Reporters from the Wisconsin State Journal, Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star offer keys to the game for Saturday night's Nebraska vs. Wisconsin volleyball showdown.
Lee Enterprises
Nebraska volleyball player Lauren Stivrins was selected on Friday when Athletes Unlimited completed its inaugural Volleyball College Draft.
The second-year pro league based in Dallas is inviting nine of the NCAA’s top players to join contracted returnees and free agents who will form the 44-player league. Jordan Larson plans to play in the league again this season.
Top graduating seniors including UCLA’s Mac May, Minnesota’s Stephanie Samedy and Wisconsin’s Dana Rettke lead the class of nine athletes. The league did not release the order the players were drafted in.
2022 Athletes Unlimited Volleyball draft class:
Mac May, outside hitter, UCLA
Stephanie Samedy, opposite, Minnesota
Dana Rettke, middle blocker, Wisconsin
Lauren Stivrins, middle blocker, Nebraska
Yossiana Pressley, opposite, Baylor
Avery Skinner, outside hitter, Baylor
Dani Drews, outside hitter, Utah
Brionne Butler, middle blocker, Texas
Anna Stevenson, middle blocker, Louisville
Photos: Huskers take on Pittsburgh in Final Four clash in Columbus
The Huskers celebrate a point during their national semifinal match against Pittsburgh on Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska's Kenzie Knuckles spikes the ball during the national semifinal match against Pittsburgh on Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Nicklin Hames (1) and Lauren Stivrins (26) try to block a Panther shot during their national semifinal match against Pittsburgh on Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska's Nicklin Hames makes a dig during the national semifinal match against Pittsburgh at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD
A Husker fan holds a sign up during a national semifinal match against Pittsburgh at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska's Kenzie Knuckles goes low to pass during a national semifinal match against Pittsburgh on Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
PAUL VERNON, The Associated Press
Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins (right) hits in front of Pittsburgh's Kayla Lund (left) and Chiamaka Nwokolo during a national semifinal match Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
PAUL VERNON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nebraska's Nicklin Hames (bottom) sets the ball in front of Pittsburgh's Leketor Member-Meneh during a national semifinal match Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Paul Vernon, The Associated Press
Pittsburgh's Chinaza Ndee (left) watches her tip in front of Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst during a national semifinal match Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Paul Vernon, The Associated Press
Pittsburgh's Serena Gray (right) attacks against Nebraska's Kayla Caffey during a semifinal match at the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
PAUL VERNON, The Associated Press
Nebraska's Kayla Caffey (top right) spikes the ball in front of Pittsburgh's Chiamaka Nwokolo during a national semifinal match Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Paul Vernon, The Associated Press
Nebraska's Madi Kubik (right) spikes the ball in front of Pittsburgh's Chiamaka Nwokolo (left) and Chinaza Ndee during a national semifinal match Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Paul Vernon, The Associated Press
Nebraska's Lindsay Krause (left) spikes the ball in front of Pittsburgh's Leketor Member-Meneh during a national semifinal match Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Paul Vernon, The Associated Press
Pittsburgh's Leketor Member-Meneh (right) drives the ball against Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins (left) and Nicklin Hames during a semifinal match of the NCAA volleyball tournament Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
Paul Vernon, The Associated Press
Pittsburgh's Rachel Fairbanks (left) reaches for the ball in front of Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst during a national semifinal match in the NCAA volleyball tournament Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
Paul Vernon, The Associated Press
Nebraska players celebrate after they defeated Pittsburgh in their national semifinal match Thursday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, THE WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst celebrates a point during their national semifinal match Thursday against Pittsburgh at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD
Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (8) celebrates as the Huskers finish off Pittsburgh in four sets in a national semifinal match Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
PAUL VERNON, The Associated Press
Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins (left) and Lindsay Krause hug after defeating Pittsburgh in their national semifinal match at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday.
EILEEN T. MESLAR, Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska's Kayla Caffey spikes the ball in front of Pittsburgh's Chiamaka Nwokolo during a semifinal of the NCAA women's college volleyball tournament Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
PAUL VERNON, The Associated Press
Nebraska's Lindsay Krause (left) spikes the ball in front of Pittsburgh's Leketor Member-Meneh during a semifinal of the NCAA volleyball tournament Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
PAUL VERNON, The Associated Press
Pittsburgh's Rachel Fairbanks (left) reaches for the ball in front of Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst during a semifinal of the NCAA volleyball tournament Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
PAUL VERNON, The Associated Press
Nebraska's Lindsay Krause (center) spikes the ball between Pittsburgh's Leketor Member-Meneh (13) and Serena Gray during a semifinal match in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
PAUL VERNON, The Associated Press
Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins (26) celebrates with teammates Ally Batenhorst and Nicklin Hames (1) following a victory against Pittsburgh in a national semifinal of the NCAA volleyball tournament Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
PAUL VERNON, The Associated Press
Pittsburgh's Serena Gray (left) spikes the ball past Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins during a semifinal match in the NCAA volleyball tournament Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.
PAUL VERNON, The Associated Press
• Texts from columnists
• The most breaking Husker news
• Cutting-edge commentary
• Husker history photo galleries
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!