2010 Season Preview

[Husker Runner]

2009 record: 26-7

Final ranking last season: #5 (lost to Texas in Elite Eight match)

2010 preseason ranking: #2

Key matches: Florida (8/29/2010 in Omaha), Dayton (9/9/2010...former Husker Jessica Yanz returns to the Coliseum with the Flyers), Illinois (9/11/2010 in Lincoln), Iowa State (9/15/2010 in Ames), Texas (10/2/2010 in Lincoln and 10/27/2010 in Austin)

 

Not only do the Huskers return almost their full starting lineup from their #5 team from last year (losing only middle blocker Kori Cooper), they acquired setter Lauren Cook, the National Freshman of the Year last season for UCLA (and coach John Cook's daughter), and added incoming freshman right side hitter Morgan Broekhuis, one of the top recruits in the nation. The team has already had time to gel, too, with a summer trip to China playing against international competition. Previous trips to China in 2000 and 2006 were followed with national championships by those Nebraska teams, so it's easy to see why expectations are running very high in Lincoln this year.

 

Coach John Cook is committed to running a 6-2 offense this season, using All-American Sydney Anderson and transfer Lauren Cook to each set out of the back row. If the team runs the 6-2 the same way they did in China, look for the setters to rotate with the right side hitters, with Anderson setting for Broekhuis and Cook setting for Lindsey Licht. I expect we'll see a good amount of back setting to get more production out of the right side, especially if Morgan adjusts quickly to the speed of the college game. This will take some of the pressure off the outside hitters, where Gina Mancuso, Tara Mueller, and Hannah Werth compete for playing time.

 

SETTER

With proven setters in Anderson and Cook, I think the only question here is how much these two buy in to the 6-2 system. Sharing time will mean neither player ends up with "All-American" stats. Brigette Root is a fine setter, too, and if one of the other setters is lost to injury, rather than immediately switching to a 5-1, the team may look to Root to continue the 6-2. I'm betting that Sydney and Lauren will put aside their egos and run the 6-2 at a high level.

Husker Runner's preseason grade: A

 

OUTSIDE HITTER

Mancuso, Mueller, and Werth will battle at this position and all should get a decent amount of playing time, especially early in the season. Mancuso was relegated mainly to a back row role in her freshman year, but I think we will see Mancuso and Werth both getting starts in the preseason. Werth has ongoing issues with plantar fasciitis but hopefully that won't be a factor. Mueller has shown signs of returning to her form from two seasons ago.

Husker Runner's preseason grade: A-

 

RIGHT SIDE HITTER

I think Lindsey Licht is poised to have the best season of her career. Broekhuis comes in with borderline unrealistic expectations IMHO, with frequent references to Sarah Pavan. Morgan may very well turn out to be a superstar, but it's a lot to put on a freshman. She will feel the pressure in front of sold-out Coliseum crowds; how she responds to that is the biggest question at this position. The right side will be the key for this offense, and with a true freshman here, I hesitate to grade it too high without a better look.

Husker Runner's preseason grade: B+

 

MIDDLE BLOCKER

Brooke Delano should have the MB1 spot locked up. Allison McNeal has improved quite a bit from last year so expect to see her and Jordan Wilberger share playing time in the preseason as they battle for a starting role.

Husker Runner's preseason grade: B+

 

LIBERO

Kayla Banwarth. Do I need to say more? We'll see Megan Pendergast as a serving specialist, and Pendergast and Hubl will fight for the backup (and future) libero role, but this season belongs to Kayla.

Husker Runner's preseason grade: A

 

With Destinee Hooker gone from Texas, this Nebraska team is the favorite to win the Big 12. There is no clearly dominant team in college volleyball this year--Penn State may see a small dropoff after losing key players to graduation and injury--and Nebraska could arguably enter the season as the favorite to win the national championship, especially considering that the Final Four will be in nearby Kansas City which may give the Huskers a home crowd advantage. I am predicting the Chinese magic to continue, and after a few problems early in the season as they break in a new offense and starting roles get defined, Nebraska will be clicking on all cylinders and end the season with a victory over Stanford in the national championship match on December 18th.