Husker Volleyball: a look back & a look forward

The Husker Volleyball season ended in Seattle, Washington with a heartbreaking loss in the Elite 8 to BYU. I think it’s clear BYU is a Cinderella story. But give credit where credit is due, the Huskers deserve some recognition as well. We are proud of our ladies as they played their hearts out all season long. The team all stepped up when any one player was struggling, and they lived and died as a team. Multiple players stood out this season, a young team with a very tough schedule.

Let’s talk SUCCESS: This was a memorable season where a team, led by only one senior, surprised many by advancing to the Elite 8 after defeating a strong Washington team on their home court. This was a fun yet exhausting season for Husker fans and I can’t imagine what it was like for the players.

Volleyball Huskers warm up for the game (Photo by Elaine Menzel)

Here’s how it happened for our beloved Huskers for the 2014 season. Nebraska’s volleyball season began in March with Sand Volleyball. They began the season ranked 8^th in the nation, but in the end none of Nebraska’s duos made it to the final championship tournament and the team finished outside of the top 10. In team scoring the Huskers finished with three wins and two loses. Although none of the Husker duo’s stood out, they all gained valuable experience leading to the Husker Volleyball season. Another plus for the girls is when we were all suffering the bitter cold of Nebraska’s winter, the girls were enjoying warm temperatures in Hawaii and Arizona. I’m sure they enjoyed that!

Nebraska’s spring season began and the Huskers went undefeated in April, sweeping both Iowa State and Creighton. In June, they headed to Japan and China to play against international competition for 19 days, earning even more valuable experience. And after summer conditioning, the Huskers opened practice for the 2014 season on August 8, followed by the annual Red/White scrimmage with the white team defeating the red, 3 games to 1.

Nebraska opened the season ranked 7^th in the country only to lose its first game at the remodeled Devaney Center to 13^th ranked Florida State and then dropped their second game to #3 Stanford at home. It had a rocky start but Nebraska would fight back to finish the season 23-10 overall, and ranked 4^th after finishing14-6 in the Big Ten.

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Moving forward, we say good-bye to Setter Mary Pollmiller, who ended the season with 1,211 assists, 215 digs, 123 kills, 20 service aces, and 12 blocks. Pollmiller finished 4^th among current division one setters with 5,230 carrier assists. Pollmiller earned honorable mention for the AVCA All American and all Big Ten Teams as well as earning Academic All American honors. Check out all of Nebraska’s Academic All Americans here.

Kadie Rolfzen led the team in kills this season with 405 and a hitting percentage of .244. She also earned third team AVCA All American status for the second season in a row, as well as being an Academic All American. Kelsey Fien is second in team kills and also received AVCA All American Honorable Mention. Academic All American Justine Wong-Orantes led the team in digs with 454, Meghan Haggerty led the team in blocks with 18, and Annika Albrecht led the team with service aces with 36. These ladies are ALL coming back!

N (Photo Credit Kelli Anne)

As mentioned in the Husker update post, Husker Middle Blocker signee Mikaela Foecke was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year as well as being a finalist for the Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year award that will be announced at the ESPN ESPY Awards in July. This Husker recurit will be a welcome addition to the Huskers next season.

So as 2014 closes out we say goodbye to the Husker Volleyball team for another season. We will next see the Huskers when Sand Volleyball starts up in March, there will probably be another Asia Trip, and then the 2015 season will begin. Until then, get some rest girls, you deserve it and GO BIG RED!