Thrilling start to volleyball season
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Had this been one of those old-time movie serials, Nebraska's volleyball team would have been tied to the train tracks with the locomotive fast approaching. How were the Huskers going to get out of this bind?
Defending national champion UCLA, which started this season ranked No. 1, had rallied after being down two sets to none. The Bruins had begun to find some rhythm with their freshman setter, and they led the deciding fifth set, 9-5.
Nebraska was six points from what would have been an emotionally tough loss. The 4,186 fans -- yet another sellout at NU Coliseum -- were all still hoping for a chance to go into full-out vocal eruption mode and help the Huskers untie the knots and drag themselves to victorious safety.
And then ... that's exactly what happened. The old building got louder and louder ... Nebraska started to climb back ... UCLA looked like it might still hold on ... Nebraska tied it ... then the Bruins were just two points away ... then Nebraska surged ahead and won 15-13, as Big Red love abounded, reverberating off the brick walls.
Wow, this kind of drama in August? Volleyball's final four is three months away. Was there really that much on the line?
