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Millard West grad is coming back to Omaha, signs with UNO volleyball
OUR 2025 VOLLEYBALL SEASON PREVIEW MAT BUTTERMORE SEVENTH SEASON. NOW WITH THE OMAHA MAVERICKS MAKING HIM THE LONGEST TENURED DIVISION ONE HEAD COACH IN NEBRASKA BY A WIDE MARGIN. AND WITH THAT EXPERIENCE COMES HIGHER EXPECTATIONS. THIS GROUP REALLY LOVES BEING AROUND EACH OTHER, SO WE REALLY HAVEN’T HAD EVEN GOING BACK TO THE SPRING. WE HAVEN’T HAD A BAD PRACTICE, SO IT’S A HARD WORKING GROUP. IT’S A GROUP THAT LIKES TO LEARN. THE NEW FOLKS HAVE THE FRESHMEN AND TRANSFERS HAVE BOUGHT IN AND BECOME, YOU KNOW, ASSETS IN OUR CULTURE. SO WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING GOING HERE. YOU’RE ENTERING YOUR SEVENTH SEASON HERE AND SUDDENLY YOU’RE THE SAVVY OLD VETERAN, THE MAINSTAY OF NEBRASKA HEAD COACHES. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? I THINK I KNOW I’M OLD, BUT I DON’T KNOW ABOUT SAVVY. IT’S INTERESTING BECAUSE I WAS IN COLLEGE WHEN JOHN TOOK OVER. I WORKED CAMPS FOR BOTH JOHN AND KIRSTEN. YOU KNOW, THEY WROTE RECOMMENDATION LETTERS FOR ME. THERE WERE A FEW COACHES OUT THERE, STILL A LITTLE OLDER THAN I AM. DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB. SOME OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS WE WON’T NAME NAMES, BUT IT IS A LITTLE SURREAL TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT’S THE OLDEST NOW? YEAH. FOR SURE. HOW HAVE YOU SEEN YOURSELF GROW? HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PROGRAM GROW SINCE YOU GOT HERE IN 2019? YOU KNOW, WE’VE RAISED EXPECTATIONS. WE EXPECT TO WIN THE CONFERENCE EVERY YEAR. TOURNAMENT EVERY YEAR. OUR ATTENDANCE HAS GROWN EVERY YEAR SINCE WE’VE BEEN HERE. YOU KNOW, I DON’T TRY TO DRIVE THE GYM WITH THE FORCE OF MY PERSONALITY ANYMORE. SO IT’S MORE CONVERSATIONAL. THE GYM. WE’RE HAVING A LOT OF FUN THIS YEAR. AND SO I THINK THAT’S SOMETHING THAT’S BEEN A CHANGE PERSONALLY. YOU MENTIONED THE EXPECTATION IS TO WIN A CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT EACH YEAR. TWO YEARS AGO, YOU DID THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, GOT YOUR FIRST TASTE OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT LAST YEAR, CAME UP A LITTLE BIT SHORT. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT THE MARGIN BETWEEN WINNING AND LOSING IN THE POSTSEASON? IT’S THIN. YOU KNOW THIS THIS CONFERENCE CONTINUES TO GET DEEPER. YOU HAVE TO BE GEARING TOWARDS THAT CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT. YOU KNOW REALLY ALL YEAR. AND HOW DO WE HOW ARE WE READY TO PLAY OUR BEST BALL THEN AS WELL AS BE READY FOR A TOUGH NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE AND PUT OURSELVES IN THE BEST POSITION BY WINNING THE REGULAR SEASON TO WIN THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT. KALE JURGENSMEYER. SHE LED YOUR TEAM IN KILLS LAST YEAR AS A JUNIOR. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR HER? KALE IS A FORCE OF NATURE. SHE’S A HARD WORKING PLAYER. SHE’S ONE OF THE STRONGEST PLAYERS ON OUR TEAM. SHE’S WORKED HARD ON HER GAME AND TO BECOME A SIX ROTATION PLAYER. SHE’S REALLY GOOD OFFENSIVELY. HER BLOCKING IS IMPROVING. HER SERVE IS A WEAPON AND SHE’S BEEN OUR BEST PASSER IN A LOT OF OUR SCRIMMAGES, SO SHE REALLY HAS ALL THE TOOLS TO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR TEAM, AND WE HAVE THE PIECES AROUND HER THAT SHE’S NOT GOING TO HAVE TO CARRY THE FULL LOAD EVERY NIGHT. JUST LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE, WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT WHERE THIS SPORT IS AT? I’M EXCITED. LIKE. I’VE ALWAYS I SAY THIS IN EVERY INTERVIEW, BUT I’M A STOCK BUYER. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A STOCK BUYER OF VOLLEYBALL. I JUST THINK IT’S GONNA KEEP GROWING. IT MIGHT NOT BE A STRAIGHT LINE, BUT IT’S JUST A NO BRAINER TO ME. IT’S A GREAT SPORT TO WATCH. YOU KNOW? IT’S PROBABLY THE ULTIMATE INDOOR TEAM GAME IS A SLAM DUNK IN EVERY PLAY. I’M EXCITED, OBVIOUSLY, ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP HERE IN TOWN WITH BOTH KIRSTEN AND JOHN JUMPING IN WITH THE TWO PRO TEAMS, AND I’M REALLY EXCITED FOR FUTURE STUDENT ATHLETES WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO CONTINUE TO PLAY AFTER COLLEGE. THAT’S MATT SOTTILE REPORTING. ALL RIGHT. STILL AHEAD, THE KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN SPORTS TEAM GIVES US THEIR PREDICTIONS FOR WHAT IS SURE TO BE A GREAT SEASON OF COLLEGE VOLLEYBA
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Millard West grad is coming back to Omaha, signs with UNO volleyball
Previous coverage in the video aboveUNO volleyball lands Oral Roberts transfer, who is no stranger to the Omaha area. Hayden Hart graduated from Millard West before heading to Oklahoma to play for the Golden Eagles. In her freshman year, the Omaha native played in all but five games, tallying up 221 kills, 61 digs, and hitting at .147.She is also ranked fifth all-time in career kills with the Wildcats.Hart is the third transfer in the Mavs’ 2026 class.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Previous coverage in the video above
UNO volleyball lands Oral Roberts transfer, who is no stranger to the Omaha area.
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Hayden Hart graduated from Millard West before heading to Oklahoma to play for the Golden Eagles.
In her freshman year, the Omaha native played in all but five games, tallying up 221 kills, 61 digs, and hitting at .147.
She is also ranked fifth all-time in career kills with the Wildcats.
Hart is the third transfer in the Mavs’ 2026 class.
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Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
