Reliving Maisie Boesiger’s special Nebraska jersey moment: ‘It was surreal’

She was already practicing with the Nebraska volleyball team, so Maisie Boesiger knew that she would eventually be given a jersey.

Still, when she went into the locker room and saw it for the first time, it meant something. So much so that Boesiger went to coach John Cook and thanked him for the jersey later that day.

That left an impression on the longtime coach. It was a reminder of how special it can be to have a spot on Nebraska’s team, especially for a player like Boesiger who grew up near Lincoln in Firth idolizing Husker volleyball players.

Cook doesn’t know exactly how many players in his 23 years as Nebraska’s coach have thanked him for their jersey, but it’s not a long list.

“She’s a small-town Nebraska girl and you get a jersey and actually get to physically hold it and see it and put it in your locker, so it’s pretty cool,” Cook said. “It’s cool because not everybody appreciates it that much, and the fact that she had an attitude of gratitude for being a part of this program is a great example for everybody else. It means a lot to her.”

That moment came about one year ago before Nebraska’s spring match last season in Grand Island. Boesiger had graduated from high school early to join the Huskers for spring practice.

And now the next group of Husker freshmen will experience their first spring match when the Huskers play Wichita State at 2 p.m. Saturday at Central City High School.

Boesiger remembers the day fondly.

“I walked into the locker room and my jersey was folded up and it was sitting on the chair,” Boesiger said. “It was a surreal moment to see that. I had a locker with my name on it, and now my jersey with my number on it. I was just so thankful and appreciative and excited to be able to experience it and have my own Husker jersey. I remember I tried it on with the other freshmen.”

After practice that day, Boesiger thanked Cook.

“I just wanted him to know how excited I was, and how much it meant to me,” she said. “I could tell that he thought it was pretty cool how excited I was.”

At Norris, Boesiger was a varsity setter for four years with her mother, Christina, as the head coach. She’s just 5-foot-6, so Boesiger knew if she went to Nebraska it would probably be in a new position as a defensive specialist or serving sub. If she went to a different level of college volleyball, she’d have a better chance to play setter.

“I knew that I just wanted to play at the highest level possible, whether that was setting or not,” Boesiger said.

She got to play in 23 matches last season, including all three NCAA Tournament matches. In total, Boesiger had three ace serves, 12 digs and six assists — coming on out-of-system sets.

Boesiger is one of just three players from the state on the team, along with Lindsay Krause (Papillion) and Bekka Allick (Lincoln).

“I think it’s so special because so many girls from Nebraska dream about playing for the Huskers,” Boesiger said. “I’m just so thankful to have this opportunity in front of me to get to train here every day and get to work with these girls and to try and accomplish our goal of winning a national championship.”

Boesiger had a part of one of the more interesting moments of last season during the NCAA Sweet 16 match against Oregon. The fourth set went back and forth so long that Nebraska used its 15 allowed substitutions, meaning Boesiger had to stay in the match in the front row as the middle blocker.

On the bench, team captain Kenzie Knuckles tried to help Boesiger get ready when it looked like Boesiger would have to stay in the match.

“I remember on the sideline before I went in Kenzie was like, ‘OK, this is what you’re going to do Maisie. You’re going to block here, and we’re in this rotation,’” Boesiger said. “She was just telling me exactly what I was going to do as a middle, since I’ve never played in the middle. She was like, ‘You got it. You can do it.’”

When Boesiger made a shocking appearance in the front row, teammate Ally Batenhorst — about 11 inches taller than Boesiger — had a big grin.

“She had no idea we were out of subs,” Boesiger said. “She looked over and saw me, and was like, ‘Oh, hey.’”

Boesiger wanted to do the best she could, and maybe the Huskers could win the set. She thought maybe she could at least get a block touch.

Oregon won the set, 32-30, and then the fifth set.

College and volleyball keep Boesiger busy now, but she also has a small business as a baker. She has decorated cakes and cupcakes for birthday and graduation parties and high school events. She has an Instagram account (Maisie’s Pastries) where customers can see her work and contact her.

The past two years she’s baked for Cook’s birthday, including an impressive cake shaped like a horse last week.

Boesiger always enjoyed baking with her mom and grandmother. During high school, it was tough for her to have a part-time job when she was playing high school and club volleyball, but she could still make some money baking cakes.