Nebraska volleyball lands huge commitment from Florida transfer Merritt Beason
Nebraska volleyball picked up a huge commitment from Florida transfer Merritt Beason. The 6-foot-3 right-side/outside hitter has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Beason led the Gators to a share of the 2022 SEC championship, which was their first title since 2019. Florida advanced to the Sweet 16 but lost to Pitt in four sets.
A native of Gardendale, Alabama, Beason averaged 3.35 kills per set and had 348 kills total in 2022. She hit .261 and her 0.37 service aces per set ranked third in the SEC. She also was 10th in the conference in points per set with a 4.18 average.
The outside hitter averaged 0.88 blocks per set and had 92 blocks this season. She finished third on the team in blocks behind both starting middle blockers. She had 200 digs as well.
“Our roster has been undergoing some adjustments since the season ended, and last week we had an opportunity to recruit Merritt to Nebraska,” Husker Head Coach John Cook said. “I had a chance to watch Merritt play with Bekka Allick and Lexi Rodriguez on the U.S. U21 National Team this summer and called Jaylen Reyes and wondered why we didn’t recruit Merritt out of high school.
“She will fill a huge need for our team and her personality on and off the court will create an instant connection with Husker Nation. ‘MB3’ is a true six-rotation player and can do it all. On her visit to Lincoln, she even roped the Nebraska volleyball steer on the first try. We knew it was meant to be. Merritt also happens to be an experienced beach player and is a great student with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.”
Florida upset Wisconsin in five sets this season in front of a record-breaking crowd at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Beason was a huge part of the victory, hammering 21 kills while hitting .245. The outside hitter added eight digs, two blocks and a team-high three aces.
Beason was named a team captain as a sophomore after a strong freshman campaign. As a freshman, she played in all 31 matches for the Gators on the right side.
Nebraska currently does not have any scholarships available, so Beason’s situation is unknown at the moment.
She joins experienced junior outside hitters Lindsay Krause, Ally Batenhorst and Whitney Lauenstein. Sophomore Hayden Kubik and incoming freshmen Harper Murray and Caroline Jurevicius will also be in the mix.
