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Post by nu5ncbigred on Dec 17, 2017 1:15:49 GMT -5
Nebraska turns in a masterpiece for fifth NCAA volleyball title
BRENT C. WAGNER Lincoln Journal Star 4 min ago (2)
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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John Cook (top) and the Huskers celebrate their NCAA volleyball championship at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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The Huskers celebrate in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
TED KIRK, Journal Star
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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Nebraska outside hitter Annika Albrecht (from left) and middle blocker Lauren Stivrins react to a first-set kill against Florida in the NCAA final Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Husker Extra Saturday
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NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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Nebraska outside hitter Mikaela Foecke (2) attacks Florida middle blocker Rachael Kramer (5) and outside hitter Shaïnah Joseph (15) in the first set of the NCAA volleyball national championship Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — So many times in sports a team comes up short.
This team, this year, did not.
Five months ago when the season began, coach John Cook laid out a plan for the Nebraska volleyball team. We want to be good early in the season, great once the conference season begins, and unstoppable in the NCAA Tournament, Cook said. And he really believed they could do so, even when others did not.
He was right. Over the past eight weeks, and 19 matches, no team could stop Nebraska. They were unstoppable, and are now national champions again.
Fifth-ranked Nebraska turned in one more masterpiece in a season full of them, defeating Florida 25-22, 25-17, 18-25, 25-16 on Saturday in front of a record crowd of 18,516 at the Sprint Center, most of them fans of these Huskers.
This is the program’s fifth national championship, but never have they come this close together. That’s two NCAA titles in three years. Remarkable.
In the NCAA Tournament, Nebraska won 18 sets, and lost just four.
Nebraska won Saturday by getting a dominating performance from junior outside hitter Mikaela Foecke, who just keeps delivering monster matches in the tournament. She had a match-high 20 kills, including the final kill of all three sets the Huskers won.
So, what it’s like when you actually achieve unstoppable?
“It’s an unbelivable feeling,” said Cook as the players cut down the nets. “It’s a feeling every team in sports is chasing is to be No. 1 and win a national championship.”
“It’s insane,” junior libero Kenzie Maloney said. “You talk about it for so long, and when it all adds up and you actually accomplished what you wanted, and your goals, it’s an unreal feeling.”
“We’re the only team that got to end the season like this,” said senior setter Kelly Hunter. “We’re so lucky but we’ve worked for this, so it’s a little more than luck. I just love this team. I’ve said it a million times. We have so much love for each other, and I don’t want to leave this team.”
Most coaches would love to rank their national championships. Cook can.
“We’ve done this a couple of times, but this one is the most amazing, unbelivable for me because of all we had to overcome with what we graduated, and a new staff and all of that,” said Cook, the four-time national champion coach whose plan was to coach high school football in California. “It’s been the best ride.”
Lauren Stivrins added nine kills for the Huskers. Briana Holman had seven kills and six blocks. Annika Albrecht had seven kills and 11 digs. Hunter had six kills, 37 assists, two ace serves and eight digs.
Nebraska dominated for stretches of the match. Those included a 7-0 run in the first set, and a 4-0 run to start the fourth set, a quick blow to a Florida team that had some life.
Foecke’s 20 kills on .250 hitting, including four in the deciding fourth set.
“She willed us in game four,” Cook said. “She got some huge kills. She was struggling a little in this match, for her. And she just turns it on when we need it”
Foecke and Hunter are the co-MVP of the Final Four.
In the fourth set Nebraska got out to a 4-0 lead. Then Hunter was brilliant again, serving a 4-0 run that was part of a 5-0 run that put the Huskers up 9-1. Florida got its deficit to 14-10, but Foecke had another kill, and then Albrecht one on a back-row attack for an 18-11 lead.
Jazz Sweet didn’t have a great match, but she had a great kill for a 20-13 lead that got a fist pump from Cook on the bench. Florida called a timeout, and the Husker fans stood and cheered for most of it. A championship was five points away.
Stivrins got two of them on back-to-back rallies for a 23-15 lead. Hunter scored on a tip to the back corner to make it 24-15. Florida got one more point. But on national championship point, Foecke got one final kill, hitting a ball off the blocker’s hands that sailed off the edge of the court.
Just one final kill in a match full of them.
“This is two times she’s been MVP of the Final Four, so what does that say?” Cook said. “She’s an unbelievable competitor.”
Nebraska lost its first two matches of the season, albeit with an asterisk. Hunter did not play in those matches due to injury. The Huskers won 32 of 34 matches with her back confidently setting each of the Huskers’ hitters, serving tough and putting down game-winning kills, as she did against Penn State in the national semifinals
Few, if any, athlete in a women’s sport at Nebraska can match the accomplishments of Hunter. As a starter, she led the Huskers to two national championships and is a first-team All-American. She went 16-1 in the NCAA Tournament as the starter.
“It’s been a really special couple of years,” Hunter said. “We got to reinvent the culture of Nebraska volleyball. It’s just been so great to see how I’ve developed and the players around me have developed and how Coach Cook has developed and it’s been a really fun five years I’ve had at Nebraska.
Nebraska was never ranked better than fourth this season. One month into the season, after a Saturday afternoon loss against Northern Iowa, the Huskers dropped to No. 14. ]
Now they’re national champions.
“We had our ups and downs, but it didn’t matter, because we stayed together as a group and we knew that we could do this,” Maloney said.
Photos: Nebraska completes the drive for NCAA volleyball title No. 5
The No. 5 Huskers took down the No. 3 Gators 25-22, 25-17, 18-25, 25-16 for all the NCAA volleyball marbles on Saturday night at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Photos by the Journal Star staff.
