On Saturday, Carney gave the next generation of Husker fans a day they'll never forget.
In the Huskers' annual spring game, Nebraska dominated Denver. The game was hosted by Kearney High School this year and was held at the University of Nebraska's Kearney Health and Sports Center.
The day started with a line surrounding the building hours before the doors opened and ended with a line that stretched the entire building waiting for autographs.
“The autographs were my favorite,” said Adeline Wells, 12.
Attendees were able to sign one item from their team, and while most attendees chose a photo roster or volleyball, some fans wanted something a little more personal.
Morgan Connott, 11, brought a placard that read, “Go Bargain Riley!” Setter is her favorite player.
“I like the setting and I respect her because she’s really good at it,” Connott said. “She said she liked the autograph, so she signed it for me.”
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Her friend Jaycee Verne brought signs supporting her favorite player, libero Lexi Rodriguez.
“She's very good and can dig the ball well,” said Verne, 11. “She didn't have to travel and we were thrilled that she could perform here.”
For many of the attendees, Saturday marked their first time watching a Nebraska volleyball game, bringing a new level of connection to their favorite team.
“It was my first time doing it and I really enjoyed it,” Hadley Most said. “There were a lot of really great kills and aces.”
Many of the participants were volleyball players themselves, and the match was not only interesting, but also moving.
A popular shirt among spectators featured a volleyball in the outline of the state, with the caption simply “Volleyball State.”
“It's very emotional,” said Caroline Anderson.
The game was the Huskers' first at Kearney since 2017, when they played at Kearney High School.