By Mike Miazga | Photos by Alyssa Schukar

Former Nebraska women’s player Dani Mancuso, a member of the Huskers’ 2006 NCAA title team, is biased.

She even admits it.

But Mancuso says her affinity for her sister Gina’s volleyball skills goes way beyond just simple family bragging.

"I think very highly of my sister not just because she’s my sister, but because she is a great player," said Dani Mancuso, who coached the freshman team this past season at Papillion-La Vista High School and will return to Indonesia this coming season to play professionally for the second year in a row. "She has the all-around talent. She’s great in some things and good in all things. She’s very skilled and very finely-tuned. She’s smart."

Gina Mancuso’s varied talents played a big role in Papillion (Neb.)-La Vista (a suburb of Omaha) repeating as state champions in 2008.

In addition to recently being named the Gatorade girls high school national player of the year, Mancuso’s final performance at Papillion-La Vista has also earned her the honor of being named the 2008 Mizuno/Volleyball Girls High School Player of the Year. She joins a recent elite list of award-winners that includes Kanani Danielson (Hawaii), Alix Klineman (Stanford), Megan Hodge (Penn State) and Cynthia Barboza (Stanford).

"She is all-around good at everything," said Papillion-La Vista senior setter Chelsey Seekin, who is headed to Wichita State next season. "She made it a billion times easier for me. If she makes an error, you know she won’t do it again. You can go to her again."

Seekin enjoyed the way Mancuso, an outside hitter, reacted to being dug.

"It’s funny. She gets mad when people dig her," said Seekin. "But she would just swing harder or go to a totally different shot the next time."

"She’ll put it somewhere else next time where someone isn’t," said Papillion-La Vista coach J.J. Toczek.

Papillion-La Vista finished the year 41-1. Most of those 41 wins were not of the nail-biting variety. And Mancuso had something to do with that.

"We didn’t rally that much," said Toczek. "Almost every time she hit the ball she basically terminated. She really helped us out. She was our basic go-to person."

Seekin respects the 6’ Mancuso for more than just the number of kills she puts on the board.

"She really shined through as a leader this year," said Seekin. "She was a good leader who set a good example for everyone to follow. She’s not selfish. It’s not all about her getting the pride. She is modest about it. She’s probably the best teammate I’ve ever had and I’ve played volleyball a long time. I love playing with her."

Leadership is a trait Mancuso didn’t shy away from as a senior.

"It’s your responsibility if you are going to be a captain," said Mancuso, who is ranked eighth academically in the Papillion-La Vista senior class. "It’s something I’ve had to work on. This year I feel like I’ve been a positive role model slash leader. That’s where I’ve most improved."

Mancuso’s offensive numbers speak for themselves (second all-time in recorded state history in career kills with 2,371, which rates behind only fellow Papillion-La Vista grad Kyla Roehrig who finished her career at Minnesota this past season. Mancuso led the state in kills each of her four seasons).

But this three-sport athlete (she also competes in basketball and track) gets equally ramped up about defense.

"I just love being able to dig someone else’s ball," said Mancuso, who benefited from a stint on the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team in 2008. "It’s like, ‘Yeah. What now?’ I love it. Nothing hits the floor."

Having her sister around this season was a treat for Mancuso.

"She’s a really good person to listen to," said Mancuso, who is also the Nebraska Class A state record-holder in career digs with 1,320. "I love her. I like getting advice from her on some things. She’s done some things in her career that makes me want to do the same or do better. She’s had a big influence on me."

Mancuso, who plays club for Nebraska Juniors, is looking forward to putting on the red and white next season in Lincoln. She actually got

a taste during this year’s state championship, which which was played at the NU Coliseum.

"Being able to go and play there, I got so excited," said Mancuso, the youngest of six children (her dad was a quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers). "I got goose bumps. Winning a state championship again was a dream-come true. All of the success we’ve had is an amazing feeling. All the hard work has paid off. We accomplished our goals and our dreams. You are always going to remember the times you had with your teammates."

Dani Mancuso says she gets asked the same "Is Gina better than Dani" question with frequency.

"I’m not embarrassed to say she’s better than me or can be better than me," said Dani Mancuso. "I want the best for her. I always tell people she is one of my favorite people in life, not because she’s my sister. She’s a great person not just the way she is as an athlete, but the way she carries herself. She’s very humble."

Toczek has little doubt Mancuso will make an impact at the next level.

"She has all the right skills for wherever they need her to go," said Toczek. "She’s the complete package. She’s the real deal."