Post by GoBigRed on Aug 24, 2004 10:50:43 GMT -5
Article form Lincoln Journal-Star
Sounds like she is hitting harder than last year.
Houghtelling is one of five Husker players - all of them with starting experience - seemingly competing for two spots at outside hitter on Nebraska's No. 2-ranked volleyball team.
With four underclassmen among the five contenders, Houghtelling wonders if she'll ever get another chance to win a starting spot. The competition has her driving harder than she has at any time in her playing career.
"If I see somebody else get a kill in practice, I have to say, 'I'm going to do it better,'"said Houghtelling, a sophomore from Cambridge. "I have to go in and be confident and be aggressive. I can't be out here with a mentality that I'll do better the next play."
The competition for virtually every starting position has Nebraska head coach John Cook puzzled, yet encouraged for the upcoming season.
Although he's yet to settle on a lineup, Cook said he is seeing a commitment from everyone on the team to give their best every day.
Freshman Sarah Pavan has already drawn comparisons to former Stanford All-American Kerri Walsh with her overwhelming power and shot-making ability from the right side, making it likely that she'll land in the starting lineup.
And with Melissa Elmer and freshman Tracy Stalls seemingly settled into the middle-blocker spots, the biggest question marks remain at outside hitter and at setter, where Michelle Lynch has been slowed somewhat by injury.
With so many players competing at such a high level, Cook has been careful to limit what Houghtelling does in practice. The sophomore was held out of Thursday's workouts but returned Friday feeling stronger than ever.
"I'll predict right now that she will hit the ball harder than anybody on our team,"Cook said, "including Pavan."
In making the switch to outside hitter, Houghtelling is patterning herself after two-time All-American Laura Pilakowski.
Houghtelling occasionally watches film of Pilakowski, who blossomed after a shift from middle blocker and helped to lead NUto its 2000 national championship. At 6-foot-2 and packing lots of power, Houghtelling seems well suited to provide the offensive threat that Nebraska needs from the outside.
"When I swing, I swing to get the kill,"she said. "I've been working on all my shots."
Playing as a middle blocker last season, Houghtelling earned a starting spot nine matches into a year beset by injuries. She missed six weeks and returned to see only limited action in the NCAATournament.
Houghtelling finally underwent surgery to repair her knee in December. She missed the spring season and was slowed most of the summer while in rehabilitation.
"It got really frustrating,"Houghtelling said. "In a way, I have nothing to lose (coming off the injury), but in another way, I have everything to lose.
"I've only got one shot to show what I can do."
Saturday was the final day of twice-daily practices for the team. The Huskers are to work out once today and then take Monday off to settle into fall semester classes. Preparations continue Tuesday for the season opener at Notre Dame on Sept. 3.
Sounds like she is hitting harder than last year.
Houghtelling is one of five Husker players - all of them with starting experience - seemingly competing for two spots at outside hitter on Nebraska's No. 2-ranked volleyball team.
With four underclassmen among the five contenders, Houghtelling wonders if she'll ever get another chance to win a starting spot. The competition has her driving harder than she has at any time in her playing career.
"If I see somebody else get a kill in practice, I have to say, 'I'm going to do it better,'"said Houghtelling, a sophomore from Cambridge. "I have to go in and be confident and be aggressive. I can't be out here with a mentality that I'll do better the next play."
The competition for virtually every starting position has Nebraska head coach John Cook puzzled, yet encouraged for the upcoming season.
Although he's yet to settle on a lineup, Cook said he is seeing a commitment from everyone on the team to give their best every day.
Freshman Sarah Pavan has already drawn comparisons to former Stanford All-American Kerri Walsh with her overwhelming power and shot-making ability from the right side, making it likely that she'll land in the starting lineup.
And with Melissa Elmer and freshman Tracy Stalls seemingly settled into the middle-blocker spots, the biggest question marks remain at outside hitter and at setter, where Michelle Lynch has been slowed somewhat by injury.
With so many players competing at such a high level, Cook has been careful to limit what Houghtelling does in practice. The sophomore was held out of Thursday's workouts but returned Friday feeling stronger than ever.
"I'll predict right now that she will hit the ball harder than anybody on our team,"Cook said, "including Pavan."
In making the switch to outside hitter, Houghtelling is patterning herself after two-time All-American Laura Pilakowski.
Houghtelling occasionally watches film of Pilakowski, who blossomed after a shift from middle blocker and helped to lead NUto its 2000 national championship. At 6-foot-2 and packing lots of power, Houghtelling seems well suited to provide the offensive threat that Nebraska needs from the outside.
"When I swing, I swing to get the kill,"she said. "I've been working on all my shots."
Playing as a middle blocker last season, Houghtelling earned a starting spot nine matches into a year beset by injuries. She missed six weeks and returned to see only limited action in the NCAATournament.
Houghtelling finally underwent surgery to repair her knee in December. She missed the spring season and was slowed most of the summer while in rehabilitation.
"It got really frustrating,"Houghtelling said. "In a way, I have nothing to lose (coming off the injury), but in another way, I have everything to lose.
"I've only got one shot to show what I can do."
Saturday was the final day of twice-daily practices for the team. The Huskers are to work out once today and then take Monday off to settle into fall semester classes. Preparations continue Tuesday for the season opener at Notre Dame on Sept. 3.