This time last year, the Nebraska volleyball team had everything to lose when they headed to Austin to face off with Texas.
Despite sweeping UT early on in the 2007-2008 season, NU had an immense amount of pressure on them.
The trip the Cornhuskers took to Austin that season was one they wouldn't soon forget.
For the first time since 1997, Texas became the first Big 12 Conference team to sweep the Huskers.
The Scarlet and Cream steamrolled opponents to end the regular season but faltered in the NCAA Tournament.
This year, things are a bit different.
There seems to be no added pressure. Despite the odds and questions that loomed early on in the season, NU Coach John Cook seems at ease, and so do the players.
"I don't feel like it's a must-win match where everything is riding on it," Cook said. "Last year, it was almost (like) we had everything to lose down there."
Cook said the 2007 loss hasn't been a topic of conversation at all this year.
"This is such a different team," Cook said. "We're approaching it as trying to win a Big 12 Championship. It's a great opportunity to compete."
When the Huskers head down to face off against Texas tonight, they will have the opportunity to clinch their fifth-straight Big 12 title and 30th conference crown in 33 seasons.
NU will also have the opportunity to secure the league's automatic bid for next month's NCAA Tournament.
However, if the Longhorns come away victorious, the two squads would have a share of the Big 12 title.
The last time UT and NU faced off was in Lincoln two months ago when the Huskers toppled the Longhorns 3-1 behind 17 kills from sophomore hitter Lindsay Licht.
Senior Jordan Larson notched one of her 10 double-doubles on the season with 19 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore Tara Mueller and Sydney Anderson also collected double-doubles.
"It's a big week, that's for sure," Larson said about tonight's match. "I watched the Nebraska Volleyball Show last night and it's like Coach Cook said, 'It's a great opportunity for our team to see how we've been doing all season.' It's going to be a great test for us and show what we're all about."
After the loss to Nebraska in September, Texas went on a 10-game win streak before falling in five games in Austin against Oklahoma.
Now, Texas is on a five-match win streak, and coming off a five-set win against No. 14 Kansas State last Saturday.
Much like the Huskers, the Longhorns are ranked in the top five of all statistical categories except digs, where UT ranks 10th in the Big 12.
The Longhorns lead the league in hitting percentage (.337) and blocks, averaging 2.61 blocks per set.
One factor Cook knows Nebraska will have to utilize is its service game.
"It'll come down to how well we can serve down there," Cook said. "It's hard enough to stop them when they don't pass, much less when they do pass."
Another thing Cook expressed concern about heading down to Texas was NU's history of allowing the opposing team to go on big point runs.
Against Texas A&M and Colorado, NU allowed both teams to make substantial point runs in each set. A&M pushed NU to five games, and Colorado handed NU its first loss of the season, 3-1.
"For us, it's going to be not giving up big runs of points," Cook said.
But while those are the two main areas of concern from Cook, he continually commends the strides his team has made throughout the year.
He hopes the team's chemistry, combined with their will to win - being two points and three sets better - along with their drive to accomplish their season goals will enable them to be successful and prepare for the NCAA
Tournament in December.
"I think it's hard to be good every night," Cook said. "Our margin for error isn't that great. That's one of the impressive things about this team is they've been pretty consistent for the (26) matches we've played."
Larson couldn't agree more.
"I think going down to Texas is always a hard place to play. It's a very hyped-up match," Larson said. "It's going to be a very intense environment for however long it takes. We just want to get after it. We'll see what the last two months have been like for each team."
nickfilipowski@dailynebraskan.com
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