Gabby DiVita is making a childhood dream come true after signing with the Nebraska volleyball team on Nov. 12.
The senior outside hitter wrote down the goal of playing for Nebraska in fifth grade. Now, that wish will become her reality in 2026.
“It was always my dream, but it’s insane that it’s actually happened,” DiVita told Hail Varsity. “It’s crazy, it’s still surreal.”
DiVita hails from Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., where she attends Grosse Pointe South High School. During her senior season, she guidedher team to a district title while averaging 5.8 kills per set on .421 hitting and 3.8 digs per set with 49 services aces. She also broke the school record for most career digs (1,144) and most career kills (1,941).
The 6-foot-1 pin said that she first got connected with Nebraska through a group chat with assistant AD for facilities and venue management John Kelly, assistant coach Jaylen Reyes and then-assistant coach Jordan Larson, starting the process bringing her to Lincoln.
“It’s an insane program,” DiVita said. “I think the second that you walk in there, like you can see that. I think one thing that really stood out to me, was the culture that they built there, and that was really important to me. They make it so fun. I think going to Nebraska, there’s a lot of pressure and everything, but they made it so fun and just so free feeling, and I just love that.”
After committing to former head coach John Cook in June of 2024, DiVita is staying committed to Dani Busboom Kelly’s squad after seeing all that Nebraska has to offer.
“I just think the community, it’s something that you really can’t find anywhere else,” DiVita said. “Everybody is so close, and everyone’s so nice in Nebraska, and I don’t know what it was. It just seemed like the perfect fit for me now.”
Since committing, DiVita has had the chance to interact with Husker fans while also getting to see a few matches in person. Soon, she will be joining the team, with hopes of playing in front of the home crowd.
“The fan base, the care that everybody has, showing out on like a Tuesday night for a match is insane,” DiVita said. “I just think the fan base and the care everyone has there, and it’s really such a special environment. They say it all the time, there’s no place like Nebraska, but once you see it, it’s amazing.”
DiVita is ranked No. 19 by PrepDig and No. 20 by PrepVolleyball.com in the 2026 class. She played club for Legacy Volleyball and will be joining former Legacy member and current Huskers Harper Murray and Campbell Flynn when she arrives in Lincoln.
“Seeing Harper go and then do everything that she did her freshman year just really kind of sparked some inspiration in me,” DiVita said. “They’re amazing and seeing everything that they’ve done is amazing. I’m hoping that I can go on there and do the same thing.”
DiVita played all six rotations in high school and is lookinh to contribute however she can once she arrives in Lincoln.
“I’m very competitive, so I’ll pretty much find a way to win however I can,” DiVita said. “I’m super competitive. I think I’m strong out there, and I think competitive and fun are the two biggest ones. I think if something needs to be done, a lot of people look at me to do that.”
DiVita will graduate in December before arriving at Nebraska in January, with big hopes for the future.
“I just feel like it’s been so long since I committed, but just learning from everybody and taking it all in, just because it has been a dream for so long,” DiVita said of what she’s looking forward to the most. “I just can’t wait to get there.”
