There are plenty of reasons why Nebraska should be excited for Saturday’s match against Iowa State.
The No. 9 Cyclones defeated the Huskers in five sets on Oct. 21. Nebraska had a 2-1 set lead, but 34 attack errors and a .160 attacking percentage allowed ISU to take the first meeting between the two squads.
No. 8 Nebraska will get a second crack at Iowa State when it travels to Ames, Iowa, on Saturday.
“I’m really looking forward to that match,” NU coach John Cook said. “There was a big celebration here at the Coliseum, and it wasn’t by us. (The players) should be fired up to go back and have their turn.”
The Huskers are 17-6 this season and 10-4 in Big 12 Conference play. NU sits at third in the Big 12 standings behind a second place Iowa State team that handed No. 2 Texas its first loss of the season on Wednesday.
The Cyclones (20-3, 12-2 Big 12) were able to control Texas’ Destinee Hooker, something the Huskers were unable to do. Hooker had 27 kills but needed 74 swings and committed 17 errors in ISU’s five-set victory.
But on Saturday, both NU and ISU will both be coming off their best matches of the season.
The Huskers swept Missouri on Wednesday, hitting a season best .451 and only committing eight attack errors.
“It was just nice to see our kids play good and see our kids have fun and play like we see in practice,” Cook said. “I think that’s the biggest thing, and we are going to need that Saturday night.”
Tara Mueller said the victory over the Tigers showed the team has overcome the difficulties faced earlier this season that led to a collapse against the Cyclones the first time around.
“(MU) is a great match to build off of and to remember these times when we might be down a couple points and to come back and see how much fun we were having and how we were fighting,” Mueller said.
After NU’s October loss to the Cyclones, the then No. 5 Huskers dropped to No. 8 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, while ISU jumped up from No. 14 to No. 9. At the time, both teams were fighting for second place in the Big 12, but now ISU has all but wrapped up that spot. “I think everyone is excited and ready to take revenge on Iowa State,” Sydney Anderson said.
NU has six Big 12 matches left this season, and time is running out for the Huskers to put it all together. Cook said Wednesday’s matc h was a start, and a weekend test against the Cyclones will be an even bigger indication of how good Nebraska really is.
The home stretch of Big 12 play will provide the Huskers the opportunity to raise their level of play, and the MU match was a good example of that, Cook said Wednesday.
“And going up to Ames, where we know there is going to be a crowd and we know it’s a big deal, our team needs this, and it’s a great opportunity,” Cook said.
Cook understands how quickly the post-season is approaching and the importance of having the Huskers playing their best volleyball.
He was asked Tuesday whether anything less than running the table the rest of this season was acceptable.
“In my mind, no,” Cook said.
dougburger@ dailynebraskan.com
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