Nebraska head volleyball coach John Cook speaks at the NU athletics press conference on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021.
In a vote by league volleyball coaches, Nebraska is picked to finish second in the Big Ten Conference this season.
Two-time defending Big Ten champion Wisconsin is the unanimous favorite to earn a third consecutive Big Ten title. All 14 Big Ten coaches took part in the balloting and were permitted to vote for their own teams and players.
Last season, Wisconsin had a 13-0 record in the league, and 16-1 overall. The Badgers return all but one starter, including four All-Americans. Wisconsin has won each of its past five matches against Nebraska.
The Badgers are seeking to become the first Big Ten program to earn three straight conference titles since Penn State captured eight in a row from 2003-10.
Last year, Nebraska finished third in the Big Ten with a 14-2 record, while also having six matches canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
Nebraska's Lexi Sun and Nicklin Hames made the 14-player All-Big Ten preseason team.
The Huskers are ranked No. 5 in the AVCA poll.
Photos: Husker volleyball team showcased in Red-White Scrimmage
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
White team players Ally Batenhorst (14) and Kayla Caffey (3) coverge for a block against the Red team's Lexi Sun on Saturday, Aug. 21, during Nebraska's intrasquad scrimmage at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
The White team's Ally Batenhorst hits between two Red team players during Nebraska's intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Kenzie Knuckles (left) passes in front of Keonilei Akana during the Huskers' Red-White Scrimmage on Aug. 21 at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star file photo
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska head coach John Cook salutes the crowd before the start of the team's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Keonilei Akana receives a serve during the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Kenzie Knuckles dives for the ball during the Red-White Scrimmage on Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star file photo
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
The Husker White Team celebrates winning the first set against the Red team at Nebraska's volleyball scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's White Team celebrates a point during the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Kayla Caffey of the White team goes for a block during Nebraska's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska associate head coach Tyler Hildebrand talks with Anni Evans during the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes talks to his White team players during the second set of the Red-White Scrimmage on Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star file photo
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
The White team's Madi Kubik (center) celebrates a point during the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Lexi Sun receives a serve during Nebraska's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Callie Schwarzenbach rises for a kill attempt during the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Whitney Lauenstein (facing right) exults with Lexi Rodriguez (8) and Kennedi Orr (9) after Lauenstein scored a point during the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Whitney Lauenstein follows through on an attack during the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Kennedi Orr sets the ball during last year's Red-White Scrimmage at the Devaney Sports Center. She's expected to take over the starting setter role this season.
Journal Star file photo
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Keonilei Akana (6) serves during the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Whitney Lauenstein of the White team prepares to serve during Nebraska's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Madi Kubik (10) and Lindsay Krause (22) celebrate a first-set point on Saturday, Aug. 21, during the Red-White Scrimmage at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Ally Batenhorst (14) celebrates a point with her Red team teammates on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Kalynn Meyer (20) lifts a shot against the White team on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Lexi Sun of the Red team passes during the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Callie Schwarzenbach (left) and Lauren Stivrins stand for the national anthem before the team's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Ally Batenhorst (right) and Kenzie Knuckles celebrate the White team's first-set win over the Red team in a Husker scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes and players Kenzie Knuckles (2), Kayla Caffey and Anni Evans (4) enjoy the White team's first-set win against the Red at the Huskers' scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
The Red team's Lexi Sun attempts a kill against Ally Batenhorst in the first set of Nebraska's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Lexi Rodriguez (right) of the Red team passes in front of Lexi Sun in the first set of Nebraska's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes applauds his White team after it won the first set in the Huskers' Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER. Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska fans return to see the volleyball team's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Ally Batenhorst (14) takes a swing for the White team during the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Madi Kubik serves during the team's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska Red team players celebrate a point during the Huskers' intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst (right) receives a serve in front of White team teammate Keonilei Akana on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
The view of the arena Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center during the Red-White Scrimmage.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska Red Team celebrates a point on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Lexi Sun spikes the ball past Whitney Lauenstein (13) and Kayla Caffey (3) on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Whitney Lauenstein (13) serves the ball in the first set on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts speaks to the crowd before the Husker volleyball team's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Nicklin Hames (1) is helped from the floor after a fourth-set injury at the Nebraska volleyball team's Red-White Scrimmage Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Kalynn Meyer (20) and Kennedi Orr celebrate Meyer's point in the fourth set of the Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska’s Lexi Sun (11) points towards Kennedi Orr (9) after a fourth set point as Kayla Caffey (left) and Lexi Rodriguez look on Saturday, Aug. 21, during the Huskers' Red-White Scrimmage at the Devaney Sports Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Lexi Sun (left) celebrates with Kennedi Orr after Sun's kill during the Husker volleyball team's Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Lindsay Krause (center) celebrates with the White Team after a point against the Red during an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Red Team celebrates winning the Red-White scrimmage on Aug. 21, 2021, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Journal Star file photo
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Lexi Sun waits for a serve during the Huskers' Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Kayla Caffey (3) and Whitney Lauenstein (13) laugh on the court on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Kenzie Knuckles (2) serves the ball on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
NU volleyball Red-White Scrimmage, 8.21
Nebraska's Keonilei Akana (6) serves the ball on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Devaney Sports Center.
EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
• 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!