Post by Kampy on Nov 22, 2005 9:04:57 GMT -5
Elmer is new kid on the block
BY TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star
Tuesday, Nov 22, 2005 - 12:57:55 am CST
Maybe it was the shock value. After all, John Cook wasn’t certain that the ultra-subdued Melissa Elmer would even be able to speak standing in front of a large crowd, let alone go from being kicked out of drills in her first season at Nebraska to being an All-American as a redshirt sophomore.
But there she was, speaking at the podium with the same poise she now plays with on the volleyball court. As All-American speeches go, Cook said Elmer’s ranks among the most genuine.
“I about fell out of my chair with the words that were coming out of her mouth,” said Cook, who has coached eight All-Americans in his five full seasons at Nebraska. “It was great to see somebody go from where she started to that point.”
Wednesday night promises to be another special night for the native of Fort Wayne, Ind. It’s Senior Night for Elmer and teammate Jennifer Saleaumua. And with eight blocks against Colorado — a mark she’s reached in 11 of 27 matches this season — Elmer will tie the school record of 728 career blocks held by three-time All-American Amber Holmquist (now Amber Limbaugh).
Elmer and Holmquist were teammates at Nebraska for two seasons.
“I remember how she played on the court and just her ability to take over matches,” Elmer said. “It’s an honor to follow in those footsteps.”
Holmquist said Monday that she saw the potential in Elmer even during the much-talked-about redshirt year in 2001. An overmatched Elmer was rarely even allowed to participate in drills that season.
But what Holmquist saw was tremendous athletic ability in the soon-to-blossom freshman.
“She could jump out of the gym,” Holmquist recalled this week. “I knew she was going to develop.”
With some seasoning and plenty of one-on-one time with current Kentucky head coach Craig Skinner, then the Huskers’ blocking guru, Elmer developed quicker than anyone could have expected.
In 2002, she was a freshman starter playing opposite Holmquist at middle blocker. Elmer was a second-team All-American her sophomore year and a first-team selection last season.
The 6-foot-2 Elmer is quick to credit Holmquist along with Skinner and first-year Husker assistant Lee Maes.
“If you watch a videotape of where I was at when I got here and where I am now, it’s just a complete difference,” Elmer said. “The coaching has just been tremendous.”
With the benefit of a redshirt season, Elmer has played in every Nebraska match over the last four seasons. She’s sat out only two games, both as a freshman.
Holmquist, meanwhile, played sparingly over the first 14 matches of her Nebraska career before breaking into the starting lineup. Like Elmer, Holmquist benefited from the chance to soak everything in.
“She wasn’t vocal at coming out and asking but I remember Elmer as being a very observant learner,” said Holmquist, now married and living in Algona, Iowa. “She was always around and watching, and she never wanted to make mistakes.”
Holmquist recalls breaking Stephanie Thater’s school record midway through her senior season and a note from Thater congratulating her on the accomplishment.
Cook went a step further, comparing Elmer’s pending achievement to some of the all-time milestones at Nebraska. For example, who will break Mike Rozier’s career rushing record of 4,780 yards at NU?
“Amber’s one of the greatest all-time blockers in the history of college volleyball, especially here at Nebraska,” Cook said. “And for Melissa to break that record, it’d be like some tailback breaking that rushing record. It’s a huge deal.”
Elmer is also on a pace to break Holmquist’s single-season record of 220 blocks set her senior year. Entering Wednesday’s action, both have played in 125 matches at Nebraska. Holmquist averaged 1.90 blocks a game in her career. Elmer currently averages 1.74 blocks a game.
As attackers, Elmer has 1,148 kills on .368 hitting to Holmquist’s career marks of 1,122 and .396.
Elmer said the opportunity to break the record is “awesome,” strong verbiage for someone who fans still ask why she doesn’t smile more.
Come Wednesday, in what could be her Coliseum farewell, it might be hard for Elmer to hold back both the smiles and the tears.
“I don’t show much emotion when it comes to sad things a lot of times, but volleyball’s been a part of me for a long time,” Elmer said. “I think you might maybe see the emotional side of me.”
