Ring, ring… when volleyball calls, Harper Murray never hits the snooze button! This rising star of the Huskers had quite a tumultuous ride in the 2024 season. While Nebraska narrowly missed snagging the NCAA Championship crown, they proudly claimed a piece of the Big Ten title pie. As for Harper, her season was nothing short of electric! But the journey wasn’t without its hurdles.

After courageously stating that Nebraska would win “three national championships in the next three years,” in 2023, the online trolls came for Harper in a storm that landed her in a difficult off season. The pressure accumulated to a DUI arrest in April, but Harper proved that she is indeed a fighter. She came back stronger, and she returned to the court, earning her second career AVCA All-America Second Team selection in addition to being named to the All-Big Ten First Team and the AVCA All-Region Team for the second straight year.

Harper was on fire in her sophomore year; she contributed 3.40 kills per set, a .257 hitting efficiency, and 39 ace serves as a team high. Add nine double-doubles to the mix, and Harper was a highlight reel all on her own! Now, with the upcoming 2025 NCAA season ahead of her, Harper and her Husker crew are ready to go for another shot. But first, there is work to be done—and it is sending her to Kansas City all while she battles mental health issues!

On January 24th, Triple Crown Volleyball lit up Instagram with an exciting announcement about Harper Murray’s return to Kansas City, and it’s not just for another game!

“We are excited to welcome @harpermurrayy back to Kansas City at the NIT…. but this time as a PRESENTING athlete!! If you are headed to NIT, mark your calendars to come listen to Harper share her story in taking her volleyball game to the collegiate level. She will candidly share her mental health journey, offering personal insight into the challenges she’s faced and the growth that has come from navigating adversity as an elite athlete.”

The Triple Crown National Volleyball Championships in Kansas City, MO, has proved to be the meeting point for volleyball talent, boasting some of the best clubs in the country. It all began in 2013 as a casual idea-sharing meeting with 25 of the best club directors in Triple Crown Sports’ Colorado headquarters,  and has evolved into a premier showcase of excellence. Jump to 2025 and now the attention is on Harper Murray, who is not just showing up to spike volleyball but to spark meaningful conversations.

Harper’s fight through the highs and lows of mental health is as compelling as her volleyball skills, a role model for young athletes trying to fight through the same. As she once reflected, “My struggle with mental health has been nothing short of exhausting yet rewarding,” through Instagram in December 2024. And now, with a new NCAA season knocking on the door, Harper is ready to step into the limelight once again, carrying the weight of big dreams and even bigger expectations.

Harper Murray takes the helm of her new role at Kansas City

As the countdown begins for the 2025 volleyball season, the Nebraska Huskers are ready to reignite their fiery rivalry with the Pittsburgh Panthers, carrying the heat from 2024 into the new year. Lincoln Arneal took to X, announcing, “Nebraska will kick off its 2025 season against Pittsburgh on Friday, Aug. 22, in the AVCA First Serve Showcase at Pinnacle Bank Arena.” However, as the Huskers are expecting to take to the floor, they will be doing so without the familiar brilliance of Lexi Rodriguez and Merritt Beason, who have graduated.

Enter Harper Murray, who’s not only stepping up, but stepping into a position that requires more than skills, its leadership. Looking at the task at hand, Harper noted, “Like I said earlier, the leadership side of things is going to be big for us. Merritt and Lexi are leaving, and we’re going to need people to step up. That’s something I hope to step into, but more mentally, I think that’s where the growth is going to come. Physically, volleyball is a game of errors and momentum, so that’s always something to keep in back of your head.”

With wisdom beyond her years and a fire in her heart, Harper is set to steer the team as Nebraska dives into what will be an interesting season.