Trio of Nebraska Cornhuskers stars selected in PVF draft

Just how good is the Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball program? Obviously its ability to stampede over just about everyone it’s played the last two seasons shows its very, very good. That three players were taken in the latest PVF draft is another sign of quite a bit of talent running through Lincoln.

That Merritt Beason, one of the best Huskers in these last two seasons is also the best player in the entire draft sends a message as well. But she wasn’t alone when the smoke cleared on the 2024 selections earlier this week.

In all, Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors Merritt Beason, Lindsay Krause, and Leyla Blackwell were taken in Monday’s draft. Beason was selected No. 1 overall by the Atlanta Vibe, who traded with the Indy Ignite for the first pick in the draft. Former Husker Kayla Banwarth coaches the Vibe. This season, Beason averages 3.00 kills per set with a .246 hitting percentage with 121 digs, 82 blocks, and 24 aces.

Three Nebraska Cornhuskers volleybal stars taken in PVF draft

Krause will get to stay home when she goes pro as she was taken with the No. 19 overall pick by the Omaha Supernovas. The Supernovas were the inaugural 2024 Pro Volleyball Federation championship match last season.

Blackwell, a transfer from Minnesota over the offseason, was selected with the No. 26 overall pick by the San Diego Mojo. 

The Huskers’ volleyball program has been so good at developing players of late that even a former Huskers was drafted. USC Trojan outside hitter Ally Batenhorst, who left NU this offseason will join Krause in Omaha as she was the No. 15 overall pick. 

Now that the PVF draft is over, the Nebraska Cornhuskers can return their attention to winning matches. Next up in a run that has seen John Cook’s squad win 61 of its last 64 matches is a showdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions on Black Friday and then a regular season finale on Saturday against the Maryland Terapins.