When the Nebraska volleyball team took on UNLV on Saturday night, it handled the Mountain West team as expected. No big deal for the No. 1 team in the nation, right? Maybe that’s why one visitor for the game drew more attention than the match itself: Tom Brady was what the players and their coach wanted to talk about more than the outcome on the court.
The 7-time Super Bowl champion spent a significant amount of time during pregame chatting with current and former Nebraska players, including Harper Murray, Dani Busboom Kelly, Lexi Rodriguez, Ally Batenhorst and Lauren Stivrins.
Why was Tom Brady, the former NFL star and part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, in the arena watching Nebraska volleyball beat UNLV in straight sets? It turns out he was there because his daughter, Vivien, plays volleyball and is a big fan of Murray.
Just a casual conversation between volleyball stars and the GOAT. 😎
— Hail Varsity (@HailVarsity) August 29, 2026
Harper Murray and Dani Busboom Kelly caught up with Tom Brady and his daughter before the Players Era Showcase. pic.twitter.com/3FEFQETOsj
Tom Brady attends Nebraska volleyball match because daughter is Harper Murray fan
“I know him through some Michigan connections and the football program and administration there,” Murray said of Brady after the match. “I know his daughter’s into the sport, so I’m sure that’s how he got into it and grew a love for the game. I think it’s awesome that we have people who are legends in their sport wanting to come and support a sport that’s growing in the last few years and has been so popular. I think it’s just really fun. I know our team loved that he was here.”
After the Huskers started the season 1-0, the players and their coach were in high spirits during the post-match press conference. Brady's presence was a big part of why Murray, Reilly, and Busboom Kelly were so happy.
Reilly and Harper both laughed about how star-struck their coach seemed. “I’m obviously a big Tom Brady fan,” Busboom Kelly said while Reilly and Murray laughed beside her. “How are you not? For a lot of reasons. It was awesome to see him here tonight.”
The Tom Brady visit was a nice touch on a whirlwind weekend that started Thursday night. The group was all smiles about the match against UNLV and the former NFL star sitting in the front row.
On Sunday, the Nebraska volleyball team will need to put the UNLV win behind it as it prepares for a big showdown that could also offer a measure of revenge for three years ago against the Texas Longhorns. Here’s hoping they’re all smiles again after that match.
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