Post by gobigred on Nov 25, 2006 0:02:00 GMT -5
I know that many people around the country are a fan of Christina's, those who know her or have met her, and those who have just seen her play with that contagious smile. This is a great article from the Omaha World Herald that I thought I'd share. (You need a free subscription with the web site to use the link).
www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=38&u_sid=2286070&u_rnd=3512562
NU Volleyball: Big dreams still motivate Houghtelling
"I'm hoping so badly that this team goes all the way, and I want that ring for my finger," Houghtelling said. "I just want to be a part of that, and I know I still am a big part of this team." -- Christina Houghtelling
LINCOLN - Christina Houghtelling had it all wrong.
Before the 2006 volleyball season, Houghtelling assumed the roughest part about being stranded on the sidelines would be watching her Nebraska teammates celebrate success.
What fun could it be, Houghtelling wondered, to watch the No. 1 Huskers dominate an opponent without being able to pound a single kill?
Houghtelling quickly discovered, however, that she still savors every Nebraska victory. It's those times when the Huskers struggle that tend to mess with her head.
"When we haven't played well - or when we lost that match at Colorado - that's just extremely tough," Houghtelling said. "That's when you really want to be out there and just do something to make a difference. At least when we win, I've found out that you can have fun being on the bench and cheering and soaking it all in."
That's not to suggest that, because NU has gone 26-1, any of this has been easy for Houghtelling.
The 2005 national player of the year began feeling pain in her right shoulder last spring.
She played through the soreness during NU's spring trip to Asia, but when the Huskers returned an MRI revealed a slight labrum tear.
The 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Cambridge, Neb., underwent arthroscopic surgery in July, and finally NU coach John Cook decided that Houghtelling should sit out as a redshirt during what was supposed to be her senior finale with the Huskers.
Since then, she's worked through the physical agony of rehab. Some weeks her shoulder feels like it's getting better, and some weeks the pain delivers an encore. As for Houghtelling's emotional journey the past few months, that's been even more of a roller coaster ride.
"I've been doing pretty well recently, but it has been really hard," Houghtelling said. "There would by days where I was great, and there would days where I was hysterical crying."
Said Cook: "Christina's had a lot of sad days and sad nights. When you go from being one of the best players in the country to being somebody who can't really do anything but sit in the swimming pool and do rehab, it's quite a dramatic change.
"Certainly, it affects you psychologically, but I think she's starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Houghtelling hopes the worst times are behind her. But she admits there could be more opportunity for heartache to creep back in now that NU's schedule is dwindling to its conclusion.
Like tonight, when NU closes out the regular season against No. 8 Texas in Lincoln. The Huskers will celebrate another Big 12 championship while paying tribute to seniors Dani Busboom and Dani Mancuso - the Nebraska natives who were rookies with Houghtelling in 2003.
And then there's the NCAA tournament, which begins next week. If all goes according to the ideal script for NU, the Huskers will be celebrating a national championship Dec. 16 at Qwest Center Omaha. Should Nebraska's dreams get derailed - let's just say Houghtelling doesn't even like to entertain that possibility.
"I'm hoping so badly that this team goes all the way, and I want that ring for my finger," Houghtelling said. "I just want to be a part of that, and I know I still am a big part of this team."
Through it all, that's been one of the few bright spots for Houghtelling, who wants to coach when her playing career is done. She's had to discover ways to motivate and inspire her teammates, both in practices and matches, during a year in which she can't lead by example.
In many ways, Houghtelling said, she's actually grown closer to her teammates this season - especially with a player like Maggie Griffin, who's also had to adjust to a new role after losing her starting setter job.
"We have talked a lot this year, just about volleyball and things we wish we could control," said Griffin. "I know this has just killed her, but we all know how much Christina means to the team and just what a great leader and friend she is for all of us."
Houghtelling expects to be at full strength when the Huskers open their spring season. But even as 2006 winds down for the Huskers, Houghtelling said it's impossible not to think about 2007.
Hardly an hour has gone by, Houghtelling said, during which she doesn't visualize getting back on the court next season. In late August, Houghtelling imagines the Huskers opening defense of their 2006 NCAA title, and once again she'll hear her name announced in NU's starting lineup.
Then she'll acknowledge the cheers by gripping one of those mini volleyballs, unleashing her trademark rocket-arm throw and bouncing the souvenir high off the brick wall above the NU Coliseum's top row. And when she does, her shoulder will feel great.
"Oh yeah, I'm going to chuck it up there again," Houghtelling said.
