Harper Murray is in the spotlight heading into her senior year with Nebraska volleyball.
The outside hitter has gotten the opportunity to be a stadium captain for the World Cup, attended the ESPYs for the second time and went to WNBA All-Star Weekend amidst a busy summer.
“What I’ve really experienced is learning how to balance NIL, social media, my social life and volleyball, because there are so many different factors that play into all of it,” Murray told Hail Varsity. “So I’ve had to learn how to balance that, and I’m obviously not perfect at it, and it’s been trial and error, but I think it’s helped me. It’s helped me learn and understand what my end goal is.”
Murray has also had to learn to navigate the good and bad that comes along with being a star athlete. On the positive side, she said she’s enjoyed meeting new people while making money in the process.
“I love talking to people, and I love being around big groups of people,” Murray said. “I’m an extrovert, so I feel like I’m in my natural habitat when I’m doing that stuff. So that’s one positive, and obviously I can’t deny the money. There’s good money that comes from it, and that’s a benefit, but that wouldn’t be there without volleyball.”
The senior has also seen the negative side of being in the spotlight. She experienced it firsthand on social media through backlash to her press conference comments following Nebraska’s loss to Texas in the 2023 National Championship match. Tuning out the negativity is a less she had to learn the hard way.
Harper Murray (27) smiles after hitting the ball against the Kansas Jayhawks. Photo by John S. Peterson.
“I’m not going to sit here and act like I don’t see things, and I don’t get the tiniest bit bothered by it, but at the end of the day I’m not losing sleep over it anymore,” Murray said. “I honestly wasted too many tears over it, and so many years that it’s not worth my time anymore.”
The months following that loss in the championship constituted a difficult time for Murray for many reasons, including the hateful comments directed her way. During that offseason, she faced DUI and shoplifting charges, pleading no contest to the former and entering a pretrial diversion for the latter. She said she’s grown and matured since those experiences and has learned how to navigate the stresses that come with competing on the biggest stages.
“I think playing sports, you see a different side of yourself,” Murray said. “You learn so much more about how you like to compete, what you need from people when your struggling, how to communicate, things like that. I think maturity is a broad statement, but when you break it down, there are so many little things that go into it, and I think I’ve just gotten better at it.”
Murray credits her sister, Kendall, and her own experiences for helping her overcome these challenges.
“Just seeing how at peace she is with her life and the things that she does has kind of inspired me to do the same,” Murray said. ” I think she’s been someone that’s really helped me see things a little bit differently, but also just coming from experience, and being in those routes and already having moments where you feel like you’re upset and you’re feeling judged and you’re not enough. Sometimes you get to a point where you don’t want to waste any more tears on it anymore, and I think I got there. I haven’t looked back since.”
Throughout her trials, Murrays relied on her support system, which includes her family, friends, coaches and teammates. She said she hopes they’re proud of her progress.
“With teams changing every year and a new coach and all those things, there are so many things that people need to learn about you and understand,” Murray said. “I feel like something our program does really well is letting people be themselves and understanding that we all come from different backgrounds, so we’re all going to be different in our own ways. I think I’m just grateful that I have so many people around me.”
She helped lead Nebraska to a 33-1 overall record in 2025. The Huskers were No. 1 in the AVCA Coaches Poll most of the season, winning the Big Ten title and advancing to the Elite Eight before falling to eventual champion Texas A&M. Despite the disappointing end, Murray has learned to enjoy the ride and take pride in what she and her teammates accomplish — though that hasn’t lessened her motivation to finally get over the hump.
“I’ve learned that there’s so much more to life than volleyball,” Murray said. “All these former players at Nebraska will always come in and talk to us and be like, ‘Just stay where your feet are and be grateful for what we’re doing now, because at the end of the day you’re not going to remember the wins and losses.’ … It goes without saying that it’s super motivating though, because everyone wants to win.”
As a junior, the AVCA National Player of the Year semifinalist and first-team All-Big Ten athlete led Nebraska with a career-high 3.54 kills per set on a .295 hitting percentage. She also fronted the Huskers in aces with 34 while averaging 2.16 digs and 0.60 blocks per set.
The team has turned its focus to 2026, with teams across the country able to begin preseason practice on Thursday. Nebraska retained its entire roster aside from graduating seniors for the second consecutive year under the guidance of head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. Murray said she believes the culture is a big reason why.
Nebraska Cornhusker head coach Dani Busboom Kelly and outside hitter Harper Murray (27) talk during the NCAA Volleyball Regional against the Texas A&M Aggies. Photo by John S. Peterson.
“John (Cook) did a great job, but then Dani came in and it didn’t really feel like much changed,” Murray said. “Obviously, our practice plans and their coaching styles were different, but I think it was really productive, because Dani understands the tradition and the past that Nebraska has.”
The biggest change the Huskers will have to navigate is a shift to the entire collegiate model with the age-based eligibility rule taking effect. That means Murray and her fellow seniors could choose to return for a fifth season of eligibility as the new model grants athletes five years to play five seasons. Whether or not Murray takes advantage of that extra year is a decision for the future; she and her teammates are focusing on the present and making the most of the 2026 season.
“Whether it’s our senior year or it’s not, we just want to go out and make sure that we’re being the best teammates we can be, the best friends, the best players, and no matter what happens, leaving on a high note, or staying on a high note,” Murray said. “We just want to make our senior year the best year we have.”
While the Huskers have fallen short of a national championship in Murray’s first three seasons, the Huskers have captured three Big Ten titles, and going four-for-four is among her goals.
“I feel like not many teams have won the Big Ten four years in a row, so I feel like that would be really cool, and that’s a good start,” Murray said. “And then of course by the end, winning the natty.”
The journey towards that ultimate goal has begun, but Murray said the way she’s attacking it is by staying where her feet are and enjoying the process.
“(I’m focused on) just being grateful because I’ve gotten to do some of the coolest things in the last year,” Murray said. “A big reason for that is Nebraska, so I wouldn’t have this without volleyball, without Nebraska, without the fans and the tradition. So I’m just soaking it all up and making sure that I take advantage of everything that we’re given and that we have.”
For more on Murray’s journey, check out her exclusive interview with Ana Bellinghausen on the Hail Varsity YouTube channel.
