Nebraska’s best team
Nebraska Volleyball is where it’s at. If you have never seen this team play in the Coliseum, you are missing out on a sports experience like none other in college volleyball and like very few in college athletics. Let’s put it this way, I consider seeing a match at the Coliseum a better sports experience than one at Memorial Stadium. I’ve seen plenty at both and game in and game out, the Coliseum is just the place to be when watching a Nebraska sporting event. If you have seen a match before but haven’t caught them yet this year, you best be getting your butt there or your chances will dwindle. Now, it’s already hard to get into the matches. Nebraska has sold out every home match this year, in fact they’ve sold out the past 61 matches at the Coliseum. But if this team keeps winning and as expectations grow higher, scalpers will be fewer and fewer in front of the coliseum and the few ones that are out pre-match, the price will go higher and higher. (Ah, the benefits of working in the media, free sporting events) Nebraska’s recent match was against the Iowa St. Cyclones and in typical Nebraska fashion it was a 3-0 sweep. In the series, it’s all Nebraska. Try: Nebraska-67, Iowa St.-0 Yes, that’s right the ‘clones have NEVER beat Nebraska at Volleyball. In fact, the last 22 times Nebraska has faced the ‘clones, they have all been sweeps. Safe to say...Nebraska has the ‘clones number.
Nebraska is lead by the super soph Sarah Pavan. The freshman of the year last year could do what no Nebraska player has ever done, been AVCA All-American all 4 years at Nebraska. Nebraska has had 8 3-time winners but none have won 4. That’s right, you could be witnessing the greatest Nebraska player of all time. Melissa Elmer is back for her senior season, a two time all-American herse
lf, leads Nebraska in most categories. Jennifer Saleaumua, is the only other senior on the squad, is one of the premier defensive players on the squad. Oh she’s pretty good at hitting the ball once in a while too. Nebraska has gone with a two setter system (called a 6-2 offence) so far this year. DaniBusboom (junior) is the returner, Maggie Griffin (soph) is the new face, but she has plenty of experience. She transferred from Michigan St. after her Freshman season. The 6-2 offence is a little bit more tricky to run because the hitters have to get used to 2 setters but, with the talent Nebraska has, I don’t think it will matter.
Head Coach John Cook (165-11 in his 5+ years at Nebraska, not to shabby don’t you think?) says he uses the non-conference schedule to gear up for the challenging Big 12. Mission: accomplished. Nebraska defeated the #4, #3, #5, and #4 team this year during the non-conference. Nebraska is never really tested in the Big 12 so basically it’s all downhill now as they approach the postseason. The postseason will probably begin at the beginning of December with a First and Second round match at the Coliseum and then 3rd and 4th round matches will be at theQwest center. And finally the Final 4 is in San Antonio, Texas. Nebraska, right now looks like a sure thing to go all the way to the Final 4. But after last years heart breaking 5 set loss to USC in the Regional Finals, nothing is for certain.
Nebraska’s motto this year is: One Goal, One Team, One Champion. Get on the bandwagon cause this train is about to take off.
The Comments
Steve September 27, 2005 at 1:33am
Damn straight, DMB. Volleyball is a very exciting sport and this team makes it even more so. I feel like it’s a chore to watch the football team on TV anymore but watching the volleyball team is fun.
What I’ve always liked about the Nebraska volleyball team is that they’ve, year after year, been able to put together Top 10 teams with mostly Nebraska talent. Sure they have their out of state players who put the team over the top but I’m convinced they could still win the Big XII with only in-state players.
You forgot to mention super-frosh, Jordan Larson, from Logan View and veteran Cambridge native, Christina Houghtelling.
Inside sources have told me to look for Griffin to get more time at the setter position as the season wears on with Rachel Holloway maybe getting a sniff because she is the real deal as the QB of an attack like Nebraska has. She’s very young though, graduating high school a year early, so it might be wise, if we can, to keep her on the bench as a redshirt all year.
D.M.B. September 27, 2005 at 3:01am
What I like about Nebraska volleyball is the fans. Right now there is a 500+ waiting list for season tickets and the season sold out in 9 days. Also there is absolutely no grumbling from upset fans. Now you say, what is there to be upset about? Well for one, Nebraska hasn’t been to the Final 4 since 2001. Nebraska’s goal every season is the Final 4. If this were the football team, people would be complaining that Cook only got the NC and the Final 4 on Coach Petit’s players. Now I know this may seem idiotic to the educated fans of Nebraska volleyball but I just don’t get how Nebraska volleyball fans can be content with sustained great seasons with limited national title sucess and Nebraska football fans can’t.
Mr. Wilson September 27, 2005 at 8:45am
You’re right D.M.B., Husker volleyball at the Coliseum rocks.
My all-time favorite moment came, oh, four or five years ago. It was early in the season, maybe even the first match. Rather than have the pep band play the National Anthem (there may not have even been a pep band at the game), the spectators sang it. It was one of the coolest, most goose bump-inducing moments I’ve ever experienced. Some 4,300 people squished into a cozy arena singing the National Anthem a capella. I wrote the Athletic Director (Bill Byrne at the time, I think) and asked if they would consider making that a Nebraska volleyball tradition, but I never received a response. ‘Tis a shame. It would be an awesome tradition to add to the volleyball experience.