Post by GoBigRed on Mar 15, 2007 7:27:49 GMT -5
BY TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Mar 15, 2007 - 12:37:49 am CDT
The NCAA volleyball champions “officially” went back to work this week, but there have been few days off for the Nebraska team since winning the national championship last December.
The Huskers, who opened six weeks of spring practices Monday, established 13 personal records (from nine players) in testing that followed offseason strength and conditioning workouts.
Coach John Cook said Wednesday that anyone who thinks the Huskers are taking it easy, basking in the limelight of winning a national championship, is in for a surprise.
“I don’t need those numbers to know that because I’m around them every day,” Cook said. “There’s no let up in these guys. They are getting after it.”
With NU on spring break, Nebraska is training this week in San Diego, where the Huskers play their first exhibition match Friday at 2 p.m. against the University of San Diego, the team that NU eliminated in the NCAA regional semifinals last December.
The Huskers return nine players with extensive playing experience, including Sarah Pavan, the 2006 national player of the year, and 2005 national player of the year Christina Houghtelling.
After redshirting last season, Houghtelling is just returning to action after surgery last summer on her knee and shoulder.
Cook said Houghtelling is taking part in blocking and digging drills but has yet to attack under “live conditions.” Houghtelling, who has taken swings in individual drills, could be totally cleared to play in three weeks.
In the meantime, middle blocker Tracy Stalls is filling in at outside hitter in a two-setter system that gets everyone — including touted 6-foot-5 recruit Lindsey Licht — into the action this spring.
Licht’s development could be the deciding factor of whether Cook goes with the two-setter system in the fall or returns to a 5-1 directed by Rachel Holloway.
“We’re trying to get (Licht) up to speed the best we can, so a lot of our training this spring is based on teaching her our system and how we play,” Cook said. “The other thing we want to work really hard on is our blocking.”
Other returnees for the Huskers include middle blockers Amanda Gates and Kori Cooper, outside hitter Jordan Larson, defensive specialist Rachel Schwartz and setter Maggie Griffin. Five freshmen are expected to join the team this fall.
Nebraska will play just two other spring exhibitions: April 7 against Wichita State in North Platte and April 14 against Colorado State in Lincoln.
Briefly
Pavan and Larson will represent Nebraska in a made-for-TV doubles beach volleyball event next month in San Diego. The Huskers train occasionally on a sand court constructed inside the Hawks Championship Center, Nebraska’s indoor practice facility for football and other sports.
Thursday, Mar 15, 2007 - 12:37:49 am CDT
The NCAA volleyball champions “officially” went back to work this week, but there have been few days off for the Nebraska team since winning the national championship last December.
The Huskers, who opened six weeks of spring practices Monday, established 13 personal records (from nine players) in testing that followed offseason strength and conditioning workouts.
Coach John Cook said Wednesday that anyone who thinks the Huskers are taking it easy, basking in the limelight of winning a national championship, is in for a surprise.
“I don’t need those numbers to know that because I’m around them every day,” Cook said. “There’s no let up in these guys. They are getting after it.”
With NU on spring break, Nebraska is training this week in San Diego, where the Huskers play their first exhibition match Friday at 2 p.m. against the University of San Diego, the team that NU eliminated in the NCAA regional semifinals last December.
The Huskers return nine players with extensive playing experience, including Sarah Pavan, the 2006 national player of the year, and 2005 national player of the year Christina Houghtelling.
After redshirting last season, Houghtelling is just returning to action after surgery last summer on her knee and shoulder.
Cook said Houghtelling is taking part in blocking and digging drills but has yet to attack under “live conditions.” Houghtelling, who has taken swings in individual drills, could be totally cleared to play in three weeks.
In the meantime, middle blocker Tracy Stalls is filling in at outside hitter in a two-setter system that gets everyone — including touted 6-foot-5 recruit Lindsey Licht — into the action this spring.
Licht’s development could be the deciding factor of whether Cook goes with the two-setter system in the fall or returns to a 5-1 directed by Rachel Holloway.
“We’re trying to get (Licht) up to speed the best we can, so a lot of our training this spring is based on teaching her our system and how we play,” Cook said. “The other thing we want to work really hard on is our blocking.”
Other returnees for the Huskers include middle blockers Amanda Gates and Kori Cooper, outside hitter Jordan Larson, defensive specialist Rachel Schwartz and setter Maggie Griffin. Five freshmen are expected to join the team this fall.
Nebraska will play just two other spring exhibitions: April 7 against Wichita State in North Platte and April 14 against Colorado State in Lincoln.
Briefly
Pavan and Larson will represent Nebraska in a made-for-TV doubles beach volleyball event next month in San Diego. The Huskers train occasionally on a sand court constructed inside the Hawks Championship Center, Nebraska’s indoor practice facility for football and other sports.
