Nate Head – July 27, 2025 – Lincoln Journal Star

Scroll college volleyball player recruiting rankings, and you’ll see familiar hotbeds: Florida, Arizona, Texas …

But small states can produce, too. Look no further than Nebraska junior Bergen Reilly, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She took the reins of the Huskers’ offense as a true freshman and now has back-to-back Big Ten setter of the year awards to show for it.

Reilly’s influence is felt back home, too, where another setter is expected to be a top prospect in the Class of 2028, which is comprised of rising high school sophomores.

That’s Josalyn Samuels, who was the MaxPreps freshman of the year for 2024 after leading Harrisburg to its second state title.

Schools can’t offer ’28 prospects until next June, but Samuels has been in Lincoln twice this summer: Dream Team camp by herself and team camp with her high school squad.

The visits left a strong impression.

“The Dream Team camp is always special,” Samuels said. “Just getting to be around athletes that make you better as a player and learning from the current Nebraska team and coaches is always fun. You can tell how much they know and care about volleyball, which makes it so exciting to be coached by them and interact with them.”

And yes, Samuels got to spend some time with her fellow South Dakotan, Reilly, who Samuels says helped inspire her and other young players from The Mount Rushmore State. Reilly played club volleyball at Kairos in Sioux Falls with Samuels’ sister, Morissen, who will be a junior hitter at Northern State (Aberdeen, S.D.) this year.

Harrisburg (S.D) High School setter Josalyn Samuels, left, plays at the same club organization that Bergen Reilly, right, did. Courtesy photo

“Being younger and watching someone from my club in a small state succeed was super inspiring because I always thought, ‘I’m from a small state, so nobody is going to know about this small club from Sioux Falls, South Dakota,’” Samuels said. “However, Bergen brought that exposure and made me and so many others realize that we could follow in her footsteps.”

While Samuels enjoyed catching up with Reilly on her recent visits to Lincoln, she didn’t necessarily need a tour of the city. Samuels, whose father is from Nebraska, has been around town multiple times. Growing up, she’d keep a close eye on John Cook’s teams.

She was one of 92,003 people at Memorial Stadium in 2023 for Volleyball Day in Nebraska when the Huskers hosted their highly successful outdoor match that broke attendance records and helped elevate women’s sports into the spotlight.

That day re-emphasized what Samuels already knew: Husker fans support their volleyball players.

“That was a memorable time coming to Volleyball Day, seeing girls I knew on the court and watching with my high school team,” Samuels said.

That team, Harrisburg, will chase its third state championship crown in a row this fall. Samuels has starred for both title teams, including in 2023 as an eighth-grader.

Samuels, who is 6-foot-1, captained the MaxPreps all-freshman team after last season, and Harrisburg made the national Top 25 team rankings at No. 16

Josalyn Samuels, left, poses for a photo with Nebraska volleyball coach Dani Busboom Kelly during Dream Team Camp earlier this month. Courtesy photo

“She’s amazing to sit back and watch,” Samuels’ high school coach, Ronette Costain, told MaxPreps. “But I find myself thinking ‘How do I keep challenging this kid?'”

Samuels’ summer has been busy. She’s trained with the U19 national team, played a rigorous club season, and has visited a few other schools, seeing what each has to offer.

Seeing campuses in person has helped Samuels to begin whittling down her list of potential fits ahead of next summer’s recruiting blitz.

“I am excited to see where my recruiting journey takes me,” she said.

Nebraska volleyball coach Dani Busboom Kelly reacts as fans sing “Happy Birthday” during the spring game in May in Ord. OLIVIA ANDERSON, Journal Star file photo