Nebraska Volleyball defying belief in the NCAA Championships opener garnered a reaction from Long Island University head coach Tony Trifonov. The Huskers, coming off an undefeated season, cruised to a dominant three-set win over LIU.
The Big Red entered the tournament with a perfect 20-0 Big Ten record, having won the Conference title in November 2025.
LIU’s Coach Hailed Nebraska Volleyball After Opening Round Win
Tony Trifonov, 2024 NEC Coach of the Year, who has been serving as Long Island University’s head coach for several months, commended Nebraska Volleyball for its unmatched dominance at John Cook Arena. He admitted that he hadn’t seen a team like the Huskers in his 12 years of helping teams reach the tournament and nearly 30 years of his coaching career.
“This team is incredible. This is, like, this year’s team probably one of the best teams that I’ve seen put together in NCAA Volleyball, and I’ve seen a lot of it. This is my 12th tournament in almost 28 or 29 years now, like, of coaching at this level. So, you know, like, you guys are going to have a lot of fun in the next couple of weeks.”
The Huskers went big on dominance in the first round, hitting an outstanding .476. Star performers Andi Jackson and Rebekah Allick, who play as middle blockers, recorded ten kills each to help the squad get an edge over the opponents. The former also led with five blocks, while Harper Murray and Taylor Landfair trailed with seven kills each.
READ MORE: Why Nebraska Volleyball Sees Kansas City As Near-Rival for Round 2, Dani Busboom Kelly Explains
The Big Red will next face Kansas State, the team that defeated San Diego in the first round.
Nebraska Volleyball Team Head Coach Reflects On LIU’s Performance Against The Huskers In The Opener
Dani Busboom Kelly took up coaching duties after John Cook’s retirement before the 2025 season. With an approach much different from the latter, Kelly helped the squad record a perfect streak and win its third consecutive Conference title.
In a post-match press conference, when Nebraska’s head coach was asked about LIU’s performance after the NCAA first round, she said they served great and didn’t lose momentum until the final point.
The Nebraska Volleyball team, the top-ranked women’s team in the NCAA Division 1, is aiming to repeat a historical feat it achieved in 2000. That year, Cook’s debut year in the Huskers’ program, the squad didn’t drop a match and eventually won the National title.
Under his tutelage, the Big Red won the title in 2006, 2015, and 2017. It reached the finals in 2005, 2018, 2021, and 2023.
