Dani Busboom Kelly and Nebraska volleyball signed one of the best 2027 recruiting classes in the country on Wednesday featuring four top-30 prospects, including one from right down the road.
Malorie Boesiger, a 5-foot-10 setter from Norris High School in Firth, Neb., will follow in her sister Maisie’s footsteps by suiting up for the Cornhuskers.
“It feels awesome,” Boesiger said at Norris’ signing day ceremony. “Obviously, growing up in Nebraska, it’s every girl’s little dream to play for the Huskers, so it’s a pretty surreal feeling this morning … I think just the culture and the fan base is really amazing, and Dani has always been a coach that I wanted to play for, so when she came back, it just felt meant to be, and I feel very grateful.”
Boesiger has led Norris to a combined 108-7 record with a state championship in 2025, a runner-up finish in 2023 and a semifinal appearance this season while missing her entire sophomore season with an injury.
She averaged a state-leading 12.0 assists per game as a senior while setting the Titans to a .380 hitting percentage. Boesiger was also second in the state in aces at 1.1 per set and holds eight Norris records, including the program’s single-season and career high marks for assists and aces.
PrepDig.com has Boesiger ranked 29th nationally in the 2027 class and she played club for Nebraska ONE alongside another Husker commit in 2028 pledge Shayla Rautenberg.
“Malorie has played a lot of high-level volleyball in her prep career and it has allowed her to boast a volleyball IQ beyond her years,” Busboom Kelly said in a release. “Not only is Malorie a great setter, she is a great person who understands what it takes to be a Husker. Malorie is the perfect fit who will add depth and stability to the setter position.”
The class also includes a pair of highly regarded defensive specialists in Mallory Johnson and Pulelehua Laikona.
Johnson, a libero from Byron Center, Mich., continues the Husker pipeline from the Great Lakes State. Though she stands at just 5-foot-5, Johnson is averaging 2.3 kills and 3.8 digs per set while playing outside hitter for her high school, much like the 5-foot-3 Laney Choboy did. Johnson’s Bulldogs are 40-5-2 and alive in the Michigan playoffs.
Johnson was a part of the USA Volleyball national team that captured gold at the U23 Pan American Cup in early September. She played alongside 2028 Nebraska commits Megan Hodges and Rautenberg.
PrepDig has the new Husker back-row player ranked 23rd nationally. She played her club volleyball for FaR Out Volleyball.
“Mallory has grown up in the gym and she certainly plays like it,” Busboom Kelly said. “She has been an outside hitter in high school and a libero throughout her club career. Her athleticism allows her to make some electric plays on defense and her steady demeanor helps her as a consistent serve receiver. “
Laikona is just as highly regarded, coming in at No. 28 in PrepDig’s 2027 rankings. The 5-foot-8 libero Arizona goes by Hua and started her high school career at Mesa High School, where she averaged 3.3 kills on .289 hitting and 2.7 digs per set as a six-rotation outside hitter during her sophomore season. However, after transferring to San Tan Charter School in Gilbert, Ariz., she chose to step away from high school volleyball to focus on personal development and preparing herself for the next level.
Laikona played club for Arizona Storm Elite, the organization that produced current Huskers Teraya Sigler and Kenna Cogill. She also competed with the USA Volleyball U19 squad at the 2026 NORCECA Continental Championship, claiming gold alongside Rautenberg and Hodges in July.
“Hua is one of those liberos you are always drawn to watching,” Busboom Kelly said. “She is equally as good as a defender and as a serve receiver. She brings a joy and energy to the court that makes others around her better. Mallory and Hua will add to our depth defensively and continue Nebraska’s tradition of a being a powerhouse defensively.”
The final member of the class is Shaye Witherspoon, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter from Wildwood, Mo., ranked 11th in the class according to PrepDig.
She missed most of her senior season at Lafayette High School after undergoing surgery to address a lingering knee injury in May but returned to the court on late September and played in nine matches, helping the Lancers finish 35-5 and win a state title.
She averaged 5.9 kills per set on .395 hitting and 2.5 digs per set with 94 blocks and 94 aces during her junior season and has surpassed 1,400 kills in her career
“Shaye is a dynamic left side with a great combination of athleticism, size, and a dynamic arm,” Busboom Kelly said. “She recently came off an injury and led her high school team to a state championship. Shaye knows how to win! We are thrilled to have her join the Husker family.”
The class will not include Kendall Omoruyi, the middle blocker/opposite hitter from Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles who originally committed to the Huskers in June of 2025 but flipped her pledge to Texas A&M last week. Omoruyi is ranked second nationally according to PrepDig.
All four commits who signed on Wednesday plan to graduate early and enroll in January.
