Mizzou Takes Nebraska To Five Games

by Jon Johnston on Nov 1, 2007 12:38 AM CDT in Nebraska Husker Volleyball

Don't know if all y'all watched it tonight, but Mizzou drove the Husker volleyballers to five games this evening at the Coliseum, with Nebraska winning the match in game five.

Rachel Schwartz, libero. Keep it going!

It went 30-19, 32-34, 30-11,24-30, and then 15-10, Nebraska. After the whole trick r' treating affair, I came in and watched the final two games. Wow. Great volleyball.

Mizzou has four players from the state of Nebraska, so like John Cook said at the start of the match, they were expecting a tough match. Add to that that Mizzou has three Chinese girls as starters, and they're NOT going to be intimidated just because they're coming into the Coliseum.

Missouri's Na Yang finished with 20 kills, Amanda Hantouli with 10, Weiwen Wang with 10, and Lei Wang with 7. For Nebraska, Sarah Pavan had 22 kills, Jordan Larson, 17, Christina Houghtelling 14, and Tracy Stalls with 10. While the kills seem much higher for the Huskers they were countered by a season-high 14 service errors, and 14 hitting errors.

If you missed this match, you missed some great volleyball. Good win for Nebraska. Here's what you get from Cornhusker coach John Cook:

"I thought we came out and played a great first game, and then we went complacent," Cook said. Then Missouri got the momentum, and we started breaking down everywhere. Then we came out and played a great game three like we did at Colorado last year – blow them up in game three. Then I think we thought ‘it’s over.’ So we ended up at game five."

Good match, but not great, and great is what we're expecting from this team. They have a lot of work yet to do.

Saturday night the Huskers play Kansas State in Manhattan.

We're at that time of the year at which I'll increase our volleyball coverage. These young women deserved to be recognized. At much as Nebraska defines itself by football, so it does by volleyball. We have had incredible success at volleyball over the past 20 years.

Pay attention. Like I said, they deserve it.

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Comments

Lot of work?

O.k., 8 days ago NE hadn't lost a GAME in over a month. They lose to TX--a great team--and now struggle with MO. Maybe they're just in a mild slump, but 'lot of work' seems like an exaggeration to me.

These struggles are a good thing because it will keep them working.

--'za blang thang-- --"don't TAZE me, bro"--

by Ze Robertinho on Nov 1, 2007 2:58 AM CDT reply actions

yes

because it's such a fine line for them between success and failure. the expectations are SO high.

that's why I say a lot of work.

Go Big Red!

by Jon Johnston on Nov 1, 2007 8:07 AM CDT up reply actions

Cook is pushing this team to be the best it can..

One could argue that losing only one match all season is a great season, but Cook is pushing this team hard. Last night was kind of sloppy, but you can see the kind of talent this team has. In that fifth game, they twice scrambled to save a ball that practically was in the stands to get the point, including the game winner.

by Husker Mike on Nov 1, 2007 8:27 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm still not sure I follow you.

If you mean they need alot of work to play absolutely perfectly along with winning another NC, o.k.

They haven't been challenged this year up until this last week, and I agree they haven't hitten their stride in terms of sharpness. They have yet to play their best VB this year, but to me this is all just fine tuning, turning it up a notch or so, not 'alot of work', but I haven't seen them live either, just on CSTV and FOX.

Jordan Larsen doesn't seem to be as prominent this year(?).

--'za blang thang-- --"don't TAZE me, bro"--

by Ze Robertinho on Nov 1, 2007 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions