NU's Meghan Smith

[GoBigRed]

anyone else surprised Meghan Smith played (albeit 2 points) I figured she would res-shirt.

Maybe for depth at middle with Stalls knees and Ally's shoulder?

[huskervbfan]

Also, how could you know that Ally would come along so quickly after not having played middle since high school?

[FreeBall]

GoBigRed said:

anyone else surprised Meghan Smith played (albeit 2 points) I figured she would res-shirt.

I was not surprised since she had also played briefly in another home match earlier this season.

With Rebholz proving to be an effective backup at MB, I'm guessing that there may now be some regrets that Smith has made these appearances and lost the chance at a redshirt this year.

[huskervbfan]

FreeBall said:

With Rebholz proving to be an effective backup at MB, I'm guessing that there may now be some regrets that Smith has made these appearances and lost the chance at a redshirt this year.

On the other hand, they do have Amanda Gates coming in at MB next year. Her team now holds the Nebraska record for the most consecutive wins at 106 and counting. Lots of players before her helped get her team to this point but she is certainly key to keeping the record going. Add Jordan Larson to the mix plus Rachel Schwartz at L and they are going to be pretty stacked next season.

[GoBigRed]

Article from Omaha's paper this mornings:

NU's Smith is eager to pitch in

BY CHAD PURCELL



WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

RELATED LINKS

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» <br>NU Volleyball

» <br>Big 12 Volleyball

» <br>American Volleyball Coaches Association

LINCOLN - For Meghan Smith, all the usual trappings of life as a freshman in college apply.

The rookie on the Nebraska volleyball team said it took time to adjust to being away from home, and she's even worked out her laundry routine now, mastering the chore mom used to handle.

When your fellow freshmen are two of the most heralded recruits in program history, however, it's not always easy to wash away those smudges of doubt about how much you can offer your college team.

Smith is this year's version of a top in-state recruit living out the dream of suiting up in Husker red. A three-sport star from Sidney, Neb., she was named one of the best 50 prep volleyball players in the country for the class of 2004.

NU volleyball
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• Today: Oklahoma (8-6, 0-6) at No. 5 Nebraska (11-1, 6-0), 3 p.m.

• Where: NU Coliseum.

• Sunday: Creighton vs. Nebraska, 3 p.m.

• Where: North Platte, Neb.


She just happens to join the program with two of the most sought-after young talents in the world.

Coach John Cook and the Huskers had the volleyball world buzzing last winter when Sarah Pavan and Tracy Stalls committed to NU in the span of four months. Pavan and Stalls both came to NU with international experience - and their arrival pretty much had everything to do with the Huskers vaulting from a No. 13 ranking at the end of 2003 to the No. 2 spot in the 2004 preseason poll.

Pavan and Stalls have lived up to the hype through the opening six weeks of the season, helping the Huskers to an 11-1 overall record and a 6-0 mark in the Big 12. No. 5 Nebraska has swept its past eight contests heading into today's 3 p.m. home match against Oklahoma.

Pavan is Smith's roommate, and Stalls and Smith both play middle blocker. Smith, who's appeared in three games this year, said she's been as impressed with the standout rookies as anyone.

"I feel privileged to come in with them, but it is difficult," said Smith, who led Class B in kills, blocks and aces as a senior at Sidney. "I never sat on the bench before this, so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can to help me in the years to come."

Smith anticipated she might redshirt this year, but that possibility ended in the Huskers' fifth match when Cook rotated her in against Ball State.

Stalls had started all of NU's matches before Wednesday, when she sat out a win over Baylor because of recurring tendinitis in her knees.

Ally Rebholz and Melissa Elmer were NU's starting middle blockers in the Baylor match. If Stalls is unable to go, Smith becomes the team's third option in the middle.

"We kind of went into the year knowing we wanted Meghan to get some game time," Cook said. "Sometimes, when you redshirt a freshman, they just check out. So we want her to always be thinking she's an injury away from going in."

Cook said he'll look to get Smith on the court Sunday, when the Huskers take on Creighton in North Platte. The match will play out in front of a sold-out crowd at North Platte's 2,400-seat high school gym, and it'll give fans in the western half of the state a rare chance to watch the state's two Division I programs.

The contest also provides Smith and teammate Christina Houghtelling, a sophomore outside hitter from Cambridge, Neb., an opportunity to play near their hometowns.

"I've talked to a lot of high school athletes back home, and they're so excited," Houghtelling said. "They think it's the coolest thing."

For players like Smith and Houghtelling - and Creighton's Abby Baumann, a North Platte native - the demand among family members and friends to attend the match exceeds the tickets available.

"It will be neat, since a lot of people I know haven't been able to see me play yet," Smith said. "But there still are a lot of people my parents have talked to that want to come but can't get tickets."


Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom

[Deleted]

Gates plays for Columbus High, not Scotus. Scotus has the win streak.