Merritt Beason officially closed their Nebraska chapter. Coach John Cook, never one to skip the sentimental stuff, hit them right in the feels with roses for each senior and a sweet jersey-framing moment that had hearts melting all over the Devaney. Fast-forward to now, and these two? They’re not just sitting pretty. Lexi’s crushing it in the pros, while Merritt’s out there sprinkling her leadership magic in new corners of the volleyball world.

The seniors continue to make waves

So, picture this: out of literally tens of thousands of all-star athletes across the country, guess who just took home the crown? Yep—Lexi Rodriguez. Our Nebraska libero legend just bagged the James E. Sullivan Award like a total queen, becoming the first Nebraska volleyball athlete ever to win it. This wasn’t just about stats—Lexi won hearts with her leadership, calm in-the-chaos vibes, and that joyful skip past John Cook at Memorial Stadium that honestly deserves its own highlight reel. Harper Murray even said she loves passing next to Lexi because, well, she’s basically volleyball’s version of a weighted blanket.

Now flip the page to another Nebraska powerhouse—Merritt Beason. Just last year, she was closing the college chapter and shaking things up in the pro scene. And boom—November 2024 rolls around and she’s the No. 1 overall pick in the Pro Volleyball Federation Draft. Like, Atlanta Vibe literally traded up to get her. She’s got that spark, that game-breaking magic, and she didn’t stop there. Merritt’s out here making boss moves off the court too—yup, she’s now a head coach at her old stomping grounds, Gardendale High, while still wrecking defenses in the pros. Dual life? More like double icon status.

And honestly, Merritt’s been that girl since day one. Back in high school, she was a full-blown highlight reel—first-team all-state, JVA All-National, MVPs on MVPs, and brainy with it, finishing top 10% of her class. It’s only right she’s now back home, leading the next wave of volleyball dreamers while still chasing her own. Between Lexi snatching history and Merritt raising the bar (and future stars), Nebraska volleyball alums are out here running the game.