The University of Nebraska in Lincoln has already snatched a freshman from Fossil Ridge High School to play on their nationally ranked volleyball team. Riley Zuhn announced her verbal commitment to UNL on Tuesday, April 12.
Zuhn made the announcement of her verbal commitment to UNL on Instagram. “So excited to announce that I just verbally committed to play volleyball at Nebraska! Dreams really do come true!” said Zuhn. After the announcement, her Fossil volleyball coach, Paul Shimek, confirmed the commitment. Zuhn is the volleyball program’s first commit from the class of 2019. “I’m really excited for the fans and being a part of Husker nation. The volleyball fans are crazy and make it ten times more fun,” she says.
It is rare for colleges to show so much interest in such young players, but if there is one athlete that they should be interested in, it’s Zuhn. At six feet, five inches, she has been playing competitive volleyball since middle school. Although her height gives her an advantage, it is her incredible talent that has brought her this far. Her freshman year, she was one of only three freshmen to make the varsity volleyball team. According to MaxPreps, she has had 234 kills, 79 solo blocks, and 18 aces, which pans out to be quite a good season. Not only that, but she is on Prep Volleyball’s Frosh 59 for the 2015 volleyball season. This means that she is one of the best freshman volleyball players in the country.
Nebraska needed her commitment, as other school have also shown interest in Zuhn. She says, “I started visiting schools a year and a half ago, so I never thought about recruiting before. I know my height gets people’s attention so I think that’s part of it.” In fall of 2015 Zuhn visited five different colleges; Nebraska, Wisconsin, UCLA, Florida, and Colorado University, with many more showing interest in her. Scouts from many different schools attended her volleyball games and tournaments. When touring campuses in the fall, she said that UNL was one of her favorites. “I was on campus in October and I felt like it was where I was meant to be. There’s no place like Nebraska and I couldn’t picture myself playing anywhere else,” says Zuhn.
Although Zuhn has yet to sign a contract, she has officially verbally committed to UNL. Athletes must be in their senior year of high school before they are allowed to officially sign a contract that commits to a certain school. Since Zuhn is still a freshman, she is only able to make a verbal commitment. This means that she has officially agreed to go to UNL, and other colleges are no longer able to try to recruit her. It also means that once she is a senior, Zuhn will sign a contract stating her commitment to the school.
Having so much interest by colleges as a freshman is an incredible feat, but it is even more impressive when that college is the University of Nebraska. Their volleyball team is amongst the best in the country. Lead by coach John Cook, they won the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament this past 2015 season. They also earned the champion title in the years 2006, 2000, and 1995.
As amazing as she already is, three more years playing volleyball on the Fossil team will give Zuhn time to get even better over the next years. Plus, Fossil has many other promising volleyball candidates that Nebraska may be able to pick up as well. The two other freshmen who were on the Fossil varsity volleyball team, Catie Semadeni and Mataya Megson, are just some of many more athletes that colleges all over the country have shown interest in.
Overall, Nebraska is lucky to have Zuhn as their new addition to the team. Being placed amongst the best freshmen volleyball players in the country, Zuhn is sure to utilize her talents for the volleyball team at UNL.