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7439 or thenrichs@journalstar.com
BY TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star
Tuesday, Nov 22, 2005 - 12:57:55 am CST
Maybe it was the shock value. After all, John Cook wasn’t certain that the ultra-subdued Melissa Elmer would even be able to speak standing in front of a large crowd, let alone go from being kicked out of drills in her first season at Nebraska to being an All-American as a redshirt sophomore.
But there she was, speaking at the podium with the same poise she now plays with on the volleyball court. As All-American speeches go, Cook said Elmer’s ranks among the most genuine.
“I about fell out of my chair with the words that were coming out of her mouth,” said Cook, who has coached eight All-Americans in his five full seasons at Nebraska. “It was great to see somebody go from where she started to that point.”
Wednesday night promises to be another special night for the native of Fort Wayne, Ind. It’s Senior Night for Elmer and teammate Jennifer Saleaumua. And with eight blocks against Colorado — a mark she’s reached in 11 of 27 matches this season — Elmer will tie the school record of 728 career blocks held by three-time All-American Amber Holmquist (now Amber Limbaugh).
Elmer and Holmquist were teammates at Nebraska for two seasons.
“I remember how she played on the court and just her ability to take over matches,” Elmer said. “It’s an honor to follow in those footsteps.”
Holmquist said Monday that she saw the potential in Elmer even during the much-talked-about redshirt year in 2001. An overmatched Elmer was rarely even allowed to participate in drills that season.
But what Holmquist saw was tremendous athletic ability in the soon-to-blossom freshman.
“She could jump out of the gym,” Holmquist recalled this week. “I knew she was going to develop.”
With some seasoning and plenty of one-on-one time with current Kentucky head coach Craig Skinner, then the Huskers’ blocking guru, Elmer developed quicker than anyone could have expected.
In 2002, she was a freshman starter playing opposite Holmquist at middle blocker. Elmer was a second-team All-American her sophomore year and a first-team selection last season.
The 6-foot-2 Elmer is quick to credit Holmquist along with Skinner and first-year Husker assistant Lee Maes.
“If you watch a videotape of where I was at when I got here and where I am now, it’s just a complete difference,” Elmer said. “The coaching has just been tremendous.”
With the benefit of a redshirt season, Elmer has played in every Nebraska match over the last four seasons. She’s sat out only two games, both as a freshman.
Holmquist, meanwhile, played sparingly over the first 14 matches of her Nebraska career before breaking into the starting lineup. Like Elmer, Holmquist benefited from the chance to soak everything in.
“She wasn’t vocal at coming out and asking but I remember Elmer as being a very observant learner,” said Holmquist, now married and living in Algona, Iowa. “She was always around and watching, and she never wanted to make mistakes.”
Holmquist recalls breaking Stephanie Thater’s school record midway through her senior season and a note from Thater congratulating her on the accomplishment.
Cook went a step further, comparing Elmer’s pending achievement to some of the all-time milestones at Nebraska. For example, who will break Mike Rozier’s career rushing record of 4,780 yards at NU?
“Amber’s one of the greatest all-time blockers in the history of college volleyball, especially here at Nebraska,” Cook said. “And for Melissa to break that record, it’d be like some tailback breaking that rushing record. It’s a huge deal.”
Elmer is also on a pace to break Holmquist’s single-season record of 220 blocks set her senior year. Entering Wednesday’s action, both have played in 125 matches at Nebraska. Holmquist averaged 1.90 blocks a game in her career. Elmer currently averages 1.74 blocks a game.
As attackers, Elmer has 1,148 kills on .368 hitting to Holmquist’s career marks of 1,122 and .396.
Elmer said the opportunity to break the record is “awesome,” strong verbiage for someone who fans still ask why she doesn’t smile more.
Come Wednesday, in what could be her Coliseum farewell, it might be hard for Elmer to hold back both the smiles and the tears.
“I don’t show much emotion when it comes to sad things a lot of times, but volleyball’s been a part of me for a long time,” Elmer said. “I think you might maybe see the emotional side of me.”
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7439 or thenrichs@journalstar.com
---->Wants to get the readers attention.
A little choppy but still an interesting article if you're a Husker fan.