What occurs in Vegas often stays in Vegas, nevertheless it was tough to obtain that form of secrecy for the No. 1 Nebraska Volleyball staff.
Competing within the first-ever Players Era Volleyball Showcase at T-Mobile Arena, the top-ranked Huskers placed on a present for the mixed 17,000-plus that attended the two-day occasion. NU began with a blowout of UNLV on Friday evening, dominating the hometown Rebels in entrance of NFL legend and Las Vegas Raiders minority proprietor Tom Brady.
While he wasn’t there on the next day for NU’s rivarly showdown in opposition to No. 2 Texas, he absolutely would’ve loved the beatdown the Huskers placed on the Longhorns — reminding himself of the numerous instances he did so in his storied profession. Star center blocker Andi Jackson has seemingly improved her skillset after an AVCA All-America First Team marketing campaign, leap serving her manner to three aces on the weekend alongside 14 kills on a .583 clip in two matches.
Now, forward of what’s going to be one other signature second for this senior class after they play Missouri at Wrigley Field on Sunday, Nebraska takes a fast detour to the homeland of senior setter Bergen Reilly, the place they will face Jackrabbits of South Dakota State.
Here’s all you want to know earlier than Wednesday evening.
How to Follow Along
Matchup: No. 1 Nebraska (2-0, 0-0 B1G) at South Dakota State (1-2, 0-0 Summit League)
When: Wednesday, Sept. 2
Where: First Bank & Trust Arena, Brookings, S.D.
Time: 7 p.m. CDT
Watch: Midco Sports Plus
Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates
SDSU Scout
Head Coach
- Dan Georgalas | Entering seventh Season at SDSU & as Head Coach
- 103-68 (.602) at SDSU & Head Coach
- 2x NCAA Tournament Apps, 1x NIVC App
- 2x Summit League common season titles
- 2x Summit League Coach OTY, 1x AVCA Northwest Region Coach OTY
- Previous assistant at Wyoming, Kansas & Stephen F. Austin
2025 Finish
- L, 3-1 to Arizona in NCAA First Round at Stanford Regional
2025 Record & Awards
- Record: 23-5 (16-0 Summit League, 1st)
- Conference: Summit League Regular Season Champions; Postseason Runner-Up
- AVCA All-Americans: 1x Honorable Mention
- Conference Awards: Summit League Player and Coach OTY
- All-Summit League: 4x First Team, 1x Freshman Team
All-Time Series
- Nebraska leads 2-0
- Nov. 30, 2007, final matchup in NCAA First Round; 3-0 NU
Key Returners
- Sylvie Zgonc | OH | Sr. | In 2025, she turned the fourth participant in Summit League historical past to repeat as convention participant of the 12 months alongside her second consecutive AVCA All-America Honorable Mention accolade; leads SDSU with 58 factors (4.46 P/S) up to now within the staff’s first three matches of 2026.
- Madison Burr | RS/MB | Jr. | After being named the Summit League Freshman of the Year in 2024, Burr adopted up by changing into an AVCA All-Region and Summit League First Team participant, however has but to seem in a match in 2026.
- Hannah Klein | OH/RS | Soph. | Played in all 28 matches as a real freshman whereas producing 233 kills (third on staff) and a pair of.24 kills per set whereas making the Summit League All-Freshman Team.
- Brooke Larsen | S | Soph. | One of two setters in a 6-2 offense for the Jackrabbits; appeared in 17 units as a freshman in 2025, however has been elevated in her function for 2025 and averages 4.55 assists per set whereas additionally rating third on the staff with 23 factors.
- Claire Logeais | MB | Soph. | Played in 27 units final 12 months as a freshman earlier than changing into one of many beginning center blockers as a sophomore this season with 11 kills on a .417 clip and a team-leading 10 blocks.
