Nebraska Volleyball 2024 Position Preview: Setter
Nebraska Volleyball’s 2024 season is around the corner. The Huskers are coming off an incredible 2023 season, which ended with heartbreak in the national title match. NU had four players leave the program but added two very experienced and two freshmen.
HuskerOnline dives into each position group in this annual position preview series. Next in the series is the setter, arguably the most important position on the court.
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What we know right now: Bergen Reilly is the best setter in the Big Ten
Bergen Reilly was the first freshman to win the Big Ten Setter of the Year honor. Rightfully so, as she proved the Huskers with a desperately needed consistent and great setter. Reilly took seven really good hitters and an elite libero and gave them the key missing period to win a Big Ten title.
Reilly is already a favorite for the 2024 Big Ten Setter of the Year honor. She was named a Big Ten First Team, All-Freshman team and an AVCA Second-Team All-American. Nebraska hit .273 as a team, its highest percentage since 2017.
She set the bar extremely high for herself.
Nebraska added San Diego transfer middle blocker Leyla Blackwell, Minnesota transfer outside hitter Taylor Landfair and freshman Skyler Pierce. Reilly must develop a strong rhythm and connection with her new hitters.
This off-season, the Sioux Falls, S.D. native helped fine-tune Nebraska’s offense and worked on her blocking skills. The Huskers are more than confident in her setting abilities, although there is always ways to improve. However, attention to her out-of-system skills and all-around abilities will take the setter to another level.
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Key stats and numbers from 2023:
| Name | Sets | Assists | Assists per set | Aces | Aces per set |
| Bergen Reilly | 121 | 1272 | 10.51 | 26 | 0.21 |
| Kennedi Orr | 96 | 3 | 0.03 | 7 | 0.07 |
| Name | Blocks | Digs | Digs per set |
| Bergen Reilly | 63 | 319 | 2.64 |
| Kennedi Orr | 4.5 | 39 | 0 |
Biggest Question: Orr’s role as a serving specialist
Senior Kennedi Orr has embraced her role as NU’s backup setter and serving specialist. She is a true teammate who does everything possible to better her team, even if that is watching from the sideline.
In 2023, Orr played in 96 sets as a serving specialist. Orr’s tough serve and good passing skills earned her the spot last season. She beat out walk-on defensive specialist Maisie Boesiger. Boesiger still served in 36 serves.
But that role is going to be very difficult to earn this season. Freshman defensive specialist Olivia Mauch has a killer serve and is naturally a better passer.
The trio of Mauch, libero Lexi Rodriguez and DS Laney Choboy likely has Cook thrilled at the possibilities. Orr’s serving specialist role will likely be passed onto Mauch.
Projected Lineup:
- Bergen Reilly
- Kennedi Orr
