By Lincoln Arneal
The future is never too far away for Nebraska volleyball.
Each summer the Huskers welcome dozens of top prospects from across the country to Lincoln for a “dream team” camp. The most recent iteration ended on Sunday after a weekend of drills and work under the guidance of Nebraska coaches and players. The campers wrapped things up with a scrimmage that enabled them to showcase their skills.
On the center court in the Devaney Center, some of the best young talent squared off under the eyes of NU coach John Cook and assistants Jaylen Reyes and Kelly Hunter. Those 17 players represent many of the top targets for the Huskers’ current and future recruiting efforts.
Five of Nebraska’s six current commits attended the camp. All three 2024 Husker recruits were in Deveney, led by outside hitter Skyler Pierce and Olivia Mauch from Bennington. On Sunday, Ayden Ames of Prosper (Texas) High School attended but did not participate in the camp-ending scrimmage.
They were joined by two 2025 commits: setter Campbell Flynn of Rochester Hills, Michigan, and Lincoln Lutheran libero Keri Leimbach. Flynn was one of the most impressive players on the court as she distributed the ball effectively. The lefty also mixed in setter attacks to catch the defense off guard. Mauch and Leimbach had a digging showdown as each kept rallies going.
The only commit not on hand was 2025 outside hitter Teraya Sigler, who was named the MVP of the 16 Open division at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior Nationals while leading her club Arizona Storm to the top prize.
The only uncommitted 2025 prospect in attendance was outside hitter Ryan Hunter, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Cary, North Carolina. The left-handed attacker played both pins and got lots of attention from the coaches and current Huskers helping at the camp. Hunter is one of NU’s last targets for the ’25 class, along with No. 1-ranked Abigail Mullen from Kansas City, Missouri.
With 2025 recruiting winding down, NU is already busy evaluating outside hitters and middle blockers for the 2026 class.
Among the 2026 outside hitters, Halle Thompson from Spring, Texas, stood out for her leaping ability and whip-fast arm. She’s rated as the No. 2 recruit in Texas behind Henley Anderson, a 6-2 rising sophomore from Dripping Springs near Austin, who was also at the camp.
Also taking swings on the outside were Gabriella Divita from White Lake, Michigan; Audrey Flanagan from Hermosa Beach, California; Alexis Anderson from Kilgore, Texas; and Tessa Larkin from Phoenix, a 2027 prospect.
At middle blocker, four prospects played on the center stage. The most physically imposing was 6-4 Lynney Tarnow from Chicago. She was joined at the net by 6-4 Lacy Tinnel from The Woodlands, Texas, who plays with the Houston Skyline club team with Thompson. Keoni Williams, from Fort Worth, Texas, showed good quickness and strength. Ella Andrews, who plays for Legacy in Michigan – the same club as NU freshman Harper Murray, Flynn and Divita – looked good recording several blocks.
With Flynn already committed to the Huskers, Nebraska will likely not take a setter in the 2026 class. Several 2027 prospects ran the show (except when Kelly Hunter made a brief appearance). Brynn Stephens from Frisco, Texas, was smooth running the offense, took a few swings as an attacker and looked solid. Malorie Boesiger, the younger sister of NU sophomore Maisie, also ran the show. She is on the same club team as Leimbach – Nebraska ONE – which tied for third place at junior nationals.
In addition to the center court, several other scrimmages were played in Devaney and elsewhere in the complex, all featuring highly recruited players. After the scrimmages, the campers took pictures with each other and got autographs from current Huskers, with some hoping to sit on the other side of the table in a few years.
