Post by lilred on Dec 15, 2005 1:29:48 GMT -5
Some may have questioned Pavan's passion or leadership qualities. I think this article should answer some questions about her stoic personality.
Sophomore Pavan's play sets the tone for Huskers
BY TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Dec 15, 2005 - 12:04:53 am CST
SAN ANTONIO — For a straight-A student in biochemistry, the study of the chemistry of living things, Sarah Pavan sure does hear a lot of advice.
Almost from the day she arrived at Nebraska last summer, representing arguably the highest-profile volleyball recruit ever to sign to play with the Huskers, people have wanted to change her makeup.
And not just one person. Teammates who saw her every day chimed in right alongside the fans who watched her only play in matches. Sometimes only on TV.
Even head coach John Cook pleaded with Pavan to let her hair down, so to speak.
“Here they were expecting me to be loud, excited and going crazy all the time, and I had to say, ‘Listen, that’s not me,’” Pavan said, the frustration evident in the cadence of her words. “I struggled hearing every day that you have to start cheering.”
There it is. With Pavan, that’s about as raw as you get when it comes to outward emotion. No angry words. No exaggerated fist pumps.
Just a that’s-the-way-it-is honesty that can sometimes be overwhelmed by one’s actions.
But inside, where none of us can see without a microscope, Pavan is a cauldron of emotion this week. She came to Nebraska not only wanting a 4.0 GPA in the classroom, but the unprecedented, some might say unrealistic, feat of winning four national championships.
Her molecular structure is one part perfectionist and another misunderstood athlete. When NU lost to Southern California in the NCAA regional final last year, no one could understand why Pavan, the player who never celebrated enough in the good times, took losing the hardest.
“I don’t think anybody will understand how much the USC loss devastated her,” said Paul Pavan, Sarah’s father. “That, in volleyball, was probably the lowest moment of her life, and that loss has stuck with her. I don’t know if she’ll ever get over that.”
Volleyball is a passion for Paul and Cindy Pavan, both outstanding players who dragged along young Sarah to tournaments from the time she was little.
Sarah grew, both in her interest in the game and standing against the measuring stick. She was the tallest kid in kindergarten and the biggest on her first volleyball team.
Pavan was 10; her teammates all 13.
“I remember that first time,” Paul Pavan said. “Her mother and I, we just looked at each other and said, ‘Holy mackerel.’ She was taller than everybody, she was so coordinated and she had all the skills.
“She was starting to take over matches at 10 years old.”
Pavan had her choice of all the top volleyball schools out of high school. Stanford was always at the head of the list, that is until she visited the school and came away with an uneasy feeling.
Ultimately, the decision came down to Nebraska or Minnesota.
As strange as it might sound in volleyball, a sport without a professional league in the United States, the Pavans looked at college as a stepping stone to a future playing career.
They wanted a school where she could develop her all-around skills, the tools it would take to land a spot in the lucrative Italian professional league one day.
“We told her that we felt she was good enough to play all the way around as long as she worked at it,” Nebraska head coach John Cook said. “And she works really hard.
“When Pavan’s tired, it looks a little ugly, but statistically, she’s one of our best passers. Last year, we only had her pass one or two rotations. This year, she’s basically passing every rotation but one.”
Cook said Pavan came in with a great foundation, one you can only build by spending countless hours in the gym. Technically, her arm swing is excellent, especially when you consider that tall players often develop funky swings as they grow.
Paul Pavan said this week he couldn’t remember a time when his daughter said no to a chance to work on her skills. Sometimes that meant playing badminton to improve her hand-eye coordination.
“Anything to get better,” he said.
It’s the same way in the classroom. When Sarah actually admits to her parents that she might not study for the next big exam, they shake their head and laugh.
“I know that she’s just talking, and within an hour she’s going to be down getting ready for it,” Paul Pavan said. “I really believe that Sarah in our system could achieve an 80 percent without doing any work. But for her, 80 is not good enough.
“She’s always needed to be the best.”
In volleyball, that translates to being the best she can be on the best team.
Even while Nebraska was ranked No. 1 a year ago, Pavan sensed everything wasn’t right. There was a gap between the younger and older players.
The players are closer this year, and Nebraska is two wins from closing in on its goal. A victory worth celebrating.
“Since we have come so far and we have had the complete, perfect season, I won’t be able to settle for anything less than winning,” she said. “I play to win.”
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7439 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.
I was one of those people shocked that she was crying the hardest as they ran off the court. I will never forget that scene and I told myself "yep, this girl is special" I mean to be a freshman and knowing that you have 3 more years yet react like you just played your last match.