"What I have to look forward to is next year, so when I'm watching our games, I'm picturing myself being out there again next year. That's just what drives me to do everything I need to do to get back where I want to be."
www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=38&u_sid=2286070&u_rnd=3512562
NU Volleyball: Big dreams still motivate Houghtelling
"I'm hoping so badly that this team goes all the way, and I want that ring for my finger," Houghtelling said. "I just want to be a part of that, and I know I still am a big part of this team." -- Christina Houghtelling
LINCOLN - Christina Houghtelling had it all wrong.
Before the 2006 volleyball season, Houghtelling assumed the roughest part about being stranded on the sidelines would be watching her Nebraska teammates celebrate success.
What fun could it be, Houghtelling wondered, to watch the No. 1 Huskers dominate an opponent without being able to pound a single kill?
Houghtelling quickly discovered, however, that she still savors every Nebraska victory. It's those times when the Huskers struggle that tend to mess with her head.
"When we haven't played well - or when we lost that match at Colorado - that's just extremely tough," Houghtelling said. "That's when you really want to be out there and just do something to make a difference. At least when we win, I've found out that you can have fun being on the bench and cheering and soaking it all in."
That's not to suggest that, because NU has gone 26-1, any of this has been easy for Houghtelling.
The 2005 national player of the year began feeling pain in her right shoulder last spring.
She played through the soreness during NU's spring trip to Asia, but when the Huskers returned an MRI revealed a slight labrum tear.
The 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Cambridge, Neb., underwent arthroscopic surgery in July, and finally NU coach John Cook decided that Houghtelling should sit out as a redshirt during what was supposed to be her senior finale with the Huskers.
Since then, she's worked through the physical agony of rehab. Some weeks her shoulder feels like it's getting better, and some weeks the pain delivers an encore. As for Houghtelling's emotional journey the past few months, that's been even more of a roller coaster ride.
"I've been doing pretty well recently, but it has been really hard," Houghtelling said. "There would by days where I was great, and there would days where I was hysterical crying."
Said Cook: "Christina's had a lot of sad days and sad nights. When you go from being one of the best players in the country to being somebody who can't really do anything but sit in the swimming pool and do rehab, it's quite a dramatic change.
"Certainly, it affects you psychologically, but I think she's starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Houghtelling hopes the worst times are behind her. But she admits there could be more opportunity for heartache to creep back in now that NU's schedule is dwindling to its conclusion.
Like tonight, when NU closes out the regular season against No. 8 Texas in Lincoln. The Huskers will celebrate another Big 12 championship while paying tribute to seniors Dani Busboom and Dani Mancuso - the Nebraska natives who were rookies with Houghtelling in 2003.
And then there's the NCAA tournament, which begins next week. If all goes according to the ideal script for NU, the Huskers will be celebrating a national championship Dec. 16 at Qwest Center Omaha. Should Nebraska's dreams get derailed - let's just say Houghtelling doesn't even like to entertain that possibility.
"I'm hoping so badly that this team goes all the way, and I want that ring for my finger," Houghtelling said. "I just want to be a part of that, and I know I still am a big part of this team."
Through it all, that's been one of the few bright spots for Houghtelling, who wants to coach when her playing career is done. She's had to discover ways to motivate and inspire her teammates, both in practices and matches, during a year in which she can't lead by example.
In many ways, Houghtelling said, she's actually grown closer to her teammates this season - especially with a player like Maggie Griffin, who's also had to adjust to a new role after losing her starting setter job.
"We have talked a lot this year, just about volleyball and things we wish we could control," said Griffin. "I know this has just killed her, but we all know how much Christina means to the team and just what a great leader and friend she is for all of us."
Houghtelling expects to be at full strength when the Huskers open their spring season. But even as 2006 winds down for the Huskers, Houghtelling said it's impossible not to think about 2007.
Hardly an hour has gone by, Houghtelling said, during which she doesn't visualize getting back on the court next season. In late August, Houghtelling imagines the Huskers opening defense of their 2006 NCAA title, and once again she'll hear her name announced in NU's starting lineup.
Then she'll acknowledge the cheers by gripping one of those mini volleyballs, unleashing her trademark rocket-arm throw and bouncing the souvenir high off the brick wall above the NU Coliseum's top row. And when she does, her shoulder will feel great.
"Oh yeah, I'm going to chuck it up there again," Houghtelling said.
"What I have to look forward to is next year, so when I'm watching our games, I'm picturing myself being out there again next year. That's just what drives me to do everything I need to do to get back where I want to be."
