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With four rounds left to play in the NCAA Tournament, it's difficult to make prognostications for next year. Even so, it's easy to see how much returning talent the Nebraska volleyball team will have next year.
At setter, the Huskers return Lauren Cook, who has won awards in three different conferences, including first team All-Big Ten this season. While the team loses her backup, Brigette Root, they add Elkhorn South freshman Lauren Sieckmann, who is considered by prepvolleyball.com as one of the nation's top recruits.
Root is convinced Sieckmann can do just as good a job backing up Cook as she did.
"She's great, she's got great hands, very talented," Root said. "Obviously, I don't know a lot of (high school) players around the country and their skill level... but I know Lauren's very solid in her skills and will be a great addition to the team."
At outside hitter, the Huskers return three All-Big Ten talents: first-teamers Hannah Werth and Gina Mancuso, as well as the highly versatile second-teamer Morgan Broekhuis. That won't be the end to NU's talent at the position. Taylor Simpson's back injury, which limited her to 12 games this season, should heal enough for her return, and the Huskers add Kelsey Fien, prepvolleyball's No. 19 overall prospect, to the mix as well.
Mancuso finished eighth in the Big Ten in kills per set, despite other top targets getting more touches, and Werth's skill on both ends makes her "a rare talent" to assistant coach Dan Meske.
The Huskers also return libero Lara Dykstra and defensive specialists Paige Hubl and Shelby Winkelmann, who combined to help NU hold opponents to a paltry .145 hitting percentage in 2011. The only problem spot may be at middle blocker, where Brooke Delano and Jordan Wilberger, the starters for NU's final game, graduate. But Hubl has seen a highly skilled replacement during practice.
"I'm excited to watch (Cecilia Hall) play," Hubl said. "I'm really excited to see us unleash the Swede. I don't know if you can replace (Delano and Wilberger) but she's going to have a fun impact, she's an incredible player, I can't wait to see her play."
Beyond Hall, Hayley Thramer, who started 21 games, returns and Allison McNeal, who missed the 2011 season, has eligibility remaining as well.
All of this points to a high preseason ranking for the Huskers, despite the fact the team fell before regionals for the first time since 1993. The key, coaches and players say, is continued growth by the team before next season begins.
"As the season went on, we knew we'd get everyone's best shot," Meske said. "We made adjustments, but the second time around (in Big Ten play) it didn't always go our way. When we passed well, we were almost unstoppable ... it's really hard to pass really, really well and lose. We want to be the best passing team in the country next season."
Another issue will be leadership. With the loss of Root and Wilberger, co-captains in 2011, and Delano, a co-captain in 2010, new captains will need to be elected by the team in the spring. While Root said "four or five players" are in the mix and Hubl said "anyone on the team is capable" it's worth noting that Cook, Hubl, Mancuso and Werth will all be seniors next season.
"I think everybody could (be captain)," Hubl said. "Everybody's willing, everyone's ready. That's the nice thing about this team – everybody gives, there's no one who's greedy and takes and takes. It's good for us to be in that spot."
That amount of senior talent has a downside: while Nebraska may reload as opposed to rebuild, there is no doubt NU has a great opportunity for a national championship.
"I think, (the team) is going to have so much talent," Root said. "Obviously, they have a majority of the girls returning who have played and also some great recruits coming in, so talent-wise, they'll be great. They can really build on (the Big Ten Title this season). With the new girls coming in, the key will be becoming a team and becoming great."
seanwhalen@dailynebraskan.com
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