Whitney Lauenstein // UNL Athletic Communications
TEXAS – A former Husker and Nebraska native is set to join the team that just swept the Big Red for the 2023 National Championship.
Whitney Lauenstein, a 6-2 outside hitter from Waverly, Neb., announced on her personal Instagram page Tuesday night her intentions to join the Texas Longhorn Volleyball program.
The Longhorns swept Nebraska on Sunday afternoon for the national title, earning back-to-back titles and their fourth championship as a program.
Lauenstein announced back on Dec. 4 that she would be entering the transfer portal. She will have two years of eligibility remaining. “Big Hit Whit” stepped away from the Husker Volleyball program in January due to the death of her father coming off her senior year of high school in February of 2021. In her personal life, Lauenstein became engaged in April and gave birth to a daughter in June.
During her sophomore year at Nebraska, Lauenstein emerged as a big hitter in Nebraska’s two-setter offense. She averaged 2.78 kills and 1.07 blocks per set, both second-best for the Huskers, and led NU with 28 aces.
Lauenstein was named an AVCA All-Region honoree in 2022. She was the No. 16 overall prospect in the 2021 class by PrepVolleyball.com and the No. 2 prospect in Nebraska.