Cover Story

Triple threat: Nebraska returns 2004 AVCA All-Americans Melissa Elmer (left), Jennifer Saleaumua (center) and Sarah Pavan.

Primed for Greatness

With all of its starters back, including three All-Americans, Nebraska is looking to take things to the next level in 2005.

By Mike Miazga

On paper last year, Nebraska was a dominant team.

Make that a very dominating team.

The Huskers led the nation in blocking (4.0 per game) and opponent's hitting percentage (.103) and got it done on the offensive end as well with six players who logged at least 2.25 kills per game. Nebraska went 30-2 and lost a grand total of 13 games the entire season.

One of those games, however, hung a black cloud over all of those achievements.

Nebraska, riding a 27-match winning streak at the time, lost a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to 2002 and 2003 NCAA champion USC in the regional final before a national cable television audience in Louisville. In a match that took nearly three hours to complete, USC, which dropped the opening game to the top-seeded Huskers, broke a 12-12 fifth-game tie by scoring the final three points of the match and punching a third straight national semifinal ticket.

And instead of heading west to Long Beach to compete for its first national title since 2000, Nebraska was left to ponder plenty of "what-ifs" during the off-season.

"It's indescribable," said Nebraska sophomore right side Sarah Pavan, the 2004 ASICS®/Volleyball Freshman of the Year. "Even now when I think about that match or if I'm reminded about it, it brings back bad memories. We were so confident and thought we could go all the way. Nobody understands how heartbreaking it was. We never want that to happen again."

Elmer led all Division I players in blocking in 2004, averaging 1.89 blocks per game.

"That was about as tough of a match as I have ever experienced," said Nebraska coach John Cook. "We gave them some points at the end. It was a great match. I think it served as great motivation for the players."

Cook's 2005 team very well could find itself playing deep into the postseason once again. The Huskers, the top-ranked team in the 2005 Molten/Volleyball Preseason Women's College Top 20 Poll, return all of their starters from last year and welcome a bumper crop of freshmen. Nebraska's 2005 recruiting class was ranked No. 3 in the country by Volleyball. The 2004 Nebraska recruiting class was ranked No. 1 by Volleyball.

"As always, the expectations are high at Nebraska," said Cook. "We are certainly as athletic and physical as anybody in the country. This group works extremely hard. I think they are pretty determined."

Nebraska's prowess on both sides of the net is fueled by a talent base that continues to grow.

For instance, Cook sees plenty of competition at the outside hitter and setter positions this season. Juniors Christina Houghtelling (2.90 kpg) and Dani Mancuso (2.77 kpg), along with All-Americans Pavan (4.54 kpg, .322 hitting on the right side) and senior Jennifer Saleaumua (3.09 kpg, 3.74 dpg) all return from last year, plus standout freshman Jordan Larson now figures into the mix.

At one point in the spring, Cook had no setters after returning two-year starter Dani Busboom (junior) was injured. Now, Busboom, Michigan State sophomore transfer Maggie Griffin and 17-year-old freshman phenom Rachel Holloway give Cook three bona fide options.

Saleuamua is a three-time all-Big 12 conference first-team selection.

"We have a lot of talent and depth," said Cook, who noted he may "buck the trend" this year and not play with a libero. "We will have heavy competition at several positions. Nobody can rest on past accomplishments."

Nebraska is also rock-solid in the middle with senior All-American Melissa Elmer (1.89 bpg, 2.91 kpg) and former national team player Tracy Stalls (1.65 bpg, 2.26 kpg) in tow. Stalls, a sophomore, is working her way back from off-season knee surgery.

Elmer, however, sees more than just talented players in Lincoln.

"You can look at talent—everyone has talent," said Elmer. "Dedication is a big part of this team. We were getting up every morning in the off-season and working our butts off. That's a big part of it. It's nice to see everybody with the same goal as everybody else. I think one of our biggest strengths is how this team plays together. The chemistry is very good. We go through everything together—the positives and the negatives."

Saleaumua sees the team as one big unit.

"We are like a family," said Saleaumua. "If you have two girls on a team that don't get along, that messes up the chemistry and that will carry over into playing. We have so much talent, but what makes us good is that chemistry we have with each other. That is what will lead us to bigger and better things."

But the thought of "bigger and better" and the long string of success the Huskers program has enjoyed also tends to ramp things up in the pressure department.

"There is pressure," said Elmer. "But we need to take that off our shoulders. We have to play the actual season before we play the postseason. We are a pretty determined group. We were a great team last year and we didn't lose one starter. We have three All-Americans and a great recruiting class and we've worked so hard. Everyone has the goal of being a national champion but there is only one national champion. We have everybody here to do it."

Pavan set a Nebraska freshman record with 481 kills in 2004. That total ranked 10th on the Nebraska All-Time single-season list.

Jumping Right In

Nebraska's Pavan made an immediate impact in 2004.

Absolutely nobody in the Nebraska camp was surprised by the monster year 6'5" sophomore right side Sarah Pavan had in 2004.

Pavan, regarded as the top recruit in the 2004 class, lived up to her billing by pounding home 481 kills (4.54 per game), while hitting at a .322 clip. Pavan was named the 2004 ASICS®/Volleyball Freshman of the Year and also made the ASICS®/Volleyball All-American first team.

In Nebraska's tough 3-2 regional final loss to USC, Pavan set a program NCAA postseason record with 35 kills.

"Sarah came in and gave to this team like I have never seen any freshman do before since I've been here," said Nebraska All-American middle blocker Melissa Elmer. "A lot was expected of her last year and she handled the pressure well. That says a lot about her."

"There was a lot of hype and expectation and Sarah backed it up," said Nebraska coach John Cook. "Sarah wants to be great every day. She loves this stuff."

Pavan, however, was looking for a different result than the individual honors she received.

"Obviously winning the national championship was the goal, but being an All-American is an alright alternative," she said. "But right after the season ended and we didn't win, I said what do we have to do to win next year? I wasn't even thinking about the other stuff."

Last year's experience is something Pavan wouldn't trade for the world.

"I want to get better," said Pavan. "Playing with the people we have on this team is only going to make me get better. I felt more pressure last year, but I gained lots of experience. Now I have been through a season and know what it's like. I like pressure. I like to fulfill what is expected of me by my coaches and teammates."