Press Box Views: Busboom adopts new role

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BY TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star

Remember the experiment to develop Dani Busboom as a setter? That didn’t work out too badly considering how many matches the Nebraska volleyball program won with a setter who rarely ever set a ball in high school. Yet in the last three seasons, Nebraska didn’t win a national championship.

So, Busboom is taking part in new experiment. When NU opened spring practice on Saturday, the Freeman graduate trained exclusively as a libero. If she makes the transition, she’ll have a chance to be the difference-maker that Nebraska needs in trying to win the national title in Omaha next December.

“Looking around at a lot of the liberos, nobody is going to be more athletic than she is,” Nebraska head coach John Cook said following Sunday’s workout. “She certainly is working hard and showing leadership and has a great attitude.

“This is what we feel gives us the best chance.”

Nebraska will train for a week, take next week off for Spring Break, and then return to the gym for five additional weeks of practices. The Huskers will host exhibitions against Purdue on April 8 and Creighton on April 15.

Busboom’s move to libero is key as Nebraska must fill the void left with the loss of senior Jen Saleaumua, the school’s all-time leader in digs. It also clears the way for promising redshirt Rachel Holloway to be part of a two-setter system this spring along with returning starter Maggie Griffin.

By fall, after the Huskers will have completed a training trip to Japan, it’s possible NU could return to a one-setter system. Whatever the offense, expect Holloway to have a role.

After all, Cook’s goal in making changes is to get Nebraska’s best players onto the court.

Qwest for more?

Knowing full well that this year’s final four in Omaha is already a sellout, the NCAA volleyball selection committee made its recommendations last weekend on sites for the 2008 and 2009 championships.

No one is saying if Omaha landed one, or both, years. The only hint came from committee chair Kelly Andrews of Toledo, who said members are not interested in Omaha, or anywhere else for that matter, as a permanent host site.

“The only discussion we’ve had is in awarding a multi-year site,” Andrews said, referring to a model used successfully in wrestling where host cities have been given the opportunity to stage the championships in consecutive years before the tournament moves on to a new locale.

The committee’s recommendations go to the NCAA championships cabinet for consideration, likely in April.

Heading for home

n Auto racing gears up locally with this weekend’s Summer Thaw (when did it freeze?) at Junction Motor Speedway near McCool Junction. Racing notes will return in Friday’s Journal Star.

n Too many games at last week’s girls state basketball tournament had too many fouls to be remotely entertaining. I haven’t seen 77 free throws — the total Gretna and Fairbury combined for in one Class B semifinal  since the last Elks Hoop Shoot.

n Meanwhile, Nebraska’s baseball seems to have pitching and defense mastered. Three runs allowed in three games at the Dairy Queen Classic? For Husker fans, that’s a DQ treat.

The Huskers return home this weekend to face Alabama in an important three-game series. Wins and losses aside, the best thing for NU would be for the Crimson Tide to enjoy their stay and for coach Jim Wells to tell his Southeastern Conference coaching brethren what a great place Haymarket Park is to be.

Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7439 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.