Post by vbgirls2 on Jul 11, 2014 10:28:35 GMT -5
via Lincoln newspaper....................
The Nebraska volleyball team could have an advantage going into this season after all its extra training as part of the recent trip to China and Japan.
Before the trip, the team was allowed 10 days of practice, which included some long two-a-day workouts.
On many days during the trip, the players practiced or played matches twice a day, with two-hour practices in the morning and two or three hours of practice or matches in the afternoon. The team played about 10 matches.
Nebraska coach John Cook estimates the extra training and matches before and during the trip were equivalent to at least a month of practice during the season.
Since the end of last season, the Huskers have had a sand volleyball season, a spring exhibition season and the overseas trip.
Junior outside hitter Alicia Ostrander is the most improved player since last season, Cook said.
More competition at middle blocker
Nebraska’s competition at middle blocker looks like it will carry over from last season, and probably get tougher with Kira Larson coming off a redshirt season.
Juniors Meghan Haggerty and Cecilia Hall were the starters most of last season.
On the Asia trip, Melanie Keil was the best middle blocker, both statistically and consistently, something Nebraska has lacked at times at the position. In a match against Zhejiang that the Huskers won, Larson had a .400 hitting percentage with nine blocks.
“It’s going to be a great battle,” Cook said.
Wong-Orantes impresses
Sophomore libero Justine Wong-Orantes impressed assistant coach Dani Busboom-Kelly and Cook with her play on the trip.
Cook points out that Wong-Orantes has only been playing libero for about a year. She was a setter in high school.
“She’s gone to another level with her confidence, passing and digging,” Cook said. “When you play those teams, especially the Japanese teams, they play relentless defense. It’s amazing. It’s infectious. She started playing relentless defense.”
Lost in translation
As part of an agreement to get help with the trip, Cook was asked to lead a clinic for coaches in Japan.
None of the coaches spoke English, and sometimes things got confusing between Cook and a translator.
Cook told the coaches they learn a skill outside of their comfort zone, like learning how to play the guitar, so they learn how they liked to be coached. Cook’s example is that he got his pilot’s license.
“So the interpreter stops and goes, ‘Oh, so you want us all to go flying now?' I think he thought we were going to go get up and get in a plane and go somewhere,” Cook said. “(Assistant coach Dan Meske) is with me and we’re just cracking up. They didn’t get it, so I got to go back and explain it again. It was a blast.”
Top talent in Lincoln
NU resumed its summer volleyball camps this week. Cook was excited about the three-day session that began Thursday and brought more than 200 high school players to Lincoln.
More of the top players nationally were able to attend Nebraska’s camp this year because many of the club tournaments are finished for the summer.
“There is going to be the who’s-who of the 2017 class in this gym from all over — Tennessee, California, the Midwest,” Cook said. “There is some studs coming in. There is probably going to be 15 top Division I kids in this camp. I’m in shock.”
The camp allows players to be around the program and the facilities, and the Husker coaches get an extended chance to evaluate players. Cook says he’ll probably be making some scholarship offers following the camp.
Freshmen in mix
By next week, Cook expects all the incoming freshmen to be on campus working out with the team.
Joining the team are outside hitters Olivia Boender, Maddie Haggerty and Annika Albrecht, and defensive specialist Sydney Townsend.
Boender, Albrecht and 2016 Husker recruit Molly Haggerty earned All-America honors at the AAU junior national championship this summer.
While watching Nebraska compete with most of its regular players back from last season, Cook could see where the freshmen will fit it.
“I can see where the freshmen will provide depth and competition, I think, but we’ll have to see,” Cook said. “(Kelsey Fien and Ostrander) have just gone to another level. They’re not freshmen anymore, but Annika and Maddie have a lot of high-level experience.”
Volleyball magazine ranked the Huskers’ small incoming class No. 8 in the country. Penn State, the NCAA champion last season, is ranked No. 1 with a seven-player class the magazine considers one of the best ever with six top-50 recruits.
