NCAA women’s volleyball season opens with two top-10 matchups

The GIST: The women’s volleyball season always opens with searing nonconference invitationals, but 2024 served up the hottest start yet: Last night, The First Serve Showcase delivered two top-10 thrillers at this year’s national championship venue, No. 6 Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center. Delicious.

Allick and Beason shine for No. 2 Nebraska: After trading two tight sets with No. 9 Kentucky, the Cornhuskers took control, winning the invite’s opener 3-1 thanks to the 11 kills apiece from outside hitter (OH) Merritt Beason and middle blocker Rebekah Allick. Beason also added eight digs in the dub. Hot damn.

Harper Murray returns to the court: The Nebraska OH and 2023 Freshman of the Year finalist has been recovering from a mental health crisis since her team’s December title game loss, she shared in an ESPN article yesterday. The revelation provides important context for her offseason legal issues, including a DUI and a shoplifting charge.

• Despite mixed feelings from fans (see: this post’s comments), Murray recorded eight kills last night, appearing calm and confident as she looks to make good on her promises. The redemption tour is so on.

OH Sarah Franklin is a stone-cold killer in No. 3 Wisconsin loss: The reigning Player of the Year racked up an astonishing 17 kills in the evening’s second blockbuster matchup. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to keep pace with No. 6 Louisville’s dynamic OH duo of Anna DeBeer (10 kills, 16 digs) and Charitie Luper (11 kills, 10 digs) — Franklin’s Badgers fell 3-1 to the host squad. Tough.