Don't be fooled by their anonymity. Nebraska's competition in practice isn't exactly covert.
Each afternoon a mixture of substitute players, some graduate assistants and a volunteer coach unite to smash volleyballs at the nation's No. 1-ranked squad.
When the Cornhuskers host No. 11 Duke tonight as part of the Ameritas Players Challenge, they may have already aced their toughest test.
"That team in practice is probably the best team in the country," NU junior outside hitter Jordan Larson said.
The group is more formally known as "the white team" by NU Coach John Cook.
Nebraska's substitutes rotate in and out of the lineup during workouts. Joining them is NU Volunteer Assistant Coach Ryan Walthall and graduate assistants Dan Meske and Nancy Metcalf.
However, Metcalf - a former three-time All-American for the Huskers - and Meske only participate periodically because of NCAA restrictions for graduate assistants.
When they do step on the floor, NU's starting players must overcome one of their toughest challenges of the season.
The scary part? They have to do it almost every day.
During Nebraska's Red-White scrimmage in August, the Whites stole the first game 31-29 before eventually falling 2-1 to a starting group featuring four American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans. Senior outside hitter Sarah Pavan sat out of the match with a groin injury.
"I think we expected to win, actually," said Walthall, a former standout with the Penn State men's volleyball team. "We were a little disappointed when we didn't. Going into it we were like, 'OK, let's challenge them for this.' But once that whistle blows, you don't want to lose."
Walthall brings a similar competitiveness to practice, making him one of the most formidable athletes to roam the NU Coliseum floor. Both he and Meske can rocket volleyballs with more power than anybody in the gym.
It's a simple philosophy, really. If the Huskers can dig bombs from former collegiate male players, they can probably handle spikes from their opponents.
"When they bring it harder, you always want to be in there digging it," Larson said. "They definitely raise the level for everyone."
The White team also handles scouting responsibilities. During the past several days, players and coaches took turns mimicking Duke's Carrie DeMange, who racked up 32 kills in a loss to USC last week. When DeMange takes the floor tonight, Nebraska may already be sick of digging volleyballs from Duke's star.
But for the starters to be challenged in practice, someone has to get the ball to the hitters.
Cook said the white team would be significantly less skilled without NU senior setter Maggie Griffin, who lost the starting position to sophomore Rachel Holloway before the season began.
Nebraska's three national title rosters have each featured multiple players who know how to dish out assists, Cook said.
"You only play at the level of your setter," Cook said, "so if you've got two great setters in the gym, you've got two sides playing at a high level."
Griffin has an impressive lineup of players to choose from. When she's not dishing sets to the men, 6-foot-5 freshman Lindsey Licht is alway a safe target.
Whether role-playing the opponent or all-out attacking NU's starters, a group of substitutes and assistants continue to create fierce competition in practice.
To this point, that's more than Nebraska's opponents can say.
"When our team goes through practice in here," Cook said, "the matches are a heck of a lot easier than what they've been seeing."
MICHAELMCHALE@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
