Husker volleyball shows character, avoids disastrous beginning

OMAHA — They say pain is weakness leaving the body.

As the agony of an opening day defeat poured out of Sydney Anderson's eyes Friday night, we learned a little bit more about the makeup of this year's Nebraska volleyball team.

"We never want to feel this way again," the NU setter said. "Our team is too competitive to feel this way. We are a team that wants to win, that wants to be great. When we don't do that, we're letting ourselves down, our team and our coaches. From what they taught us, from what we've been practicing, we've never played like that before."

It will be a defining moment for the Cornhuskers as long as their memory permits, a window into coach John Cook's comments a week earlier.

He said he thought his team would be unique and special. He told reporters the ride of the 2009 season would be a wild one, and fittingly, "entertaining as heck."

Anderson's words resonated in a different light Saturday.

Reiterated by her teammates after a thrilling five-set victory over No. 11 Minnesota, her words carried a weight that kept any and all overexcitement in check.

"With the disappointment and all of what we've put in, it didn't pay off (Friday)," Mancuso said. "Tonight when they got on those runs, we just tried to stop it because we never wanted to feel like that again."

In that, the Huskers showed just how unique they truly are.

Led by senior Kori Cooper, who is recovering from injury and still working toward playing a complete match, the leadership began to trickle down. It passed on most noticeably in the 24 hours the NU women had to think about the sweep they endured Friday.

The face of the team is not singular to any one player like many in the past, at least not yet. A mix of All-American talent in Anderson and outside hitter Tara Mueller bring familiarity, while the new faces of Gina Mancuso, Megan Pendergast and Hannah Werth are quickly becoming household (huh?).

Then there's libero Kayla Banwarth, the only starter to be named by Cook six days ago, whose play went from "out of control" to "spectacular" overnight.

But what makes Cook's team special may be the mass of other faces that stepped onto the court for NU.

Brooke Delano and Jordan Wilberger scored many of Saturday's crucial points. Jessica Yanz, Allison McNeal and Lindsey Licht all were inserted into the lineup as Cook tried every combination he could to get the result he so desired and his team so desperately needed.

"We were about out of stuff to try," Cook said. "That's the thing, we've got players we can bring in. It's helpful, especially in a long match like that.

"You hope you get into matches like this, at this time of year because it really builds a lot of character and brings your team together. It teaches them how to compete together and be successful. For us to win it is a major, major step for this team."

Throughout their match with Minnesota, each Husker face shared a changing expression.

In game one, they overcame the doubt and heartache from the night before, getting back to the successful communication and passing they've experienced in practice.

Game three showed signs of Husker tradition. A strong serve by Mueller led to a sturdy, accurate set by Anderson and a powerful spike by Licht. The right-side hitter showed uncharacteristically little emotion after she made the kill. The NU women were back to business as usual as they powered through the middle of the set to lead Minnesota 17-9.

"I think a big thing was that we really needed to trust ourselves and have confidence in ourselves — to trust our training and what we did in double-days," Delano said. "Once we started getting into the rhythm, we were back to business."

It was in the fifth and final set, though, that the Husker's lived up to Cook's words.

As a Delano kill shot to the middle of Minnesota's court, bringing the Husker's lead to 8-6 in final set, Banwarth, Delano and Mueller turned to each other and their teammates with a final unshakable expression. It wasn't about the atmosphere of the AVCA Showcase or the Qwest Center anymore. It wasn't about the fans or any reputation they needed to live up to. The intensity in their eyes was focused on making a statement, to themselves.

"We knew that we could play together," Wilberger said. "We just came back together as a team and stayed with it."

After Friday's loss, Cook promised that his Huskers would come back as a better team.

He said, however, when he saw the distress of the Michigan defeat lingering on his players, that he was worried.

After he challenged his upperclassmen to step up, they did just that.

What Huskers fans saw Saturday lived up, in every bit, to Cook's description of his team. Nebraska didn't just avoid a disastrous beginning to the season, they found a bit of their identity, a feeling to remember and a fight they hope will carry them to the end.