It’s hard to believe the Nebraska Huskers didn’t make it to the NCAA Finals Championship! They were one of the favorites, but things took a crazy turn when Penn State knocked them out in the semifinals with a 3-2 comeback win. This win earned Penn State a spot in the final against Louisville. On the other side of the court, Louisville easily won against Pitt with a 3-1 set, and the stage was set for the final bout. Finally, it was Penn State that triumphed over Louisville by winning the match 3-1, and thus Penn State had eight national titles at the KFC Yum!

What do you think made this win even sweeter? Penn State’s coach, Katie Schumacher-Cawley, became the first female head coach to take her team to the Division I volleyball championship. The match was also full of fluctuations: the first set was won with the score 25–23, but the second with a passionate 34–32. Payton Peterson came off the bench and had a fantastic game as she filled in for Anna DeBeer, who was not playing as she had three ace serves. However, Penn State was not ready to let them get ahead and won the following two sets 25-20 and 25-17 to clinch victory and the final championship.

Perhaps the most impressive player of the match was Jess Mruzik. The one that stood out was her; she had 29 kills, 14 digs, 5 blocks, and a .315 hitting efficiency for the game. She was declared the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and there were very valid reasons as to why this should be so. She had been ferocious already in the semifinal, where she attacked for 26 points to lead the fight of Penn State to overturn the result against Nebraska Huskers to advance to the finals. She was equally effective against Louisville, coming up with some big kills, especially during those final moments that would see Penn State pull away.

When all was said and done, Penn State wrapped up the season on a 12-game win streak and a 35-2 record. Their path to the title wasn’t easy, though. They had to take down Delaware State, North Carolina, Marquette, and Creighton in the tournament before the wild semifinal comeback.

However, in the fourth set, they were serving a point away from winning the match, but the player from Penn State, Jess Mruzik, came in with three kills to clinch the set 28-26. Then they finished the job with a 15-13 win in the fifth. This fight was breathtaking, but the goal was achieved as the Penn State team fought for an outstanding national champion. The last game for Nebraska Huskers was quite sad for them, but the fans of the Huskers also seemed to grasp and voice out what went wrong for them.

Fan reactions to Nebraska Huskers’ loss in the national championship semifinal

After Nebraska’s heartbreaking loss in the national championship semifinal, Sasha, a fan of the Huskers, shared a post on X with a touch of humor, saying, “if i had a nickel for every time a nebraska player transferred and won a natty the year after nebraska lost in the finals … id have 4 nickels … which is kind of a lot.” Fans had a range of reactions. One fan expressed frustration, saying, “I’m losing my love for volleyball. We always have the best recruits and the best crowd and find ways to let this happen.” Another fan was more critical, adding, “I call those kinds of transfers from NU, traitors. At least until they come back and play for the Supernovas. 😆”

Sunday’s national championship match also made history by setting a new NCAA Division I volleyball attendance record. With 21,860 spectators in the stands. This year, three former Nebraska volleyball players have returned to the Cornhusker State to play professionally for the Omaha Supernovas. Kayla Caffey, Briana Holman, and Kaitlyn Hord all made waves in their careers at Nebraska Huskers.

Caffey, who played two seasons in Lincoln and earned All-America honors in 2021, helped the Huskers reach the national title match as an athletic middle blocker. After transferring to Texas, she helped the Longhorns win the 2022 National Championship and played professionally for Grand Rapids last year. Hord, a standout middle blocker who led the nation in blocks during her season at Nebraska, played for the Columbus Fury last season. Holman, the eldest of the three, played for Nebraska in 2016 and 2017, earning All-America honorable mention both years. She played a key role in the 2017 National Final win over Florida, contributing seven kills on .417 hitting. Holman has since played professionally in Israel and Thailand, adding international experience to her impressive resume.

One fan expressed their frustration, saying, “And for this reason I did not watch today and do not feel happy for them. When coaches begin to recruit talent out of high school, develop that talent, and don’t purge other schools of their talent, I will cheer for them. Half of Penn State starters were from other schools.” Another fan added, “def heartbreaking to remember we had multiple match points last game and this natty could’ve been ours.” And yet another wondered, “Is Nebraska not paying enough?”

Despite these frustrations, Nebraska’s volleyball program has been in incredibly capable hands under John Cook. Cook has guided the team to four national titles, 13 conference championships, and 11 Final Fours. It’s no surprise that Nebraska Huskers was doing everything possible to hold on to him. Cook’s contract even was extended through 2029, and with that comes a significant pay raise. He’s now earning $825,000 annually, with a $75,000 increase, along with a $70,000 retention bonus.

But the perks don’t stop there. Cook will also receive a deferred compensation package of $1 million, bringing his total annual earnings to a staggering $1.895 million. While it might seem like he’s being handsomely rewarded for his efforts, even with one of the best coaches in the country, Nebraska still couldn’t win the national championship this year. It’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who saw their team come so close but fall just short.