Post by GoBigRed on Aug 11, 2004 8:26:47 GMT -5
There's a sense of urgency surrounding the Nebraska volleyball team even as the Huskers prepare to open practice this morning.
With nine players returning with starting experience and two newcomers expected to contend for starting spots as freshmen, the competition for playing time is likely to be as intense as many of the Huskers' matches this season.
Yet with the team's opener only 16 days away, Nebraska head coach John Cook said he'd like to begin settling on a lineup as early as Saturday.
"We only have 10 days until we start school, so we've got to move pretty quickly," Cook said. "We're going to shake it all up this week and see how it falls."
What that means for those Huskers still recovering from injuries is unclear. Cook said Tuesday he plans to limit what sophomore Christina Houghtelling does in practice after having offseason knee surgery.
Dani Busboom has been bothered by an ankle injury.
The competition between Busboom and Michelle Lynch to be the team's starting setter will be the closest-watched battle of the preseason but certainly not the only fight for playing time.
And no one it seems is backing down from the challenge.
"Coach said everybody's going to compete for a position, and that's only going to make us better," said junior Jennifer Saleaumua, a two-year starter at outside hitter. "I want to play on the outside but however I can compete for the team and help us win is what matters. I just want to be on the court."
With talents like middle blocker Tracy Stalls and right-side hitter Sarah Pavan entering the program, Cook challenged his returners to come back to practice this fall at a higher level both mentally and physically.
Saleaumua said her goal was to come back jumping higher and focused on making more plays for her team. In the offseason, Saleaumua said she ate healthier and played more sand volleyball than she did in previous years.
"I think we're all getting stronger," she said. "We've been lifting everyday, and you can just tell that the chemistry is there. Everybody's ready to go."
With Houghtelling shifting positions, there will be six outside hitters competing for three starting spots this fall. Saleaumua and sophomore Dani Mancuso started on the left side a year ago, with senior Ally Rebholz and sophomore Kelsey Fautsch seeing playing time on the right.
In practice, Cook said he'll be looking for outside hitters who are consistent passers and who can generate kills. The starting setter will be the player who can set Nebraska's middle attackers efficiently and who can be a leader on and off the floor.
"We have a lot of competition, but that's the way we want it," Cook said. "We want to see who is going to step up and play."
With nine players returning with starting experience and two newcomers expected to contend for starting spots as freshmen, the competition for playing time is likely to be as intense as many of the Huskers' matches this season.
Yet with the team's opener only 16 days away, Nebraska head coach John Cook said he'd like to begin settling on a lineup as early as Saturday.
"We only have 10 days until we start school, so we've got to move pretty quickly," Cook said. "We're going to shake it all up this week and see how it falls."
What that means for those Huskers still recovering from injuries is unclear. Cook said Tuesday he plans to limit what sophomore Christina Houghtelling does in practice after having offseason knee surgery.
Dani Busboom has been bothered by an ankle injury.
The competition between Busboom and Michelle Lynch to be the team's starting setter will be the closest-watched battle of the preseason but certainly not the only fight for playing time.
And no one it seems is backing down from the challenge.
"Coach said everybody's going to compete for a position, and that's only going to make us better," said junior Jennifer Saleaumua, a two-year starter at outside hitter. "I want to play on the outside but however I can compete for the team and help us win is what matters. I just want to be on the court."
With talents like middle blocker Tracy Stalls and right-side hitter Sarah Pavan entering the program, Cook challenged his returners to come back to practice this fall at a higher level both mentally and physically.
Saleaumua said her goal was to come back jumping higher and focused on making more plays for her team. In the offseason, Saleaumua said she ate healthier and played more sand volleyball than she did in previous years.
"I think we're all getting stronger," she said. "We've been lifting everyday, and you can just tell that the chemistry is there. Everybody's ready to go."
With Houghtelling shifting positions, there will be six outside hitters competing for three starting spots this fall. Saleaumua and sophomore Dani Mancuso started on the left side a year ago, with senior Ally Rebholz and sophomore Kelsey Fautsch seeing playing time on the right.
In practice, Cook said he'll be looking for outside hitters who are consistent passers and who can generate kills. The starting setter will be the player who can set Nebraska's middle attackers efficiently and who can be a leader on and off the floor.
"We have a lot of competition, but that's the way we want it," Cook said. "We want to see who is going to step up and play."
