Nebraska volleyball picked up former Baylor opposite hitter Allie Sczech in the offseason to help replace the graduating Merritt Beason. Sczech sat down with Ana Bellinghausen to explain choosing Nebraska, her academic endeavors and her goals with this team.
Here is an edited transcript of their conversation.
Q: What was going through your mind after transferring to commit to play for John Cook then finding out Dani Busboom Kelly was now the head coach?
A: Yeah, definitely tons of emotions, but super-duper grateful. The opportunity to be in Nebraska is just a once in a lifetime opportunity, and so I’m really excited for it. Obviously, I know with Coach Cook leaving and then Dani coming, it was kind of like a crazy 15 minutes for Nebraska fans for sure. But yeah, I’m super excited and can’t wait to be there.
Q: This coaching change opened the opportunity for you to choose another program if you wished. Why did you still want to stay with Nebraska knowing Dani Busboom Kelly was going to be the head coach?
A: Obviously I committed to Cook, but I think that the legacy he’s left in Nebraska is one of a kind. And Dani, I personally know from my recruiting process in the past.
For a second it was so like, “Oh, [Cook], don’t leave,” but then it’s like, “Oh my gosh, what a great opportunity.” I wouldn’t want to play for anyone else to continue the legacy in Nebraska.
She’s sounded on a lot of the same principles as him — culture, players are people before they’re players, so I really thought that was good.
Committing to Nebraska, you obviously you do commit to Cook and his legacy and all the great things he’s done, but you also commit to the players and the school and the culture and all those things, which I really enjoyed too. It really did nothing but make me even more excited because he’s still going to be around and she’s involved.
All the stars aligned and I felt like it was one of those things that you didn’t see coming, but was such a blessing.
Allie Sczech during volleyball practice. Photo by Brandon Tiedemann.
Q: What stood out to you initially when you entered the transfer portal and started to look toward Nebraska?
A: My transfer portal process was a little crazy, which I’m sure people know but, but a big thing I was looking for was a grad program for journalism. I wanted to find something that if it wasn’t sports broadcasting directly, it was directed toward that, and it was kind of broad.
I ended up loving the program at Nebraska, and then obviously the volleyball and the culture and that aspect of it I really enjoyed. …
I was like, honestly, why not? This is perfect volleyball situation, perfect master’s program that’s willing to work with me in season … It’s not necessarily the easiest thing to do on the road. I think having a program that’s willing to accommodate and willing to still make me successful in that realm of life was something I was really looking for, and Nebraska had the full package.
Q: From the outside perspective, what was your impression of Nebraska and the fans and how much the state loves volleyball?
A: You see it on social media, you see the press conferences, you see all the things. I remember just on TikTok during their senior night week, seeing all their press conference videos and Merritt’s speech and everybody’s say on it. It isn’t hard to know, even from afar, that the culture is so important there and they’re building something so much bigger than just a volleyball program.
It’s people that are going to be successful down the road and even equipping people to be successful in their future in terms of their career and things like that, and I think the principles that Nebraska has, you could see through those interviews and those press conferences and obviously that stands out.
And when you see that in college athletics now, that’s the first thing that jumps to mind, like, “Wow, those people care about you more than just as a player.” And so that really caught my attention …
I always heard, “There’s no place like Nebraska,” but being in it, there really is no place like Nebraska.
Q: You visited Nebraska first on a chilly winter day, right?
A: I did. I think Cook or Jaylen [Reyes], one of the two of them called me and was like, “Hey, you need you need to bring some cold gear, you need to bring some layers,” and I was like, “Oh gosh. I’m from Texas.” …
Q: Growing up, was it always volleyball for you?
A: I never really played other sports. I did soccer when I was 12, but I don’t really count that. My parents threw me out there, like, ‘We need to get you in something.’ So it was kind of soccer and volleyball, and I honestly didn’t really like volleyball.
I was the worst on my team. I was like, ‘I hate this.’ …
I remember I learned how to serve and I got a pretty good serve, and I was like, “OK, I kind of like this.” And so I stuck with it. From then on, my dad just kind of like was a big motivator … He was always there to make sure I was getting things done.
So from that point on, I kind of fell in love with the sport and just the aspect of having something to work hard for and continuing to push the needle every single day and try to get 1% better. I really enjoyed that aspect of the game, and I think having my dad there really helped instill in me that, “Yeah, you’re pretty good at this, you can make this a thing.”
Allie Sczech (3) celebrates a point against the Red team during the Red-White Scrimmage on Aug. 9. Photo by John S. Peterson.
Q: On the court, how would you describe your play for fans who haven’t seen you?
A: I would say that I’m a really hard worker. I’m really gritty. I always want to win. I like when it’s crunch time, I feel like I deliver well when it’s crunch time. I like to just go out there and have fun and play for the Lord and play for something bigger than myself.
Q: Did you know any of the Nebraska players before?
A: I knew Andi Jackson because she kind of got recruited by Baylor pretty early on, and so I kind of knew her just from camps and things like that. It was always cool to see her progress in Nebraska and see all the things she’s done, like first team All-American and that’s awesome. I would expect nothing less from her. She’s a great person and great player.
Q: Who did you connect with early on after committing to the team?
A: On my visit I hung out with a ton of them. I really connected with Harper [Murray] and Bergen [Reilly] a ton, and I love them.
They were all great and that was a big game changer for me … It just felt like home right off the bat. We connected really easily, it was easy conversations, they were so welcoming, and I was like, “Oh wow, this feels like I’m already here,” I was just like, “Yeah, [these are] my people for sure.”
Allie Sczech during volleyball practice. Photo by Brandon Tiedemann.
Q: As an experienced player, how do you approach being a leader while respecting what’s already been built?
A: I have a lot of respect for their team. Obviously, they’ve been successful and especially Merritt, I think she left such a big mark on the program and seeing everything from afar, it’s crazy. I just think she is such a leader and leads by example and does the right thing when it’s hard. And so I think to be able to come in and see someone, just have left the program like that, what an awesome person to try to go in, embody and try to live up to. I think that’s honestly a huge thing for me.
A big thing for my situation at Nebraska is I kind of viewed it like a golden ticket opportunity. I get to go there, I get to master what I want to master, and I get to play the sport I love and potentially win a national championship.
Q: Nebraska’s goal is a national championship every year. Has that been your mindset?
A: One thousand percent yes. I would love nothing more to bring it home to Nebraska and bring it home to those girls. They’re good players, but they’re good people too, and so I would want nothing more than to be successful there and to see them be successful, too …
I think it’s 1,000% in the cards and 1,000% could happen.
Q: Have you envisioned what it will be like running out at the Devaney Center for the first time?
A: Yes, I have …
I can’t wait to be in there in the fall and see all those, all the stands packed and everyone in there, and it’s super loud. I can’t wait to be a part of such a great environment, and I can’t wait to dream big.