Sophomore Pavan's play sets the tone for Huskers
BY TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Dec 15, 2005 - 12:04:53 am CST
SAN ANTONIO — For a straight-A student in biochemistry, the study of the chemistry of living things, Sarah Pavan sure does hear a lot of advice.
Almost from the day she arrived at Nebraska last summer, representing arguably the highest-profile volleyball recruit ever to sign to play with the Huskers, people have wanted to change her makeup.
And not just one person. Teammates who saw her every day chimed in right alongside the fans who watched her only play in matches. Sometimes only on TV.
Even head coach John Cook pleaded with Pavan to let her hair down, so to speak.
“Here they were expecting me to be loud, excited and going crazy all the time, and I had to say, ‘Listen, that’s not me,’” Pavan said, the frustration evident in the cadence of her words. “I struggled hearing every day that you have to start cheering.”
There it is. With Pavan, that’s about as raw as you get when it comes to outward emotion. No angry words. No exaggerated fist pumps.
Just a that’s-the-way-it-is honesty that can sometimes be overwhelmed by one’s actions.
But inside, where none of us can see without a microscope, Pavan is a cauldron of emotion this week. She came to Nebraska not only wanting a 4.0 GPA in the classroom, but the unprecedented, some might say unrealistic, feat of winning four national championships.
Her molecular structure is one part perfectionist and another misunderstood athlete. When NU lost to Southern California in the NCAA regional final last year, no one could understand why Pavan, the player who never celebrated enough in the good times, took losing the hardest.
“I don’t think anybody will understand how much the USC loss devastated her,” said Paul Pavan, Sarah’s father. “That, in volleyball, was probably the lowest moment of her life, and that loss has stuck with her. I don’t know if she’ll ever get over that.”
Volleyball is a passion for Paul and Cindy Pavan, both outstanding players who dragged along young Sarah to tournaments from the time she was little.
Sarah grew, both in her interest in the game and standing against the measuring stick. She was the tallest kid in kindergarten and the biggest on her first volleyball team.
Pavan was 10; her teammates all 13.
“I remember that first time,” Paul Pavan said. “Her mother and I, we just looked at each other and said, ‘Holy mackerel.’ She was taller than everybody, she was so coordinated and she had all the skills.
“She was starting to take over matches at 10 years old.”
Pavan had her choice of all the top volleyball schools out of high school. Stanford was always at the head of the list, that is until she visited the school and came away with an uneasy feeling.
Ultimately, the decision came down to Nebraska or Minnesota.
As strange as it might sound in volleyball, a sport without a professional league in the United States, the Pavans looked at college as a stepping stone to a future playing career.
They wanted a school where she could develop her all-around skills, the tools it would take to land a spot in the lucrative Italian professional league one day.
“We told her that we felt she was good enough to play all the way around as long as she worked at it,” Nebraska head coach John Cook said. “And she works really hard.
“When Pavan’s tired, it looks a little ugly, but statistically, she’s one of our best passers. Last year, we only had her pass one or two rotations. This year, she’s basically passing every rotation but one.”
Cook said Pavan came in with a great foundation, one you can only build by spending countless hours in the gym. Technically, her arm swing is excellent, especially when you consider that tall players often develop funky swings as they grow.
Paul Pavan said this week he couldn’t remember a time when his daughter said no to a chance to work on her skills. Sometimes that meant playing badminton to improve her hand-eye coordination.
“Anything to get better,” he said.
It’s the same way in the classroom. When Sarah actually admits to her parents that she might not study for the next big exam, they shake their head and laugh.
“I know that she’s just talking, and within an hour she’s going to be down getting ready for it,” Paul Pavan said. “I really believe that Sarah in our system could achieve an 80 percent without doing any work. But for her, 80 is not good enough.
“She’s always needed to be the best.”
In volleyball, that translates to being the best she can be on the best team.
Even while Nebraska was ranked No. 1 a year ago, Pavan sensed everything wasn’t right. There was a gap between the younger and older players.
The players are closer this year, and Nebraska is two wins from closing in on its goal. A victory worth celebrating.
“Since we have come so far and we have had the complete, perfect season, I won’t be able to settle for anything less than winning,” she said. “I play to win.”
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7439 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.
I was one of those people shocked that she was crying the hardest as they ran off the court. I will never forget that scene and I told myself "yep, this girl is special" I mean to be a freshman and knowing that you have 3 more years yet react like you just played your last match.