Nebraska's class last year was ranked by Prepvolleyball.com as No. 1 in the country.
The Nebraska volleyball team could have an advantage going into this season after all its extra training as part of the recent trip to China and Japan.
Before the trip, the team was allowed 10 days of practice, which included some long two-a-day workouts.
On many days during the trip, the players practiced or played matches twice a day, with two-hour practices in the morning and two or three hours of practice or matches in the afternoon. The team played about 10 matches.
Nebraska coach John Cook estimates the extra training and matches before and during the trip were equivalent to at least a month of practice during the season.
Since the end of last season, the Huskers have had a sand volleyball season, a spring exhibition season and the overseas trip.
Junior outside hitter Alicia Ostrander is the most improved player since last season, Cook said.
More competition at middle blocker
Nebraska’s competition at middle blocker looks like it will carry over from last season, and probably get tougher with Kira Larson coming off a redshirt season.
Juniors Meghan Haggerty and Cecilia Hall were the starters most of last season.
On the Asia trip, Melanie Keil was the best middle blocker, both statistically and consistently, something Nebraska has lacked at times at the position. In a match against Zhejiang that the Huskers won, Larson had a .400 hitting percentage with nine blocks.
“It’s going to be a great battle,” Cook said.
Wong-Orantes impresses
Sophomore libero Justine Wong-Orantes impressed assistant coach Dani Busboom-Kelly and Cook with her play on the trip.
Cook points out that Wong-Orantes has only been playing libero for about a year. She was a setter in high school.
“She’s gone to another level with her confidence, passing and digging,” Cook said. “When you play those teams, especially the Japanese teams, they play relentless defense. It’s amazing. It’s infectious. She started playing relentless defense.”
Lost in translation
As part of an agreement to get help with the trip, Cook was asked to lead a clinic for coaches in Japan.
None of the coaches spoke English, and sometimes things got confusing between Cook and a translator.
Cook told the coaches they learn a skill outside of their comfort zone, like learning how to play the guitar, so they learn how they liked to be coached. Cook’s example is that he got his pilot’s license.
“So the interpreter stops and goes, ‘Oh, so you want us all to go flying now?' I think he thought we were going to go get up and get in a plane and go somewhere,” Cook said. “(Assistant coach Dan Meske) is with me and we’re just cracking up. They didn’t get it, so I got to go back and explain it again. It was a blast.”
Top talent in Lincoln
NU resumed its summer volleyball camps this week. Cook was excited about the three-day session that began Thursday and brought more than 200 high school players to Lincoln.
More of the top players nationally were able to attend Nebraska’s camp this year because many of the club tournaments are finished for the summer.
“There is going to be the who’s-who of the 2017 class in this gym from all over — Tennessee, California, the Midwest,” Cook said. “There is some studs coming in. There is probably going to be 15 top Division I kids in this camp. I’m in shock.”
The camp allows players to be around the program and the facilities, and the Husker coaches get an extended chance to evaluate players. Cook says he’ll probably be making some scholarship offers following the camp.
Freshmen in mix
By next week, Cook expects all the incoming freshmen to be on campus working out with the team.
Joining the team are outside hitters Olivia Boender, Maddie Haggerty and Annika Albrecht, and defensive specialist Sydney Townsend.
Boender, Albrecht and 2016 Husker recruit Molly Haggerty earned All-America honors at the AAU junior national championship this summer.
While watching Nebraska compete with most of its regular players back from last season, Cook could see where the freshmen will fit it.
“I can see where the freshmen will provide depth and competition, I think, but we’ll have to see,” Cook said. “(Kelsey Fien and Ostrander) have just gone to another level. They’re not freshmen anymore, but Annika and Maddie have a lot of high-level experience.”
Volleyball magazine ranked the Huskers’ small incoming class No. 8 in the country. Penn State, the NCAA champion last season, is ranked No. 1 with a seven-player class the magazine considers one of the best ever with six top-50 recruits.
Nebraska's class last year was ranked by Prepvolleyball.com as No. 1 in the country.