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Softball American - 2025 Nebraska Preview
2025 Preview: Nebraska
Nebraska's hopes last season ended as quickly as it started. Jordy Bahl suffered a season-ending injury on opening day and that unfortunately was the theme of 2024. The Cornhuskers were hit with a rash of injuries, and never truly recovered. Now, Rhonda Revelle is happy to have a handful of players back healthy with a large transfer class and a star player ready to make an impact for her hometown team.
NEBRASKA ROSTER MOVEMENT
Impact Losses
Billie Andrews (INF)
Brooke Andrews (OF)
Sydney Gray (INF)
Peyton Cody (UTIL)
Caitlynn Neal (OF)
Kaylin Kinney (RHP/UTL)
Sarah Harness (RHP)
Transfer Additions
Ava Kuszak (INF - Wisconsin)
Hannah Camenzind (LHP/UTL - Arkansas)
Lauren Camenzind (C/UTL - Arkansas)
Olivia DiNardo (C/UTL - Arizona)
Kacie Hoffman (OF - Arkansas)
Kylee Magee (RHP - Arizona State)
Freshman Class
Natalia Hill (UTL)
Nessa McMillen (UTL)
Macie Vickers (C)
Kennadi Williams (UTL)
NEBRASKA NEWCOMERS
Freshman Nessa McMillen can play anything for the Huskers. She's a quality defender in both the infield and outfield, even catches if needed, but Revelle said they really like her in the outfield. According to Revelle, she has the strongest arm on the team. She runs well and is very athletic. McMillen is the most likely of the freshman class to crack the starting lineup.
Natalia Hill also has a chance but was slowed by an injury she sustained playing travel ball. She projects to be an infielder at Nebraska; however, like her older sister and former Arizona State and Texas A&M standout Jazmine, she can also play in the outfield.
The Huskers also added six transfers to this season's roster. Revelle said the process of getting to know one another was essentially not needed because all six had previous connections with the program.
Kacie Hoffman, Hannah Camenzind and Lauren Camenzind all come from Arkansas and are Nebraska natives. Hoffman missed last season due to injury. She has a power swing from the left side with 16 doubles and 15 home runs in her career. Hannah Camenzind will be a heavy part of the bullpen and can be a reliable bat. She had high-level moments while in the circle in the SEC. Lauren Camenzind didn't have a big role last season. She started 47 games as a freshman and had decent numbers.
Ava Kuszak, Olivia DiNardo and Kylee Magee all have former travel teammates, who took prior recruiting visits or went to camps at Nebraska. Kuszak and DiNardo are going to be an integral part of the offense and defense. Kuszak earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors after hitting .318 with 15 doubles and nine home runs at Wisconsin last season. She'll likely be the team's starting shortstop as well. DiNardo is another capable hitter. After two seasons at Arizona, she holds a .339 average, 14 doubles, 12 home runs and 69 RBIs in her career. Magee will fit into the bullpen. She is very talented but dealth with her own handful of injuries during her career.
NEBRASKA RETURNEES
All softball fans are ready for the return of Jordy Bahl and the impact she will make for Nebraska. When healthy, she's one of the best players in the country. Will she be at that level immediately after a major injury? The odds aren't high but Bahl is a different breed when it comes to work ethic. She'll be the team's ace certainly and make in impact in the lineup. Her bulldog mentality also helps her team.
"She's helped us a lot and hasn't even played a full game for us," Revelle said. "She's helped set the standard higher. Part of that comes from where she comes from, a championship program and it also naturally is who she is. I've leaned into it, I tell her to not hold back and speak up when you think things can be done better. She has a great respect for this program and wants the best for us."
Bahl won't play in the outfield but seemingly will be in the lineup either playing first base or in the designated player role.
Revenne commended Ava Bredwell for being a team-oriented player. The former Big Ten Freshman of the Year has been the team's starting catcher since she arrived in Lincoln. Revelle said that despite the team adding multiple players who can catch through the portal, Bredwell asked what she could do to help the team. Bredwell has been playing in the outfield for the Huskers this fall and will play there in the spring regardless of the fact she's never played there in previous seasons. Bredwell is also the team's top returning hitter with a .329 average with 14 doubles and eight home runs last season.
Samantha Bland and Bella Bacon are two playres who started 50ish games last season in their first seasons as Huskers. Bland made the All-Big Ten Freshman Team after 43 starts in left field. She finished the year with 14 doubles, six homers and 36 RBIs. Bacon ended the year at a .285 clip.
Katelyn Caneda has been a defensive staple at second base the past two seasons. Emmerson Cope has a chance to make a bigger impact on both sides. She hit five of her six home runs in the last month of the season. Revelle expects her to have more innings in the circle too. She is also expecting a good amount of work from Caitlin Olensky, who also had her season cut short due to injury last season.
PROJECTED LINEUP
C - Olivia DiNardo
1B - Jordy Bahl
2B - Katelyn Caneda
SS - Ava Kuszak
3B - Lauren Camenzind
LF - Abbie Squier / Samantha Bland
CF - Nessa McMillen
RF - Ava Bredwell
DP - Kacie Hoffman / Emmerson Cope
Nebraska has plenty of depth this seaosn but not a ton of clear-cut starters. Revelle admitted they have no lineup figured out and that there are a ton of different combinations they can use because of the infield-outfield versatility as well as a handful of two-way players.
DiNardio and Bredwell will both catch. Nebraska might have trouble figuring out the designated player because many players fit that role.
The projected lineup is one of many possible combinations for the Huskers.
