Jessica Yanz, who played her freshman and sophomore seasons at Penn State, still must gain her official release from the school in order to step in immediately at setter for the Huskers.
TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 6:00 pm
Jessica Yanz went home from her recruiting visit to Nebraska on Monday believing that it was the perfect place for her to pick up her college volleyball career.
Need proof? Consider that Yanz, who said she first began thinking about leaving Penn State after the holidays, made it home to Chicago after midnight Tuesday morning. She was back in Lincoln by 8:30 a.m. the next day.
“Everything was awesome, it was so impressive,” Yanz said Wednesday, her second day of classes at NU. “This was a place that I could see myself graduating from.”
Yanz, who played her freshman and sophomore seasons at Penn State, still must gain her official release from the school in order to step in immediately at setter for a Nebraska program that is without its quarterback after Rachel Holloway announced she was leaving back on Jan. 8.
Holloway’s decision, Yanz said Wednesday, had nothing to do with her choice to look into transferring to another school. She met with Penn State volleyball coach Russ Rose two weeks ago and was given permission to talk to other schools.
After sending e-mails to several coaches, she spent most of last week sorting through her options. If she isn’t released from her scholarship, she would likely have to sit out the spring exhibition season, as well as next fall, as a redshirt.
“I enjoyed my time with Penn State thoroughly, and hopefully, they’ll see this as a great situation for me,” Yanz said. “We’re taking it day by day, and whatever happens, I feel like Nebraska is the place I want to be.”
The 6-foot Yanz played sparingly in her two seasons at Penn State, appearing in 35 matches over the two years. The Nittany Lions won their second national championship this past season.
Yanz would love to do the same at Nebraska, but first, she’s at work getting used to her class schedule and getting to know her teammates.
She packed enough clothes until her parents can drive to town this weekend.
“It’s time for a new chapter in my life,” Yanz said. “I’m really excited.”
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.