Bergen Reilly has built a college career that goes well beyond the box score. The Nebraska setter paired major on-court success with academic achievement, earning her bachelor’s degree in business and law in May 2026 while also navigating NIL opportunities as part of the business side of college athletics.
Reilly said the two parts of her life feed each other in a way that makes both better. “School sharpens my brain for volleyball, and volleyball sharpens my brain for school,” she said. For a player whose game depends on timing, detail and decision-making, that connection makes sense.
Academic success matched her volleyball rise
Reilly finished her Nebraska career with a 3.83 cumulative GPA and was named the Division I women’s volleyball Academic All-America Team Member of the Year following the 2025 season. She was also a two-time first-team Academic All-American, a strong reflection of how consistently she performed in the classroom while handling the demands of a top program.
Her academic path was intentional. Reilly said she did not know exactly what she wanted to study when she arrived in college, but her father encouraged her to build a background in business. That led her to business and law coursework, a major she felt could give her flexibility after volleyball.
“So I just figured like the business law major was perfect,” Reilly said. “It encapsulates a lot, and I can kind of go wherever I want with it at the end of college.”
Elite production at Nebraska
On the court, Reilly’s résumé is already among the best in Nebraska history. In 2026, she became the only player in program history to record at least 4,000 career assists, 1,000 digs and 200 blocks. That combination shows how complete her game became over time: a setter who could run an offense, defend her position and contribute at the net.
Her honors reflect that growth. Reilly earned Big Ten Setter of the Year honors in 2025, joining Wisconsin’s Sydney Hilley as one of only three players to win the award three times since it was created in 2012. She also helped Nebraska open 2026 with a 25-0 start and a No. 1 national ranking, then helped the Huskers clinch a share of their fourth consecutive Big Ten championship on Nov. 8, 2026.
Reilly’s game was also marked by consistency. She posted a.351 hitting percentage in 2026, following a.331 mark, a reminder that her impact extended beyond setting up teammates.
NIL adds another layer
Reilly also framed NIL as part of the same broader development. The business side of college sports has become a real factor for top athletes, and she has approached it with the same practical mindset that has shaped her academics and volleyball career.
That perspective fits a player who describes herself as “a little bit of a perfectionist.” For Reilly, the details matter in every part of life, whether that is a set, a class or a business decision. Nebraska has gotten a star setter, but Reilly has also used her time in Lincoln to build a foundation for what comes next.
