Post by FreeBall on Oct 7, 2004 12:03:26 GMT -5
The following article was in today's edition of the Omaha World-Herald. I have a huge amount of respect for Ally Rebholz and the role that she has played on the Nebraska team over the past few seasons.
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Versatile Rebholz keys NU win
BY CHAD PURCELL
LINCOLN - Ally Rebholz's career with the Nebraska volleyball team has flipped inside out and outside in.
Rebholz came to the Huskers as a middle blocker in 2001, then quickly began training as an outside hitter, the position she's played ever since.
The only senior on Nebraska's roster, Rebholz was back in the middle Wednesday night as the No. 5 Huskers beat Baylor 30-22, 30-23, 30-13. She had five kills and six blocks while making her first start of the year.
"I'm a team player," Rebholz said. "You put me wherever, and I'm going to do my best. Right now they need me in the middle. If Coach calls me and tells me to set - heaven help us all - I'll do whatever the team needs for us to win a national championship."
Christina Houghtelling finished with 12 kills and three aces to lead Nebraska (11-1, 6-0 Big 12) to its eighth straight sweep. Houghtelling also had 13 digs for her first career double-double.
Jennifer Saleaumua added 10 kills and 14 digs for NU, Sarah Pavan had 10 kills and five blocks and Melissa Elmer turned in nine kills and six blocks.
Rebholz started in place of middle blocker Tracy Stalls, who sat out because of tendonitis in her knees. Nebraska Coach John Cook said Stalls' injury is one she's played through long before she came to the Huskers, and the team decided to rest the freshman so she might be able to go pain free later.
Stalls will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, Cook said. The Huskers play two more matches this week, Saturday at home against Oklahoma and Sunday in North Platte against Creighton.
Rebholz made 21 starts last season as a junior before being slowed by a shoulder injury. With the arrival of talented rookies Stalls and Pavan, Rebholz said she's learned to live with her diminished role in 2004.
"It gets frustrating, but the girls on the floor are getting the job done," Rebholz said. "If - and I did say if - we start losing multiple matches in a row, I might get a little more disappointed about not being out there."
An Indianapolis Cathedral graduate, Rebholz said she hadn't worked as a middle blocker since high school. But that changed two weeks ago as the team anticipated sitting Stalls.
"I think Ally's always been a very giving person," Cook said. "She's usually upbeat, so I think if there is frustration, she's held it in. I certainly haven't seen it."
Wednesday night's match, played in front of an NU Coliseum crowd of 4,124, did not start off well for the Huskers.
Playing for the first time since Sept. 29, Nebraska struggled to win the opening two games against Baylor (8-8, 2-5).
The Huskers rebounded to win game three easily, but NU's .204 team hitting average in the match was its lowest since Sept. 12. Cook gave the team three days off from practice over its bye weekend, and the coach said it showed.
"We had no rhythm tonight," Cook said. "We started to get a little rhythm in the second and third games, but we were sluggish. I thought Baylor did a good job defensively, but when you take three days off, sometimes it takes a while to get your rhythm back."
*********************************************
Versatile Rebholz keys NU win
BY CHAD PURCELL
LINCOLN - Ally Rebholz's career with the Nebraska volleyball team has flipped inside out and outside in.
Rebholz came to the Huskers as a middle blocker in 2001, then quickly began training as an outside hitter, the position she's played ever since.
The only senior on Nebraska's roster, Rebholz was back in the middle Wednesday night as the No. 5 Huskers beat Baylor 30-22, 30-23, 30-13. She had five kills and six blocks while making her first start of the year.
"I'm a team player," Rebholz said. "You put me wherever, and I'm going to do my best. Right now they need me in the middle. If Coach calls me and tells me to set - heaven help us all - I'll do whatever the team needs for us to win a national championship."
Christina Houghtelling finished with 12 kills and three aces to lead Nebraska (11-1, 6-0 Big 12) to its eighth straight sweep. Houghtelling also had 13 digs for her first career double-double.
Jennifer Saleaumua added 10 kills and 14 digs for NU, Sarah Pavan had 10 kills and five blocks and Melissa Elmer turned in nine kills and six blocks.
Rebholz started in place of middle blocker Tracy Stalls, who sat out because of tendonitis in her knees. Nebraska Coach John Cook said Stalls' injury is one she's played through long before she came to the Huskers, and the team decided to rest the freshman so she might be able to go pain free later.
Stalls will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, Cook said. The Huskers play two more matches this week, Saturday at home against Oklahoma and Sunday in North Platte against Creighton.
Rebholz made 21 starts last season as a junior before being slowed by a shoulder injury. With the arrival of talented rookies Stalls and Pavan, Rebholz said she's learned to live with her diminished role in 2004.
"It gets frustrating, but the girls on the floor are getting the job done," Rebholz said. "If - and I did say if - we start losing multiple matches in a row, I might get a little more disappointed about not being out there."
An Indianapolis Cathedral graduate, Rebholz said she hadn't worked as a middle blocker since high school. But that changed two weeks ago as the team anticipated sitting Stalls.
"I think Ally's always been a very giving person," Cook said. "She's usually upbeat, so I think if there is frustration, she's held it in. I certainly haven't seen it."
Wednesday night's match, played in front of an NU Coliseum crowd of 4,124, did not start off well for the Huskers.
Playing for the first time since Sept. 29, Nebraska struggled to win the opening two games against Baylor (8-8, 2-5).
The Huskers rebounded to win game three easily, but NU's .204 team hitting average in the match was its lowest since Sept. 12. Cook gave the team three days off from practice over its bye weekend, and the coach said it showed.
"We had no rhythm tonight," Cook said. "We started to get a little rhythm in the second and third games, but we were sluggish. I thought Baylor did a good job defensively, but when you take three days off, sometimes it takes a while to get your rhythm back."
