Heartbreak and Triumph: Harper Murray’s Emotional Journey Amid Nebraska Volleyball’s 2025 Glory

In the glittering world of NCAA volleyball, where triumphs are celebrated with roaring crowds and national headlines, few stories capture the raw human side quite like that of Harper Murray. The junior outside hitter for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, wearing her iconic No.

27 jersey, has long been a standout on the court—a dynamic six-rotation player known for her explosive kills, pinpoint passing, and relentless defense.

In 2025, Murray delivered a career-best season, leading the Huskers with 3.54 kills per set on a .295 hitting percentage, while contributing 2.16 digs, 0.60 blocks, and a team-high 34 aces per set.

Her efforts earned her AVCA First-Team All-America honors for the first time, marking her third consecutive year on the All-America list.

Yet, behind the accolades and the sold-out arenas at Bob Devaney Sports Center, Murray carried a deeper, more personal battle—one that spilled into the public eye in a tearful post-award moment that left fans and teammates stunned.

Following the announcement of the 2025 AVCA All-America teams, where both Murray and her teammate Bergen Reilly secured First-Team spots alongside middle blocker Andi Jackson, Murray broke down in an emotional interview.

Sobbing openly, she confessed, “I’m jealous of her,” referring to Reilly, the brilliant junior setter who not only matched her on the First Team but also swept major individual awards: Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten Setter of the Year (for the third time), AVCA Region Player of the Year, and even positional honors as the nation’s top setter.

The jealousy Murray admitted to wasn’t born of malice but of profound vulnerability. As the cameras rolled in a quiet press room filled with empty seats echoing the intensity of the season, Murray’s tears flowed freely, streaking down her cheeks as she gripped the table.

“Bergen deserves every bit of it,” she managed through sobs, her voice cracking. “She’s incredible—the best setter I’ve ever played with. She makes us all better. But seeing her get all that recognition… it hurts because it reminds me of what I don’t have off the court.”

For the first time publicly, Murray opened up about the emotional scars from her childhood in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Growing up in the shadow of loss—her father, Vada Murray, a former Michigan Wolverines football standout and police officer, passed away from lung cancer in 2011 when Harper was just six years old—she described a profound sense of abandonment that lingered into adulthood.

“No parents in the stands growing up, no siblings cheering me on at big moments,” she revealed, her words punctuated by fresh tears. “My mom, Sarah, has been my rock, driving from Michigan whenever she can, but even then…

there were so many games where the family section was empty for me. No congratulatory calls after big wins, no one to share the highs and lows. My closest relatives were too busy with their own lives.

I felt useless sometimes, like all this talent and hard work didn’t matter to the people who were supposed to care most.”

Murray’s story resonated deeply because it contrasted sharply with the supportive family presences often seen for her teammates. Bergen Reilly, hailing from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, frequently mentions her family’s unwavering attendance and encouragement in interviews.

Reilly’s parents and siblings are fixtures at Huskers matches, their cheers blending into the sea of red.

In 2025, as Reilly orchestrated Nebraska’s record-breaking offense—setting the team to a school-record .351 hitting percentage and earning national acclaim—her family section was always packed, a visible reminder of the support system fueling her dominance.

For Murray, the All-America announcement became a triggering moment.

Amid the glory of Nebraska’s dominant season—an undefeated regular season, a third straight Big Ten title under first-year head coach Dani Busboom Kelly, and a deep NCAA Tournament run that ended heartbreakingly in the Elite Eight against Texas A&M—the individual honors highlighted her isolation.

“The team is my family now,” Murray said, wiping tears with the sleeve of her red Nebraska jersey. “These girls, Coach Kelly, the staff—they’ve given me what I missed growing up. But when the spotlight shines on someone like Bergen, with her family there celebrating every step… yeah, I’m jealous.

It hurts. I burst into tears because for a second, I felt like that little girl in Michigan again, alone in the stands.”

The Nebraska volleyball program in 2025 was a powerhouse, boasting four AVCA All-Americans: First-Teamers Jackson, Murray, and Reilly, plus Second-Teamer Rebekah Allick.

Reilly’s season was historic; she became the first setter since 2018 to win Big Ten Player of the Year and shattered records by guiding the Huskers to nine matches with .400+ hitting efficiency.

Her leadership was pivotal in the team’s 33-1 record, and her flu-stricken performance in the NCAA Regional Final—where she still dished out 58 assists despite illness—earned widespread admiration.

Murray, meanwhile, evolved into a complete player. From her freshman year as Big Ten Freshman of the Year to her junior campaign, where she ranked among the nation’s best passers (2.52 pass rating) and amassed 1,181 career kills (19th in school history), her growth was undeniable.

Yet, her emotional outburst humanized her in a way statistics never could. Fans flooded social media with support, sharing stories of their own losses and isolation, while critics who once questioned her maturity after past emotional moments now praised her vulnerability.

In a stunning display of teammate empathy, Bergen Reilly responded almost immediately. The setter, known for her poise and selflessness, sent Murray a private message that quickly leaked and went viral for its profound simplicity: “Your strength inspires me every day. Family isn’t just blood—it’s us.

You’ve never been alone here. I’m proud to share this with you. Keep shining, Harper. We’re in this together forever.”

Those 21 words—”Your strength inspires me every day. Family isn’t just blood—it’s us. You’ve never been alone here. I’m proud to share this with you. Keep shining, Harper. We’re in this together forever.”—astonished the volleyball community. Reilly, who rarely seeks the spotlight despite her awards, chose empathy over celebration.

Teammates like Andi Jackson and Laney Choboy echoed the sentiment in group chats and public posts, reinforcing that the Huskers’ bond transcended individual honors.

Murray later reflected on the moment in a follow-up statement: “Breaking down like that wasn’t planned, but it was real. Volleyball has given me everything—purpose, sisters, a home. Bergen’s message healed something in me. Jealousy turned into gratitude. We’re all chasing the same dream: a national championship.

And with this team as my family, I know we’ll get there.”

As the 2025 season closed with Nebraska falling just short of the Final Four, Murray’s tears became a defining image—not of weakness, but of resilience. In a sport dominated by physical prowess, her emotional honesty reminded everyone that behind every kill, block, and ace is a human story.

Harper Murray, the girl from Michigan who rose despite absence, now stands taller than ever, surrounded by the family she found in red.

The volleyball world watched as two stars—Murray and Reilly—shared the First-Team spotlight, their friendship stronger for the vulnerability. In the end, the awards were shared, but the real victory was in the empathy that followed: a 21-word message that turned tears of pain into tears of healing.