Merritt Beason, once a standout opposite hitter for Nebraska Volleyball and now a force with the Omaha Supernovas, celebrated her teammate Sarah Wilhite Parsons as she made her much-anticipated debut. Parsons first turned heads at the University of Minnesota, capturing the AVCA National Player of the Year award in 2016.
Her journey has taken her to professional courts in Italy, Japan, Turkey, and Germany, before she brought her talents to the Supernovas for the 2026 season. After graduating from Nebraska in 2024, Beason made headlines as the No. 1 overall pick in the Pro Volleyball Federation draft, joining the Atlanta Vibe before making her way to the Supernovas.
Former Nebraska Volleyball Player Merritt Beason Sends Message to Parsons
Parsons had an outstanding home debut for the Supernovas, recording 21 points, 17 kills, and the franchise record for kills and total points against the San Diego Mojo on January 8.
She also played during the team’s victory against Columbus Fury, and across two matches, she had 45 points, 36 kills, 7 blocks, and 2 aces.
These performances earned her the MLV Player of the Week Award, prompting a reaction from Beason, who showed her support:
“SAUCE!!!,” she wrote.
Next up, Beason and the Supernovas face off against her former squad, the Atlanta Vibe, on Friday, January 16.
In her 2025 season with the Vibe, Beason averaged 2.69 kills and 2.08 digs per set before reuniting with her former Nebraska mentor, coach Luka Slabe, in Omaha for the 2026 season.
Beason On Working With John Cook Again
Throughout her Nebraska career, Beason thrived under the guidance of legendary head coach John Cook. A mentor to countless Huskers, Cook led the program for 25 seasons before retiring after the 24-25 campaign. He later took on the role of general manager and co-owner of the Omaha Supernovas, playing a pivotal part in bringing Beason onto the roster.
In an interview on Hurrdat Sports, Beason spoke about how Cook recruited her: (0:47 onwards)
“It was obviously not something I thought I would be having, those kinds of conversations with him anymore. So, it was really special. He’s been a big part of getting my love for the game back and growing in the sport. To have him along this journey with me has been really cool.” she stated.
During her Nebraska tenure, Beason collected a string of honors, including AVCA All-America First Team recognition and a spot as a Honda Sports Award for Volleyball Finalist. She also helped power the Huskers to two Big Ten Conference titles.
