Nebraska volleyball team faces harsh criticism after loss, takes to social media to respond

Lincoln, Neb., (KLKN) – The Nebraska volleyball team faced Penn State on Friday and received intense commentary after the loss.

But the fallout sparked more than just post game analysis. Critics flooded social media with harassments directed towards the athletes and questioned their skills and their commitment.

Nebraska’s Harper Murray took to social media to address the intense bullying and stood up for herself and her team in a transparent way.

“I have opened my phone to so many negative videos about myself, my team, other girls on collegiate teams and I am so sick of it.” Said Murray in a seven minute TikTok video.

She showed an example of how personal it can get, with one person direct messaging Murray saying, “Your dad killed himself because you’re such a terrible human being. That’s how karma works.”

@harperrmurrayylast thing kinda off topic but women sports has came so far and we should continue to empower women for their fire and competitiveness not tear them down and say they are a “brat”, “classless”, and have “attitude”… women can be just as competitive as men. sports are about friendships and memories not just winning. we all are doing what we love and are doing our best!!!♬ original sound – harpermurray

Murray’s father did pass, but from cancer when she was younger.

The type of backlash raised important questions about how women’s sports are perceived compared to men’s.

Channel 8 sat down with University of Nebraska-Lincoln associate professor John Shrader and lecturer Erin Sorensen.

“It’s easier to take shots at women than it is men,” said Shrader, “So, I think women take the brute of it, but I think some people find it more comfortable than they find it’s okay.”

Many said that the intense focus on a loss is a broader issue in women’s athletic performance and is often judged more harshly and more publicly than men’s teams.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that the mental health is impacted for both male and female athletes. I don’t think there’s any doubt about it,” Shrader said. “We are concerned about all of them, we’re especially concerned about the really awful social media abuse of women. It’s been a concern for a while for both men and women, but I think we know that women take more abuse than men do.”

Sorensen said the lack of consistent media coverage leaves women’s teams fighting an uphill battle both on and off the court.

“We obviously know that there are differences within the last few years, the women’s basketball tournament did not carry the March Madness name until a group of women called it out and said ‘hey look at this discrepancy of what the women are getting and the men are getting.'” Sorensen said.

Despite the tough loss and backlash, the Huskers women’s volleyball team said they’re determined to keep pushing forward.

The very next day, the team went out and beat Maryland 3-1 to take home a share of the Big Ten title.

Players said it’s about more than just winning, but about change in the conversation about women’s sports.