Former Huskers Watch Daughters Play at State
Several former Nebraska volleyball players have daughters competing in this week's state high school tournament.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Volleyball
Former Nebraska volleyball players, including members of the 1995 national championship team and the 1996 Big 12 champions, now have daughters playing in the state high school volleyball tournament this week. The tournament's first day was November 4, 2026.
Why it matters
The connection between Nebraska's championship-era players and the next generation highlights how deep the state's volleyball roots run. It also shows the program's influence extending beyond the college court into high school competition.
Kate Crnich recorded 25 kills in Nebraska's four-set 1995 national championship win, 12 more than her previous career high, and Nebraska has won five national championships in total. The source does not report how the daughters' teams will fare in this week's tournament.
The players
Shayla Rautenberg
A top five national recruit from Milford, Rautenberg is the daughter of three-time All-American Lisa Reitsma and is set to join the Huskers for the 2028 season.
Kate Crnich
Crnich was a standout hitter on Nebraska's 1995 national championship team, recording 25 kills in the final match.
The details
Kate Crnich's daughter Suzie Riggins, Lisa Reitsma's daughter Shayla Rautenberg, Mandy Monson's daughter Blaine Franklin, and Tonia Tauke Dorn's daughter Brecken Albers Dorn are among the players' children competing. Shayla Rautenberg, a top five national recruit, is set to join the Huskers for the 2028 season.
Timeline
1995: Nebraska wins the national championship match in Amherst, Massachusetts.
1996: Nebraska's Big 12 championship team reaches the Final Four.
November 4, 2026: Day one of the Nebraska high school volleyball state tournament.
2028 season: Shayla Rautenberg joins the Nebraska Huskers.
Season Trajectory
The 1995 national championship and 1996 Big 12 title runs remain the defining moments of Nebraska's volleyball history. Their players' daughters now competing in the state tournament show that program's legacy continuing into the next generation.
Fans following the state tournament can track these families' teams through this week's bracket. Shayla Rautenberg's commitment to the Huskers for 2028 gives Nebraska fans a future program name to watch.
The takeaway
Long after the trophies are handed out, championship programs shape the families around them, and the next generation of players often carries the same roots forward.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Volleyball for the latest from Nebraska's high school and college programs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fremont Tribune.
