With Nebraska Volleyball's three national championships, ten Big 12 Conference championships and devoted fan base, it's sometimes forgotten that another Division I volleyball team resides just to the north.
The No. 2 Cornhuskers will step out of conference play on Sunday and travel to the Qwest Center in Omaha for its annual showdown with its in-state rival Creighton.
Creighton coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth said that even though most of the state's volleyball attention goes to the Huskers, it's not an issue of jealousy because it gives her team something to strive for.
"We know how big volleyball can be in this state, and we're happy (the University of) Nebraska draws the way that it does," Booth said. "We want to continue to grow as well. It demonstrates the fan base in Nebraska and gives us something to shoot for."
Booth said playing Nebraska is a good thing because it gives a lot of exposure to the type of talent Nebraska has. Both teams, combined, have 11 Nebraska high school natives.
"It's good for both schools," Booth said. "It's a great opportunity for both programs to show the vast talent in the state."
It will be the eleventh meeting between the two programs, and Nebraska Coach John Cook said he doesn't see the rivalry ending any time soon.
"I think it's good for volleyball in the state, and it's important to continue playing Creighton because it helps their program, it helps their recruiting," Cook said. "I think it's good to have another strong team in the state that's in a different conference. I think it just brings more recognition to the state."
Cook said another positive thing about Sunday's match with Creighton is the busy schedule it presents the Huskers with. Nebraska will have three games in five days, which is similar to how the NCAA tournament will be formatted.
He said the busy schedule is good because Nebraska will have little time to prepare for Saturday's home match against Colorado after defeating Texas Tech on Wednesday, and they'll have even less time to prepare for Creighton on Sunday.
"That's what happens in the NCAA tournament," Cook said. "You can prepare for your first match, but you have no idea who you'll play for your second match, so it's a big mental challenge. Can (we) switch gears and prepare for another team and a different style of play and still take care of business on our side of the net?"
Nebraska has already enjoyed success at the Qwest Center this year. At the beginning of the season in the AVCA classic, the Huskers shocked the volleyball world with wins over then-No. 2 Stanford and then-No. 4 USC.
Sunday will provide the Husker players one last opportunity to absorb the Qwest Center atmosphere and renew their dreams of returning there in December for the Final Four.
"We know there is going to be a lot of emotion on Sunday," Cook said. "And that's also what you feel in the NCAA tournament."
Since Creighton volleyball began in 1994, the Blue Jays are 0-10 against Nebraska. They did, however, steal a set from NU's national championship team in 2006.
Booth said her team will approach the game against Nebraska like any other.
"We set goals that aren't based on wins and losses," Booth said. "We want to play great regardless of who's on the other side of the net."
She admitted, however, that she hasn't given Sunday's state championship showdown much thought. Creighton, like Nebraska, has a conference match on Saturday that has received most of her attention.
"We haven't even discussed Nebraska yet," Booth said. "We'll do that Saturday."
lukenichols@dailynebraskan.com
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