After several challenging training sessions over the last two weeks, Dani Busboom Kelly decided Nebraska needed a break. 

The NU coach took a different approach this week, as the Huskers stepped away from the practice gym and visited Vala’s Pumpkin Patch on Tuesday afternoon. 

Even though the top-ranked Huskers took some time off, they are still putting in the work to prepare for Thursday’s 6 p.m. match against UCLA on FS1 before hosting USC Saturday at 8 p.m. on BTN. 

“We went pretty hard the last two weeks, early in the week, and you want to balance that out,” Busboom Kelly said Tuesday night on her weekly radio show. “With the weather changing, schools getting tougher — you got those midterms — I think it’s a good week to make sure we get our work done, but not a week that we have to push really hard.”

Nebraska (19-0, 8-0) spent the first practice during fall break focusing on USC before switching their attention to the Bruins. 

Even though the Bruins (15-4, 6-2) are just outside the AVCA rankings, the NCAA tournament selection committee tabbed them as the No. 13 overall seed based on results through Saturday. (UCLA survived in five sets against Ohio State.) 

The Huskers will face UCLA, which features two of the country’s best middle blockers. Marianna Singletary is averaging 2.58 kills per set on a .339 hitting percentage and 1.61 blocks per set, which ranks in the Top 10 nationally. The Bruins also feature Brooke Harwood, who is putting up .259 kills and .77 blocks per set with a .363 hitting percentage. 

Busboom Kelly said that while they don’t try to avoid an opponent completely, they want to be aware of an opponent’s strengths and focus on the usual serving, passing and being aggressive. 

“We want to make sure our middles are running different routes and making sure they’re available,” she said. 

The Bruins also feature senior outside hitter Maggie Li, who leads UCLA with 3.29 kills per set. Busboom Kelly has faced Li the past two years, including in 2024, when she coached at Louisville and Li played for California. 

On Saturday, Nebraska will face a team in flux against the Trojans. On Sept. 30, USC announced that coach Brad Keller was stepping away for an indefinite personal leave. Megan Moenoa was named interim head coach. 

The Trojans beat No. 18 Indiana but are 2-6 overall in the Big Ten. After losing setter Reese Messer to the transfer portal in the offseason, USC has shifted to a two-setter system led by Lilli Etter (7.02 assists per set) and Milly McGee (6.82). 

Busboom Kelly said she is impressed by opposite Abigail Mullen, who leads the team with 3.12 kills per set and middle blocker Mia Trvdy, a Papillion-La Vista graduate. She compared USC (8-10) and Texas (9-7), saying the records aren’t impressive, but both are still dangerous. 

“Once they put it together, they’re going to be hard to stop because they have the athletes,” she said. “They have some great experience, and it’s a team that can be scary from a physicality standpoint.”

Last weekend, Pitt coach Dan Fisher addressed a recommendation by the Volleyball Oversight Committee to shorten the window to 15 days. However, he would still open it starting before the regional round of the NCAA tournament. 

Fisher is fine with the shorter window, but would prefer not to open the portal while the season is still going on. He said aligning with the college football period (Jan. 4-13, 2027) would be better for everyone involved. 

“Almost every other sport the NCAA has found a way to get the portal out of their season,” he said. “I hope we can put some pressure on the powers that be, and they can do the right thing for the 200 and 250 student-athletes that are still remaining.”

Busboom Kelly agreed with Fisher’s perspective. She said opening the portal during regionals is too early, as 16 teams are still playing. You might be interested in a player in the portal, but hosting them on a visit sends the wrong message to your team that’s in the hunt for a championship.

She said doing it a week later would work better, but waiting until after the season causes other issues, such as getting schools to admit possible transfers. In addition, the recruiting calendar has a dead period (meaning recruits can’t visit campus) from the day of the national semifinal until Jan. 1. 

“Players wanting to take visits make decisions hard, and school starts pretty quickly,” Busboom Kelly said. “If we have a strict window and strict tampering rules, it would solve a lot.”

Two more NU players earned Big Ten weekly awards on Monday. Sophomore outside hitter Teraya Sigler was named Player of the Week, while junior libero Olivia Mauch was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week. It was the first league award for both. 

Sigler became the fourth Husker to win the POTW award after averaging 3.29 kills per set on .391 hitting with 2.57 digs per set in wins over Northwestern and Purdue. Meanwhile, Mauch averaged 4.0 digs per set last week, including a career-best 21 against Purdue. She also helped NU limit Northwestern and Purdue to a combined .091 hitting percentage.

Busboom Kelly complimented Mauch on her consistency and passing to help the Huskers post a 60 percent good passing percentage and provide steady defense. However, outside hitters will sometimes step in front of her for a pass, and she wants Mauch to be more vocal and cover more of the court on serve receive. 

In addition, Muach’s serve has become more of a weapon, and she used it to run off a 9-0 run in the fourth set against Purdue. 

“She just moves it,” Busboom Kelly said. “She’s learned how to make a drop, so it’s dropping in front of those passers. She’s just a great spot server.

Later, Busboom Kelly talked about their chances of earning All-American awards, along with Bergen Reilly, Andi Jackson and Harper Murray, all of whom were All-Americans last year. However, she said it was too early in the season to worry about postseason awards.  

“Last year we talked about being worried about a banner, not a name,” She said. “There’s always been a lot of emphasis in Nebraska’s history on All-Americans. I would take zero All-Americans if it means a national championship.”