Meet the 2018 Nebraska volleyball team
Several players return from the 2017 national title run. But there are many new faces, too. Meet the 2018 Huskers.
Nicklin Hames
Setter | 5-10 | Fr. | Hometown: Maryville, Tennessee.
There is probably going to be an uneasy feeling with the prospect of a freshman being the starting setter. But Hames comes in with a lot of confidence and great experience. That includes playing on the high school team as an eighth grader and helping lead Webb School to five state championships. She was ranked as the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2018 class by .
Mikaela Foecke
Outside hitter | 6-3 | Sr. |  Hometown: West Point, Iowa.Â
As a junior she earned All-American honors for the first time, earning a spot on the second team. But to this point in her career what she’ll be remembered for is twice being chosen as the most outstanding player of the NCAA Final Four, when the Huskers won championships in 2015 and ’17. Now, as a co-captain, she’s motivated to lead the Huskers to another great season.
Megan Miller
Defensive specialist | 5-6 | Fr. |  Hometown: Alexandria, Indiana.Â
Miller is another example of how Nebraska is putting an emphasis on recruiting athletic but smaller players to play defense, much like Kenzie Maloney. Miller was an outside hitter in high school, where she finished her career with 2,600 kills, 1,620 digs and 455 ace serves.
Sami Slaughter
Outside hitter | 6-1 | So. |  Hometown: Harrisburg, South Dakota.Â
She played in six matches as a freshman, and may have a bigger role this year, especially if Lexi Sun has some limitations due to an injury. You may also see Slaughter play more on the two occasions when Nebraska plays two matches in one day.
Anezka Szabo
Right-side hitter | 6-3 | So. |  Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota.Â
In her first season as a Husker she played in 14 matches, had 15 kills and three blocks. Szabo may be the top backup at both right-side hitter and middle blocker. “She is like an artist blocking, how she moves and how she blocks. She’s amazing,†coach John Cook said.
Chen Abramovich
Defensive specialist |  5-6 | Fr. |  Hometown: Kfar Saba, Israel.Â
She’s joining the Huskers after fulfilling her army commitment in Israel. Her volleyball recruitment began after she sent a video of her playing to the Nebraska coaches.
Brooke Smith
Setter | 5-10 | Sr. |  Hometown: Weatherford, Texas.Â
Smith is back in Lincoln after playing last season at Kansas State, where she was a part-time setter. She played her first two seasons at Nebraska. She had 27 ace serves last season, and could be a serving specialist for the Huskers.
Mari Kurkova
Setter | 5-10 | Jr. |  Hometown: Opava, Czech Republic.Â
After a long process to get her NCAA eligibility approved, she arrived in Lincoln just a few days before practice began and entered the competition to be the starting setter. She was part of the Czech Republic women’s national team and played in the FIVB World Grand Prix.
Capri Davis
Outside hitter | 6-1 | Fr. | Hometown: Mansfield, Texas.
In high school she was an Under Armour first-team All-American and the No. 21 ranked prospect in the country by . “Capri is a former middle blocker who we are converting to an outside hitter,” Cook said. “She is a great blocker and a very physical player.”
Lexi Sun
Outside hitter | 6-2 | So. |  Hometown: Encinitas, California.Â
Her decision to transfer from Texas, and then ending up at Nebraska, was some of the biggest news of the offseason in college volleyball. She ranked second for the Longhorns in kills last year with 377. Cook’s announcement that Sun was coming to Nebraska was amusing to some people. “Lexi really provides depth at the outside hitter position, where we’re a little thin,†Cook said. Nebraska’s good fortune was continuing when adding a former No. 1 national recruit “provides depth.â€
Kenzie Maloney
Libero | 5-8 | Sr. |  Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
This will be her second year as the Huskers’ starting libero. After helping the Huskers win the national championship last season she earned a spot on the NCAA Tournament all-tournament team. In a very close match against Penn State in the national semifinals Maloney made a big difference with 21 digs, six assists and four ace serves.
Jazz Sweet
Right-side hitter | 6-3 | So. |  Hometown: Tecumseh, Kansas.Â
As a freshman she played in all 125 sets, averaging 2.22 kills per set on .273 hitting. She had a couple of really big kills when Nebraska beat Penn State in the national semifinals. This year she’ll have a chance to earn playing time in the back row, which would give the Huskers another attacking threat with Sweet hitting out of the back row.
Callie Schwarzenbach
Middle blocker | 6-5 | Fr. |  Hometown: Kearney, Missouri.Â
With only two middle blockers on the roster, she’ll be a starter right away. She came to Nebraska as the No. 10 overall recruit in the 2018 class. Her club team, KC Power, won a national championship.
Lauren Stivrins
Middle blocker | 6-4 | So. |  Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona.Â
In her first year playing last season she ranked second on the team in blocks with 127. She had nine kills in the national championship match. “When she goes beast-mode, she’s as good as anybody in the country,†Cook said.
Hayley Densberger
Defensive specialist | 5-9 | So. |  Hometown:Ìý²Ñ²¹±ô³¦´Ç±ô³¾.Ìý
She was one of the biggest surprises last season while playing in 30 matches as a serving specialist. Six of her 10 ace serves came during the NCAA Tournament. She’s the only Nebraskan on the team.
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