Hannah Werth is just a freshman, but that doesn’t matter to her.
The 6-foot-1 outside hitter is establishing herself as a playmaker for Nebraska and has already earned four Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week honors.
“The game knows no age,” Werth said. “Not just personally, but for anybody in any sport.”
Werth has led the Cornhuskers in kills six out of the last seven matches and said she has worked hard to improve her game ever since she got to college.
NU coach John Cook said Werth’s greatest strength is that she is a fierce competitor.
“She is somebody that I have to kick out of the gym everyday,” Cook said.
Nebraska’s climb back to success since the beginning of the season has coincided with Werth’s development. The freshman notched a team and career-high 19 kills on a .342 hitting percentage in Saturday’s win against Oklahoma.
“Part of our evolution is Hannah’s role on this team, and she’s becoming a big-time left side hitter,” Cook said. “I think the team is understanding that. I think she’s understanding that. Everybody is getting more comfortable with it because they aren’t used to a freshman having that kind of an impact.”
With what Werth has been able to do so far this season, it’s easy to forget she is still a freshman who makes mistakes at times. Cook said he is impressed, though, with how she works through the growing pains that make him “squirm” in his seat.
“That’s what I really like about Hannah as a freshman,” Cook said. “She is making adjustments. She’s competing.”
Werth has been able to remove her rookie tag and show a level of maturity that has her on the same level as her veteran teammates.
When asked if Cook said anything to help her prepare for the OU match after a tough five-set loss to Iowa State, she responded with poise and a sense of responsibility.
“Not really. I think it’s kind of a known thing, and sometimes when you know something, I don’t think it needs to be repeated,” Werth said. “You just have to execute it.”
The Huskers experienced a letdown in the match against Oklahoma and dropped the third set, but they came back and easily won the fourth. Werth’s comments after the game showed she has a veteran-like grasp of her team’s tendencies.
“We let up definitely in that third game,” Werth said. “I could feel it. Everybody just kind of stepped out of their zone, and we learned from it and I think that’s something great that this team does. We try not to make the same mistake twice.”
Werth led the Huskers with six kills in the match-winning set.
Even as opponents begin to key in on her, Werth said she has to stay within her game and continue to do the things she has done all year.
After all, she’s still a freshman.
“Just go hit the ball,” Werth said. “That’s what I say to myself. Simple as that.”
dougburger@dailynebraskan.com
Be the first to comment on this article!