Bergen Reilly named AVCA National Player of the Year Finalist
Nebraska volleyball’s season might be done, but setter Bergen Reilly isn’t done collecting honors. Reilly is one of the four finalists for the AVCA National Player of the Year award.
The reigning National Player of the Year, Pittsburgh’s opposite hitter Olivia Babcock, is a finalist. Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer and Kentucky outside hitter Eva Hudson are also finalists. Reilly is the only player who isn’t a pin-attacker.
The winner will be announced on Friday, Dec. 22 at the AVCA Banquet in Kansas City, Mo.
If Reilly wins, she will be the fifth Husker to earn the honor. Allison Weston (1995), Greichaly Cepero (2000), Christina Houghtelling (2005) and Sarah Pavan (2006) won the prestigious award. Nebraska libero Lexi Rodriguez was a 2024 finalist.
Reilly won the Big Ten Setter and Player of the Year honors. She is a three-time Big Ten Setter of the Year honoree. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native was also the AVCA West Region Player of the Year.
The setter is lined up to be an AVCA First-Team All-American when the teams are announced. She is a two-time second-team All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten first-team pick.
Nebraska’s 33-1 season came to an end in a five-set thriller in the Elite Eight at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Texas A&M advanced to its first-ever Final Four with the impressive victory. They play Babcock and No. 1 Pitt on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
The leader of the nation’s most efficient offense
Reilly led the most efficient offense in the country. Nebraska hit .351, the best season hitting percentage in NU history. They hit over .400 nine times, which is also a program record.
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The 6-foot-1 setter averaged 10.47 assists per set during her junior season. But she is also a great all-around volleyball player. Reilly averaged 2.70 digs and 0.64 blocks per set. She made defenses pay with 0.70 kills per set.
Reilly runs an extremely balanced offense, which makes scouting and defending difficult for opposing teams. Six Huskers averaged at least 2.0 kills per set. She did an incredible job of getting her attackers one-on-one and putting them in great positions.
Final Thoughts on Nebraska Volleyball’s 2025 season
Middle blocker Andi Jackson finished the season with a .467 hitting percentage, the third best in Nebraska history. Rebekah Allick added a .450 clip with 2.56 kills per set. Harper Murray averaged a team-high 3.54 kills per set with an impressive .295 clip for an outside hitter. Taylor Landfair hit .207 in her final season.
Reilly’s offense is a thing of beauty. She distributes the ball evenly but has a great feel for who needs a kill and when to call their number. If an attacker makes a mistake, Reilly goes right back to them and helps them keep their confidence high.
