With the NCAA changing eligibility rules so that players now have five years to play five seasons, there have been more than a few questions about whether the core of a Nebraska volleyball team that’s considered one of the most talented groups in the country might take advantage. Considering the rule changed just last week, most players who have been asked about returning for the extra season are still in the early stages of considering it. That applies to the Huskers' three-time All-American setter Bergen Reilly, who understands why people want an answer, but isn’t going to speed up on their behalf.
NTV's Randy Silver caught up with Reilly over the weekend and asked her the very direct question about whether she plans to take advantage of the five-for-five rule.
“I don't know what my future is, honestly. I don't have an answer, even if you want one. But it's really awesome,” Reilly said about the extra eligibility most players now have. Obviously, there's no better place to be than Nebraska. So we'll kind of see what all the pros and cons are, and there are a lot of things we have to keep in mind. But yeah, I'm pretty happy about it.”
At the same time, it’s possible the veteran setter hinted that at the moment, she’s leaning into this being her last year in Lincoln. Silver also asked Reilly if there was anything she’d particularly worked on in preparing for the 2026 season.
Bergen Reilly still weighing fifth-year option with Nebraska volleyball
“I'm just working on getting stronger, honestly. Really going hard in the weight room and with conditioning. I think that's something that I've always wanted to make a priority, but especially this summer, when I have one more season, I want to grow in my physicality.”
With the new rule change, Reilly technically has two more seasons. Obviously, the Nebraska superstar could have been describing her mentality heading into the summer workouts before the landscape shifted. For players like her and Andi Jackson, it’s hard to shift out of the thought process that it’s their final season after looking at it that way for so long.
There’s plenty at stake no matter what decision they make. Some fans might consider it an easy decision, but in Reilly’s case especially, it could mean complicating plans already made, or backburnering plans that were just starting to take shape. Just one of those plans involves nuptials, as Reilly got engaged to Nebraska basketball player Cale Jacobsen over the offseason.
It’s safe to say the players who are considering returning will also confer with their coaches and agents, who might have been making plans for them to go pro or play for the Olympic national team.
What is clear is that Nebraska athletes are already thinking about how the five-for-five rule will alter their present and future. There will be more players all fall having to decide what the new rule means for them. Dani Busboom Kelly’s volleyball team just stands to have the greatest impact on them among the university's teams.
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