- Rylee Martin | S | Sr. | Returning All-Summit League First Team decide after averaging 10.25 assists per set final season, however has shared time in a 6-2 system with sophomore Brooke Larsen; leads the staff with 5.46 assists per set and has chipped in a single ace.
- Joslyn Richardson | L/DS | Sr. | Two-time returning starter at libero for the Jackrabbits and comes off a 2025 season that noticed the Sioux Falls native lead the staff with 344 digs and three.31 D/S whereas setting a brand new program report for 41 aces on the season.
Impact Transfers/Newcomers
- Marisa Michaelis | RS | Fr. | The Minnesota native has grabbed the beginning reverse function in her first collegiate season and has recorded 23 factors (1.77 Ok/S) in three matches alongside with 5 blocks.
- Hannah Mlsna | RS/MB | Fr. | The 6-foot-3 native of Madison, Wisconsin has earned begins in two of her first three collegiate matches with eight kills (4th on staff) and eight blocks (third).
Key Departures
- Sydni Schetnan | MB | Graduated | The 6-foot-5 veteran ended her school profession by making her second-straight All-Summit League First Team and rating inside the highest 30 nationally in each complete blocks (144) and blocks per set (1.38).
- Annalee Ventling-Brown | The Lincoln native and Lincoln East graduate posted 133 kills, 78 block assists and 160 complete factors in her final collegiate season.
- Maggie Meister | L/DS | Transfer | The Sioux Falls native racked up 227 digs and a pair of.18 per set throughout her freshman season with SDSU, however she took her skills and transferred to Northern State over the offseason.
Outlook
From backside half to routine league contender, South Dakota State head coach Dan Georgalas has definitely made his case to transfer up the teaching ladder. Following a 2019 season that noticed the Jackrabbits end 6-22 and second-to-last within the Summit League, Georgalas was employed away from Wyoming and instantly led a turnaround. Jump ahead to 2026 and SDSU enters the brand new season favored to win their third-straight Summit League crown and one other berth within the NCAA Tournament.
Despite consecutive first spherical exits within the final two years, the Jackrabbits are loaded once more. It all begins with senior outdoors hitter Sylvie Zgonc — who will go down as the most effective gamers in program historical past. The Wisconsin native turned simply the fourth participant in Summit League historical past to repeat as Player of the Year whereas incomes her second-straight AVCA All-America Honorable Mention accolade. Plus, she turned a three-time member of the All-Summit League First Team by pacing SDSU with 451 kills and 4.34 per set whereas being second on the staff with 2.61 digs per set.
Teammate and reverse/center blocker Madison Burr can also be prime for an infinite junior marketing campaign, however offseason harm restoration has delayed her begin to 2026. Georgalas rolled with a 5-1 offensive system in 2025 whereas counting on Rylee Martin for setting duties (10.25 assists per set), however he is gone with a 6-2 this season, which has seen Martin’s numbers plummet (5.46 assists per set) and Council Bluffs native Brooke Larsen see prolonged enjoying time as a sophomore. Veteran Joslyn Richardson returns for her third-straight season of beginning at libero and presently leads the Jackrabbits with 31 complete digs in three matches.
The staff was damage with the commencement of center blocker Sydni Schetnan. The 6-foot-5 veteran ranked inside the highest 30 nationally with 144 complete blocks and 1.38 per set, however sophomore Claire Logeais has developed sufficient over the offseason to garner her beginning staff reps. She’s hitting .417 early on with 11 kills and a team-high 10 blocks. True freshman Hannah Mlsna has stepped up within the absence of Burr by gathering eight kills (fourth on staff) and eight blocks (third) whereas making begins in two of the staff’s three matches.
With 4 starters again, there’s so much to like about Georgalas’ seventh squad in Brookings. However, the surprising absence of Burr makes this staff far much less harmful and limits their total ceiling — particularly if you discuss competing within the NCAA Tournament. Regardless, Nebraska ought to dominate and provides NU setter Bergen Reilly loads of alternatives to showcase to her hometown crowd.
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