LINCOLN, Neb.—Nebraska is playing its best volleyball at the right time.
The Cornhuskers go into the NCAA tournament this weekend having not lost a set during their season-best seven-match winning streak.
They haven’t so much as had an ace served against them in five matches.
“When everybody is on,” coach John Cook said Tuesday, “we’re as good as anybody in the country.”
The first and second rounds will be played at 16 campus sites, including the Nebraska Coliseum. The Huskers (23-6) open their 28th national tournament on Friday against Big South champion Coastal Carolina (20-13).
The other Lincoln match pits Washington State (18-12) against Northern Iowa (30-2). Winners meet Saturday.
Most years, Nebraska’s advancement to regionals was a foregone conclusion. That’s not the case this time.
Nebraska is seeded No. 10 after having some uncharacteristic struggles. Four of the Huskers’ six losses came the first month of the season, they saw their record 90-match home win streak come to an end and they finished third in the Big 12 behind Texas and Iowa State.
The Huskers should have no problem with Coastal Carolina, but Washington State beat national power and No. 6-seeded Washington in four sets in October, and Northern Iowa has won 28 straight matches.
“This is probably one of the most challenging first and second rounds we’ve had at the Coliseum the last few years, so we have to make sure we’re geared up for that competition,” Cook said.
The team that survives the first two rounds in Lincoln will move to the regional in Omaha on Dec. 11-12. The Omaha winner goes to the final four in Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 17 and 19.
Nebraska made it to the semifinals last year, losing to eventual national champion Penn State.
Defensive specialist Kayla Banwarth said she and her teammates would be wise to just concern themselves with surviving this weekend.
“If you look ahead, that’s when it gets scary,” she said. “As leaders, we’re going to emphasize just relaxing and focusing on what you’re capable of doing. If you focus on the big picture, you’re going to be overwhelmed.”
