Nebraska opposite Merritt Beason developing all-around, gives Huskers an option for different offense
CHICAGO – Nebraska volleyball opposite hitter Merritt Beason got her first taste of being a Big Ten volleyball player on Tuesday. She, Head Coach John Cook and libero Lexi Rodriguez represented the Huskers at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.
Beason has played in big matches against Big Ten teams but hasn’t been on a Big Ten team until now. She transferred from Florida after two seasons with the Gators to Nebraska.
The 6-foot-3 opposite is the only player on the Husker squad who has beaten Wisconsin. The Gators took down Wisconsin in Madison, WI in front of a record-setting crowd.
Soon after Beason arrived in Lincoln, her leadership presence was clear. She was voted a team captain after being on the team for seven months.
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In fact, assistant coach Kelly Hunter called Beason the “mom” of this Husker team.
“I would say I’m the mom of the group and I think my teammates would agree with that as well,” Beason said at Big Ten Media Day.
She said even on Tuesday, she brought everything she and anyone else could need.
“I’m always prepared,” she said. “Lexi and I were talking in the car and I said, “I’m going to bring Tylenol and I’m gonna bring this and I’m gonna bring my Tide to-go stick just in case anything happened.” If you need anything, I’m gonna probably be the one that has it.”
“I’m a very caring person as well so if anyone on the team needs anything they know that they can come to me and I will be there. It doesn’t matter when it is or who it is or things of that nature. I’ll be there.”
Her teammates grew to trust her quickly after being together for seven months. The Brazil trip was huge for all of Nebraska’s squad to bond and pick their captains. Both Beason and Rodriguez were selected and were captains as sophomores for their respective 2022 teams.
Beason’s all-around growth
Since arriving in Lincoln in January, Beason said she has grown in every aspect of her game.
“Volleyball wise, I think I’ve grown a lot in passing and things of that sort,” she said. “Serving I would say is definitely the skill that I’ve probably grown the most in.”
At Florida, Beason played all six-rotations. She led the team in points (435) and aces (38) and was selected on the All-SEC team. As a sophomore she had 348 kills, 200 digs and 92 blocks.
She was selected on the AVCA All-Regional team, meaning she was eligible to be named an All-American.
Along with her serving and passing, Beason has also seen herself grow mentally as well.
“But as a person and that kind of aspect of things, I think I’ve done a good job of… everyone talks about not being defined by your sport and I think that’s a really hard thing to grasp and to understand until you’re at this level we’re at,” she said.
“That’s one thing that I’ve developed the most and that I’m very groud of as I’ve done a very good job of understanding how I practiced that day doesn’t determine how good of a person I am. I’ve grown the most in that area of my game, kind of the mental, “Yes, I’m playing at a very high level but not letting that affect my day-to-day life.”
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Could Nebraska utilize a six-rotation opposite?
While Beason’s ability to play all six rotations, the Huskers have the option to do that as well. Florida ran a different rotation last season to have Beason play in the backrow as well.
Nebraska has not run a true international system were each player plays all six rotations. But they are considering playing Beason in all six-rotations this season.
“That gives us the opportunity to run what is called a true international system or what the USA team does and what they do internationally, what the men do, is they have a true opposite that hits front row and back row and we’ve never done it before,” Cook said.
One factor for who plays in the backrow whether that is a player from the left or right pin is their versatility. For a hitter to play in the backrow, Cook wants them to be a great passer but also a weapon that can get kills from the backrow as well.
He said the Huskers have been working on diversifying their offense this season with the option to hit from the backrow as a great option.
“I love the system, Ohio State does it,” Cook said of playing an opposite for six-rotations. “Florida did it last year with Merritt so we’re thinking really hard about that.”
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