Harper Murray is building the bridge
As beach season begins, Murray is navigating visibility, culture and expectations with a different kind of confidence.
Harper Murray sat on the floor of the Alloy Strength Complex in the Hawks Championship Center Monday afternoon, just off the indoor beach court and tucked behind a trash can. She had just finished her match—Nebraska was in the process of a 5-0 sweep of Ottawa—and the BTN+ broadcast was humming in the background.
It wasn’t a formal interview. If anyone caught our conversation on the stream—and I know of at least one person watching that did— they would’ve heard how casual it felt.
From where I sat to Murray’s left, her relaxed nature stood out.
Murray is operating in a bigger world than she was even a year ago—USA Volleyball training camps, Super Bowl appearances alongside Paige Bueckers, national visibility that extends beyond the Nebraska bubble—and yet she sounded grounded and comfortable.
Nebraska opened the beach season with every pair winning in straight sets. Murray and Andi Jackson, for their part, handled their match 21-16, 22-20.
The Huskers are not beach players first—something Murray noted—but the opportunity to play through spring has its perks for the team (especially the newcomers).
“Beach is a good place to build chemistry because it’s more laid back and calm,” Murray said. “It takes stress off the new girls. None of us are real beach players, so we’re all kind of on the same level. If they came straight into indoor, there would be way more nerves and way more kinks to work out because indoor is our thing.
“In beach, everyone makes mistakes. It helps them open up and feel more comfortable.”
