The Huskers have been studying up since last week's stunning loss to the Longhorns, a defeat that dropped Nebraska to No. 2 in the polls for the first time since after the 2005 season.
TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 7:00 pm
Just like a juicy rumor that bounces from inbox to inbox, there is a blueprint being passed around for how to dismantle Nebraska’s volleyball powerhouse.
As Texas proved last week, the Huskers can look average, at best, when you gang up on middle blocker Tracy Stalls, when you mix up your serves to make Jordan Larson cover more territory as a passer, and you make Sarah Pavan play the ball as often as you can.
And, finally, you attack, and attack, and attack over NU setter Rachel Holloway. For Texas, the end result was a textbook victory, one opposing coaches surely will be studying as they prepare for Nebraska the rest of the season.
The Huskers, too, have been studying up since last week’s stunning loss to the Longhorns, a defeat that dropped Nebraska to No. 2 in the polls for the first time since after the 2005 season.
“We learned a lot down there,” Nebraska head coach John Cook said Tuesday. “Now, instead of me telling them what teams are going to do, they understand. It’s given us great (preparation) in practice.”
Nebraska (19-1, 11-1 Big 12) will try to bounce back tonight against Missouri (13-9, 6-7) in a televised match from the sold-out Coliseum.
After taking three days off, the Huskers returned to practice Monday with what Cook described as “tremendous energy.” Senior Christina Houghtelling said the level of play during practice was much closer to what the Huskers have been striving for.
As Nebraska mowed through the competition this season, sweeping 17 consecutive opponents prior to last week’s loss, complacency had taken the place of NU’s usual competitive spirit.
“We definitely learned from it, and we’re taking in personally,” said Houghtelling, who said Nebraska’s off date in the Big 12 came at a perfect time.
“We weren’t rushed to get back into practice and prepare for another team,” she said. “We could actually sit back, reflect and learn about what happened and what we needed to do to get better.”
After reviewing the video, Cook said Nebraska appeared to be “fatigued” and “slow” playing its fourth match in eight days against the Longhorns. But the biggest thing missing might have been the right mentality.
Both Cook and Houghtelling agreed that Wednesday’s loss will change that.
“I think they were carrying a heavy burden,” Cook said. “That’s expectations, that’s me riding them, that’s (being the defending national champions).
“That gets heavy when you have to carry that around all the time. They got rid of some of that.”
Houghtelling said Nebraska will always be a team that strives for perfection, but added that they must find the same kind of energy within themselves that was evident from Texas’ players during last week’s match in Austin.
The Longhorns’ emotions “kind of sucked the life out of us a little bit,” said Houghtelling, who expects to see more fire in her teammates’ eyes tonight.
After facing Missouri tonight, the Huskers will move onto No. 12-ranked Kansas State on Saturday. The Wildcats, who figure to have a say in who wins the Big 12 title, already pushed Texas to five games.
Cook hopes last week’s loss will serve as a rest-of-the-season reminder that the Huskers can’t turn the switch off and on.
“We’ve been complacent, and just been going through the motions, and now, the loss obviously created more of a sense of urgency for this team,” she said. “We took it to heart.”
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.