Volleyball notes, 1/18: Houghtelling training after surgery

 No comments  
 E-mail Story
 Print Story
  Share

 digg it!
 Facebook
 del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit

Text Size: 

Tools Sponsor

BY TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star

Christina Houghtelling began offseason training with her Husker volleyball teammates Tuesday, less than a week after doctors went in with a laser to clean scar tissue from her surgically repaired right shoulder.

Nebraska head coach John Cook said Tuesday that doctors indicated that “everything looked great” with Houghtelling’s shoulder, which required surgery to repair a torn labrum last July.

Houghtelling, who also underwent knee surgery last summer, sat out last season as a redshirt. The 2005 national player of the year has one year of eligibility remaining.

Cook said Houghtelling indicated that the shoulder feels great after the scar tissue was removed. It’s likely she’ll be cleared to resume jumping by next week and she should be able to swing with full motion in a few weeks.

Spoils of victory

Nebraska’s players and coaches were treated to a night at the Governor’s Mansion on Monday. Gov. Dave Heineman and his wife, Sally Ganem, hosted the event, which included a tour and dinner served on the fine china.

“It was a really neat experience,” Cook said.

With last Saturday’s autograph session at the NU men’s basketball game postponed, Nebraska players took advantage of a two-hour block to fulfill numerous requests for autographed posters and volleyballs.

The public autograph session has been rescheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday before the Nebraska men’s basketball game with Colorado at the Devaney Sports Center.

The national champions will be honored at halftime.

Tickets from the postponed Oklahoma State game can be exchanged at the NU Athletic Ticket Office or by phone at (800) 8BIGRED.

2007 schedule

Even before winning the national championship, Nebraska had been selected to host the AVCA Showcase in August. This year’s field — determined months in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts — also features Tennessee, Utah and UCLA.

Likely dates are Aug. 24 and 25 at Qwest Center Omaha, the site of last season’s NCAA final four and the AVCA Showcase in 2005.

The following weekend, Nebraska plans to host a tournament that will include Cal Poly, Penn State and Creighton, with the Nebraska-Penn State match to be played on Sunday Sept. 2 at the Qwest Center.

NU wraps up nonconference play with a two-day tournament that includes Duke, Louisville and New Mexico State at the Coliseum.

The Huskers are scheduled to open Big 12 play against Texas on Sept. 12.

Behind the scenes

* Plans are in the works to expand the volleyball program’s offices into a larger space on the second floor of the Coliseum.

* Lindsey Licht, one of four high school seniors to sign a letter-of-intent with Nebraska in November, began classes at Nebraska last week and is working out with the Huskers. The 6-foot-5 right-side hitter from Aurora, Colo., is expected to challenge for playing time as a freshman.