Nebraska Volleyball's Harper Murray reflects on her eventful year after incredible run in the NCAA Division 1 season

Harper Murray this week reflected on her remarkable 2024 season by offering glimpses of her season via social media. Murray is a distinguished American college volleyball player for the University of Nebraska's volleyball program.

Murray highlighted her 2024 journey by revisiting moments from the previous Christmas celebrations. In the first photo she shared, her team, dressed in matching leather jackets, reflected a relaxed and joyful mood.

In her second photo, she shifted focus to the NCAA women's volleyball semifinals between Nebraska and Penn State. Although Nebraska faced a tough loss, the moments captured in the photo hint at the season's closing chapter.

Murray captioned the first photo:

"How 2024 started"

She wrote in the second photo:

"How 2024 ended"

Screenshot of Harper Murray's Instagram Story/ Source: Instagram @harpermurrayy

The 2024 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball semifinals witnessed Penn State defeat Nebraska 3-2. Penn State's performance fell short of expectations in the first two sets, but the team regained its rhythm in the third. After losing 23-25 and 18-25, they fought back with a 25-23 victory in the third, followed by a 28-26 victory in the fourth set, and finally clinched the match with a 15-13 victory in the fifth set.

Nebraska's Harper Murray emerged as a standout in the fourth set, delivering a series of aces that helped her team regain the lead at a critical moment. She recorded three aces in the set, showcasing her skills.

She clinched a bronze medal at the U19 World Championships in 2022 and followed it with a gold at the U19 Pan American Cup.

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"We're going to need people to step up, and that's something I hope to step into" - Harper Murray on her plans for 2025

Harper Murray at 2023 Division I Women's Volleyball Championship - Source: Getty

Following the defeat against Penn State on Thursday, December 19th, Harper Murray spoke with Hail Varsity in December 2024, reflecting on her experiences as a volleyball player and the team's journey. She discussed the impact of her coach's mood and emotions on the team, highlighting the pride in Nebraska Volleyball for setting a high standard for women's sports.

When asked about her plans for growth next year, she spoke about the "leadership" the team needs with senior players leaving the team. She said,

"Like I said earlier, the leadership side of things is going to be big for us. Merritt and Lexi are leaving, and we're going to need people to step up, and that's something I hope to step into, but more mentally, I think that's where the growth is going to come, and physically, volleyball is a game of errors and momentum, so that's always something to keep in back of your head."

Harper Murray further emphasized the importance of making memories and building relationships in sports. She thanked her teammates for their contributions and expressed excitement about teaming up with Lexi Rodriguez again in the future.