Nebraska Volleyball outside hitter announces leave

Taylor Simpson is no longer a part of the Nebraska volleyball team. Tuesday it was announced that the freshman, a Colorado Springs native, would not return for her second season in Lincoln.

"Taylor Simpson informed us over break that she would like to pursue another option and has made the decision to no longer be a part of the Nebraska volleyball program," NU coach John Cook said in a press release. "We have released her from her letter of intent in order for her to pursue another program and receive aid immediately. We wish Taylor nothing but the best of luck in the future as she will be missed as a member of the Nebraska volleyball team."

Simpson came to Nebraska as a heavily hyped outside hitting recruit, much like fellow Colorado Springs native, Morgan Broekhuis, had the previous year. Simpson appeared in only 12 matches this season due to a nagging back injury suffered early in the conference season, and hit .212 over 34 sets, with three digs and nine blocks total.

Simpson's last match as a Husker was during a home sweep of Indiana on Oct. 8, where she notched two kills over three sets. No reason was given for her departure, nor was her destination immediately revealed. Her services should be in high demand, as prepvolleyball.com named her the No. 9 recruit in the country during her senior year of high school, during which time Simpson also helped the U.S. Women's Youth Olympic Team to a second place finish in Singapore.

Simpson's loss comes at a position of strength for the Huskers, as first-team AVCA All-American Gina Mancuso returns alongside All-Big Ten first teamer Hannah Werth. Broekhuis, a second team All-Big Ten selection, can also play outside, as can redshirt freshman Alicia Ostrander and incoming recruit Kelsey Fien, prepvolleyball's No. 19 recruit this year.  

— Compiled by Sean Whalen