[Husker] National Championship

[RMiller]

  I don't see NU play that often in volleyball, but I did get see the game Thursday as well as last year's national championship game. For those watching the game on ESPN2, you may recall how it was mentioned Cook created 9 principles for the team to follow this year. It was an action based upon losing last year. It made for entertaining commentary. Don't be fooled however as the real reason they are doing better this year is because of the changes Merlin highlighted below.
   
    Last year's defense was average, good enough to be a competitor in the B12 and the initial few rounds in the playoffs. Their setting was below average, probably not even good enough to make the playoffs. For a #1 ranked team, it was quite frankly unacceptable. I thought Griffin was solid, but was hampered by a 6-2. Busboom is far more suitable as a libero and does an excellent job at it. The reason NU got so far last year was because they had an awesome block and they pounded the panels off the ball. This year they are weaker in both areas this year, but make up for it based upon defense and setting. Holloway has done an outstanding job as a freshman. The team is more well rounded and I believe able to overcome a tough stretch.
   
    I'm not Cook and I have no access whatsoever to the internals of the volleyball team, but from where I sit, if they had run a 5-1 with Griffin as setter and Busboom as libero last year, we'd be talking about a repeat this year.
   
  Roy Miller
  

Merlin Green <mgreen at nebraska.edu> wrote:
  Holloway took over the setter position in the 5-1 offense replacing Busboom
& Griffin from last years 6-2. Busboom moved to libero, where she was
named co-libero of the year in the Big-12 & Griffin moved mainly to a
support role. Holloway has done an outstanding job as setter, especially
for a freshman.