Nebraska volleyball and head coach Dani Busboom Kelly have done an incredible job with her first recruiting class. The Huskers have earned five commitments in 48 hours. Libero Mallory Johnson is the latest commitment and NU’s second libero in the class.

Mesa, Ariz. libero Pulelehua “Hua” Laikona announced her commitment to Nebraska earlier on Tuesday, June 17.

Johnson is the No. 31 prospect by PrepVolleyball and No. 68 by PrepDig. The 5-foot-6 defensive specialist plays for Byron Center (Mich.) High School. She is the top player in the state of Michigan.

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The libero plays for Far Out volleyball club in Grand Rapids, Mich. The 16-year-old plays up two age groups for Far Out’s 18 group.

“I’m thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Nebraska to continue my academic and athletic journey!” she said on Instagram.

“First, I want to thank my family. You are my rock, and I’m forever grateful for your love and support. You inspire me to be a better person every day! I also want to thank my FarOut family. To my coaches, thank you for pushing me to improve daily. To my teammates, thank you for being my best friends. And lastly, a huge thank you to the entire Nebraska staff, especially Coach Dani, Coach Jaylen, Coach Kelly, and Coach Brennan, for this opportunity of a lifetime. I’m so excited and grateful to start this new chapter!”

Johnson attended Nebraska’s Dream Team Camp in 2024. Her passing and serving abilities stood out amongst some of the top athletes in her age group.

The final piece to Nebraska’s Class of 2027

Johnson is likely the final piece to the Huskers’ Class of 2027.

Nebraska has players by the same name in its latest recruiting class. Setter Malorie Boesiger was the Huskers’ first 2027 public announcement. The 5-foot-10 Firth, Neb. native and Norris High School product is the younger sister of Husker senior Maisie Boesiger. She is the No. 14 player by PrepVolleyball.com.

Middle blocker Kendall Omoruyi, who is from Casteel High School in Queen Creek, Ariz., is the top prospect in the class, according to PrepDig. She recorded 2.7 kills per set, 0.8 blocks per set, and hit .342 as a sophomore.

Omoruyi and Laikona play together for Arizona Storm, one of the top clubs nationally. Laikona is ranked No. 59 by PrepVolleyball and No. 103 by PrepDig. As an outside hitter for Mesa, she averaged 3.3 kills per set and 2.7 digs.

Last but not least, outside hitter Shaye Witherspoon also pledged her commitment to Nebraska on Tuesday. The 6-foot-3 attacker helped Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Mo., to two Class 5 state titles. The No. 10 prospect by PrepDig hit .379 and recorded 4.4 kills per set as a sophomore.

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WELLFLEET, Neb. – A jaw-dropping scene unfolded across the fields south of North Platte, Nebraska, on Monday evening as storm chasers tracked a massive tornado that lasted over an hour.

As a line of storms marched across the Upper Midwest on Monday, spawning Tornado Warnings, several twisters were spotted by storm chasers in Minnesota and Nebraska. The tornado captured below by Jim Tang takes the cake.

Chasers said the tornado continued moving through multiple remote farm communities in Nebraska for over an hour. Eventually, the tornado was captured in the video above next to a rainbow.

A massive tornado seen from Wellfleet, Nebraska on Monday, June 17, 2025.

(JIM TANG/LSM / FOX Weather)

“Still can’t believe this happened,” Tang wrote on X.

Another video of the same long-track tornado taken near Dickens, Nebraska, shows another angle of the rainbow-tornado combo. 

A large tornado was spotted spinning next to a rainbow in Dickens, Nebraska, on Monday. Video by Connor McCarty shows the towering vortex, with the rainbow adding to the shot.

There were more than a dozen reports of tornadoes on Monday, most of which were in Minnesota.