LINCOLN, Neb.—Nebraska opens the NCAA volleyball tournament Friday needing four wins to return to Omaha, where the Cornhuskers won the national championship in 2006.
The Huskers, the No. 4 national seeds, are hosts for first- and second-round matches. They play Liberty at 7 p.m., after UAB and Missouri State square off. Friday’s winners meet Saturday at 5 p.m.
The team that emerges from Lincoln heads to the Seattle Regional next week. Regional winners move on to Omaha’s Qwest Center for the national semifinals Dec. 18. The final is Dec. 20.
Nebraska coach John Cook said his team has stared down adversity in the regular season and been toughened by it.
“This team has found a whole other level of resiliency,” he said. “We have had our share of overcoming challenges.”
The Huskers lost middle blocker Kori Cooper to a season-ending knee injury in a Nov. 19 loss at Texas. Before that, they gutted out a September road win at nationally ranked Kansas State with two starters, defensive specialist Kayla Banwarth and outside hitter Tara Mueller, benched for disciplinary reasons.
Cook said the players have formed a strong bond and truly enjoy playing with each other.
“And that’s been a strength of our team,” he said.
The Huskers learned a hard lesson last year when, with four All-Americans in the lineup, they were knocked out of the tournament in regionals. There was too much emphasis on individual play rather than team play, he said.
“Sometimes the most talented team doesn’t win,” he said.
The Huskers are the top defensive team in the Big 12 for the ninth straight season, with opponents hitting a meager .144 against them. They’re second in blocks and service aces and fifth in digs.
“If you serve tough, it’s very difficult to prepare for. If you dig their best shots, what else can they do? If you block them, what else can they do?” Cook said. “Some nights your hitters are going to be off, but you can still play defense.”
Liberty (25-8) is seeking its first win in an NCAA tournament match. The Lady Flames are 0-4 in four previous tournament appearances (1997, 1999, 2001 and 2007) and won a set for the first time last season, against California.
Liberty is led by the Big South player of the year in setter Kallie Corbin and second-team all-conference picks in middle blocker Chelaine McCarty and outside hitter Nicki Scripko.
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