Lauren Cook is leaving UCLA

Im gonna hold my breathe on this one. I'd like to believe Coach Cook can handle all the drama, talk, and favoritism nonsense that is bound to come out of this sort of situation, but ya never know. She's obviously a great talent, but Im not sure she really provides much more than Andersen is now, and isnt there some monster setter recruit coming in?

I can also see that its just a father doing whats best for his daughter...but sometimes the best intentions dont always have the best results.

 
Drowning_in_the_Sea_of_Red said:
Two other UCLA players, most notably second team All-American Amanda Gil, are rumored to have left the team.
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Makes me wonder a bit...

But I would gladly accept Lauren decision to come home.
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Yeah, me too. Andy Banachowski runs a great program by all accounts. It's hard to believe he would have trouble like this. Very strange.

VERY strange.

EDIT - Just wondering if this might mean Andy Banachowski is thinking of retiring? He's been at it over 40 years now.

 
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OK, the Lauren Cook/Amanda Gil/Stephanie Nucci rumor (no sense recycling the other parts of it) has been floating around for a few days, and I didn't want to post anything, but now that it's official...welcome back to Lincoln, Lauren!

I don't think the article is correct in saying that she is eligible to play next season even if UCLA does not grant a release. If that's true or if Andy grants the release (which I suspect he would anyway) then the 6-2 offense Cook is wanting to run all of a sudden looks very possible. Broekhuis will be able to play RS and not take on a setter role. On paper next season's roster looks killer, the chemistry will be the question especially early in the season. It would be nice to see the Huskers have a better attack out of the back row even if a 6-2 is utilized, maybe Morgan will bring that to the team.

Does make things interesting with the setter commits Nebraska has (Kelsay coming in next season, Sieckmann committed for 2012).

 
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I want to add that if this unfolded like I heard it did, Lauren and her dad handled this in a very classy manner. No surprise there.

Also, the release has supposedly been granted which will indeed allow her to play next season.

 
Husker Runner said:
I want to add that if this unfolded like I heard it did, Lauren and her dad handled this in a very classy manner. No surprise there.

Also, the release has supposedly been granted which will indeed allow her to play next season.
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Assuming they do release her from her scholly, what is the likelihood that she'll redshirt next season? I have to assume Anderson will be the starter since it's her Sr. year.

 
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I honestly was just waiting for this to happen. I thought that she would come home.

Can you imagine.....Mancuso (gatorade player of year), Werth, Cook.......probably 3 of the top 5 players from the HS class of 2008 on all the same team, combined with our other youth. Put them in the program that Cook runs and WATCH OUT !!!!!! Things will continue to be great in the volleyball program.

Welcome home Lauren !!!!!

 
mmmtodd said:
Im gonna hold my breathe on this one. I'd like to believe Coach Cook can handle all the drama, talk, and favoritism nonsense that is bound to come out of this sort of situation, but ya never know. She's obviously a great talent, but Im not sure she really provides much more than Andersen is now, and isnt there some monster setter recruit coming in?

I can also see that its just a father doing whats best for his daughter...but sometimes the best intentions dont always have the best results.
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If she doesn't get her release she will have to sit out the 2010 year. With Anderson being a senior next year, this works really well in NU's future.

I'm curious what Kristen Kelsay thinks of this.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100106/BIGR...69788/-1/bigred

 
Vince from ShamWOW said:
mmmtodd said:
Im gonna hold my breathe on this one. I'd like to believe Coach Cook can handle all the drama, talk, and favoritism nonsense that is bound to come out of this sort of situation, but ya never know. She's obviously a great talent, but Im not sure she really provides much more than Andersen is now, and isnt there some monster setter recruit coming in?

I can also see that its just a father doing whats best for his daughter...but sometimes the best intentions dont always have the best results.
Click to expand...
If she doesn't get her release she will have to sit out the 2010 year. With Anderson being a senior next year, this works really well in NU's future.

I'm curious what Kristen Kelsay thinks of this.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100106/BIGR...69788/-1/bigred
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Kelsay has supposedly been told that nothing has changed with the commitment, so it doesn't sound like she will get "Minch-ed". LOL. She will have to come in and compete just like she would have anyway. Actually, she could redshirt next year and then be part of a 6-2 with Cook in 2011, so it may not work out too badly for her. She still may decide to look elsewhere anyway.

I think the most likely scenario for next season is to see Coach Cook run a 6-2 with Anderson and Cook, with an outside chance of Cook redshirting and Broekhuis setting from the back row in a 6-2 with Anderson. With such depth at setter I don't think they'll run a 5-1. Coach Cook is really wanting to implement a 6-2 and said after last season that he felt the 5-1 relied too much on perfect execution.

A lot will probably depend on how Morgan Broekhuis develops before the season starts. If I had to predict now (and I wouldn't put any money on it), I would say the lineup will look like this:

S1 Anderson

S2 Cook

MB1 Delano

MB2 Thramer

OH1 Mueller

OH2 Werth

OPP/RS Broekhuis/Licht

L Banwarth

I expect that with opposing blockers having to defend against the 6-2, it will take some focus off of Mueller and she will return to the offensive form from her sophomore season. The biggest questions IMHO:

1. Just how good is Broekhuis? There are high expectations for her; will she deliver at the next level?

2. Will Thramer be an effective MB? Word is that Coach Cook was really impressed with her in practice this season and was tempted to pull her redshirt a couple of times.

3. Will the team chemistry work? This may be the biggest question of all. It will be an interesting dynamic having the coach's daughter on the team.

The trip to China will help the team immensely. If the questions get answered positively, 2010 could be a great year for Nebraska volleyball. Penn State and Texas will both be in a reloading mode and will probably not be as dominant as they were this season.

 
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Its almost noon on Monday and I haven't heard anything about Lauren Cook....is there an announcement planned for the day? Anyone seen her walking across campus? Any statements to be issued by the athletic department?

 
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