From playing together on a coed YMCA softball team to going into their senior season for the Nebraska softball team, twin sisters Hannah and Lauren Camenzind have always competed together.
“It’s been so cool, it’s been my biggest blessing,” Hannah told Hail Varsity. “It’s hard to make it to college, let alone both of us getting to play together. So, it’s so cool to see us both reach our childhood dreams together of playing college softball, and just get to see each other succeed every day, but also help each other through the hard times.”
Hannah and Lauren started with T-ball as toddlers, then joining the same select team when they were 9. The twins both began as pitchers, with Hannah continuing to pitch and play in right field, left field and center field, while Lauren made the transition to the infield playing at second base and short stop.
“I think that to be able to play with your sibling, and especially your twin sister, there’s really nothing that can describe it,” Lauren said. “Just getting to see her succeed firsthand, but also she gets to see me succeed firsthand, is really awesome and really cool that we’re just right there with each other every step of the way. So, that’s really cool.”
As they’ve gotten older, the twins have experienced a lot of softball together, with Lauren catching for Hannah and Hannah always helping Lauren when she needs it. According to Hannah, that connection is proving to benefit both them and the team.
“I think we’ve always experienced failures at the same time too, but I think it’s helped a lot when we’ve experienced them at different times,” Hannah said. “Just like, maybe I’m not experiencing as much so I can help Lauren, ‘Hey, this is what helped me when I was going through that,’ and then also just when we’re on the field together, she knows exactly what I need when I’m pitching, or maybe when we’re in the dugout. So, I think that that part helps out a lot; she just knows when to talk to me, and maybe when to just leave me alone.”
The twins attended Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha where they won two state championships. The SkyHawks went 122-16 during their four years, including 33-0 during their senior year to become the first Class B team to go undefeated.
They began their collegiate careers at Arkansas, where they spent two years before entering their names in the portal, joining Nebraska in 2025. Now, the Valley, Neb., natives are finishing their careers for the team they spent so much time around as kids.
“Just being from here, it just means a lot to us to get to play for your home state, and then also we grew up going to the camps,” Hannah said. “We went to the camps since we were little, so we’ve known the coaches for a really long time, and then we knew so many of the girls on the team. I feel like it was just such an easy transition. When we joined, it didn’t feel like we were new people. We already had ongoing relationships with them, so it just made it super easy and felt like a family so fast.”
While at Arkansas, the sisters’ connection on the field only got stronger, carrying over to their time with the Huskers.
Lauren Camenzind throws to first against the Maryland Terrapins on Sunday, May 4, 2025 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Photo by John S. Peterson.
“I think that we’ve always been together, but also we both went through some different things at Arkansas,” Lauren said. “One of us had success earlier, one of us didn’t, so just understanding that part of it and how we could be there for each other, even though the other one wasn’t having the same amount of success in the same moment as each other.”
In her junior season with the Huskers, Hannah went 5-2 in the circle with a 3.11 ERA. Offensively, she racked up 71 hits, 40 runs and four home runs. Lauren played in 58 games, totaling 152 at-bats, scoring 39 runs on 42 hits, including three home runs and 29 RBIs.
Nebraska has big hopes in 2026 after finishing last season with an overall record of 43-15, posting its best winning percentage since 2006 and making it to the Super Regionals for the first time since 2014. They also have 12 total seniors, making them a very experienced team in 2026.
“For the team, our big message this year is we’re going to be present in every game, every pitch, every out, whatever it is,” Lauren said. “We’re not going to look forward into the next weekend, or even the next day for the next game, but just always staying present for whatever it is that’s next at us.”
For now, the Camenzinds will continue to represent Nebraska while getting ready for their last ride with the red team.
“It’s just so cool to be from here and like I said, it being a dream growing up, and just to get to play so close to my family,” Hannah said. “Especially in my last two years, being at home, and just getting to see them in the stands. See my cousins, my aunts and uncles, my grandparents, that’s just one of the best things about it, getting to be so close to home.”
As for younger softball players that dream of playing for the Huskers, Lauren wants them to know one thing.
“I think that if you can see it, you can do it,” Lauren said. “So like keep going for it and always have confidence in yourself.”
The Huskers open their season against Washington on Feb. 6.