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NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRK, Journal Star
The Huskers celebrate in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRK, Journal Star
Nebraska middle blocker Lauren Stivrins (26) watches her kill still past Florida middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan (1) and middle blocker Darrielle King (2) in the first set in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska middle blocker Briana Holman (13) and Florida middle blocker Rachael Kramer (5) battle at the net in the first set in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRK, Journal Star
Nebraska outside hitter Annika Albrecht (17) gets a first set kill on Florida defensive specialist Caroline Knop (6) in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska middle blocker Lauren Stivrins (26) reacts to a first set kill in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRK, Journal Star
Nebraska outside hitter Mikaela Foecke (2) and Florida setter Allie Monserez (22) battle at the net in the first set in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Husker fans make their feelings known in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Nebraska middle blocker Lauren Stivrins (26) blocks the attack of Florida middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan (1) in first set action in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Nebraska outside hitter Mikaela Foecke (2) get the first set kill on Florida setter Allie Monserez (22) in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska libero/defensive specialist Sydney Townsend (7) serves in second set action in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska head coach John Cook shouts instructions to the Huskers in the first set in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRK, Journal Star
Florida middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan (1) watches a first set kill by Nebraska outside hitter Mikaela Foecke (2) in the first set in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska libero/defensive specialist Kenzie Maloney (11) serves in second set action in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Florida middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan (1) and Florida setter Cheyenne Huskey (11) defend against the attack of Nebraska outside hitter Annika Albrecht (17) in the third set in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRK, Journal Star
Nebraska outside hitter Mikaela Foecke (2) and Nebraska middle blocker Briana Holman (13) score on a double block of Florida outside hitter Mia Sokolowski (9) attack in first set action in the NCAA championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska middle blocker Lauren Stivrins (26) attacks the defense of Florida middle blocker Rachael Kramer (5) and setter Cheyenne Huskey (11) in the third set in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRK Journal Star
Nebraska setter Kelly Hunter (3) and Nebraska middle blocker Briana Holman (13) block the attack of Florida outside hitter Carli Snyder (4) in the first set in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRK, Journal Star
The Huskers celebrate their four-set victory against Florida in the NCAA championship match at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRK, Journal Star
The Huskers celebrate in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRK, Journal Star
Nebraska outside hitter Mikaela Foecke (2) get the kill for match point on Florida outside hitter Shaïnah Joseph (15) and middle blocker Rachael Kramer (5) in the fourth seat in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska libero/defensive specialist Sydney Townsend (7) and middle blocker Briana Holman (13) celebrate a second set kill in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Florida setter Cheyenne Huskey (11) battles Nebraska middle blocker Lauren Stivrins (26) and outside hitter Annika Albrecht (17) in the second set in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Nebraska outside hitter Mikaela Foecke (2) is introduced before the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska setter Kelly Hunter (3) put the ball up in second set action in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Nebraska outside hitter Mikaela Foecke (2) attacks Florida middle blocker Rachael Kramer (5) and outside hitter Shaïnah Joseph (15) in the first set of the NCAA volleyball national championship Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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TED KIRKm Journal Star
Nebraska setter Kelly Hunter (3) and middle blocker Lauren Stivrins (26) score on a double block in the first set against Florida in the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO, on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
NCAA Volleyball Final, Nebraska vs. Florida, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska outside hitter Annika Albrecht (from left) and middle blocker Lauren Stivrins react to a first-set kill against Florida in the NCAA final Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Nebraska Pep Rally, 12/16/17
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GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Nebraska middle blocker Lauren Stivrins (26) high fives fans as the Huskers arrive for the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
Nebraska Pep Rally, 12/16/17
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GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Husker fans gather as the team bus arrives for the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
Nebraska Pep Rally, 12/16/17
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GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
The Huskers make they way through the crowd of fans greeting them for the NCAA volleyball national championship final at the Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.
Nebraska Pep Rally, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska fans gather at Kansas City Live for a pep rally Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at across from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Nebraska Pep Rally, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska middle blocker Lauren Stivrins hugs Turner Hagen, 2, as she enters the Sprint Center on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, where the Huskers take on Florida for the 2017 NCAA Volleyball Championship title.
Nebraska Pep Rally, 12/16/17
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KAYLA WOLF, Journal Star
Nebraska fans gather at Kansas City Live for a pep rally before the Husker Volleyball team takes on the Florida Gators for the 2017 NCAA Volleyball Championship title Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. Championship celebration
All Husker fans are invited to celebrate the national championship and welcome the Nebraska volleyball team back to Lincoln with a special event Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at the Devaney Sports Center.
Doors open at 11 a.m., attendance and parking (available in Lot 58) are both free.
NO. 5 NEBRASKA;25;25;18;25;3
NO. 3 FLORIDA;22;17;25;16;1
Nebraska's titles
2017 (32-4): def. Florida 3-1 in Kansas City, Missouri
2015 (32-4): def. Texas 3-0 in Omaha
2006 (33-1): def. Stanford 3-1 in Omaha
2000 (34-0): def. Wisconsin 3-2 in Richmond, Virginia
1995 (32-1): def. Texas 3-1 in Amherst, Massachusetts
MORE INFORMATION
+2Nebraska volleyball program is a source of pride for the state
Nebraska volleyball program is a source of pride for the state
40-year volleyball odyssey for Hunter family reaches milestone in KC
Hunter is one of Huskers' all-time greats with a chance for one more championship
Box: Nebraska 3, Florida 1 (PDF)
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