Cook: Houghtelling should be a key player for Husker volleyball in '04

John J. Mesh/McCook Daily Gazette The Husker Nation 2004 Tour made a stop in McCook Friday morning at the Coppermill Resturant and Lounge. Representing the University of Nebraska athletic department were (from left) Brandon Koch (pronounced Coe), a 6-foot-3, 301-pound junior starting offensive lineman from Gothenburg; Matt Davison, Pinnacle broadcaster and former Husker football player, who acted as master of ceremonies; Jay Norvell, football offensive coordinator; and John Cook, head volleyball coach.

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recovering from

knee surgery;

Nebraska Sports Information Nebraska volleyball player Christina Houghtelling, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Cambridge, is recovering from knee surgery to alleviate tendinitis. Husker coach John Cook said Houghtelling will move from middle hitter to outside hitter.

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Christina Houghtelling will be a key player for a young University of Nebraska volleyball team that has NCAA championship aspirations, said head coach John Cook.

Cook, who has posted a remarkable four-year record of 124 wins, nine losses (including a 28-5 mark in 2003), was in McCook Friday morning at the Coppermill Restaurant as part of the Husker Nation 2004 Tour.

More than 100 Nebraska fans from the area attended the event at the Coppermill.

Cook, football offensive coordinator Jay Norvell, Pinnacle analyst Matt Davison (a former Cornhusker football player) and starting offensive line candidate Brandon Koch (pronounced Coe) from Gothenburg were on the Husker Nation Tour swing that also took them to North Platte and two other stops.

Houghtelling, who was a three-sport standout at Cambridge, underwent knee surgery to alleviate tendinitis in her knee. She was one of four players who started as freshman for the Huskers last year.

Cook said Houghtelling is progressing.

"She will be ready to go in Agust," said Cook of the 6-foot-3 Houghtelling. "We plan to move her to outside hitter (from middle hitter) because it's less wear-and-tear on the knee.

"One of the things that irritated her knee were some of the things she had to do as a middle hitter."

Houghtelling was joined in the lineup by three other freshmen -- Omaha Gross' Dani Macuso, Freeman's Dani Busboom and Amanda McCormick, a libero from Muncie, Ind.

Cook's 2004 recruiting class includes Sarah Pavin, a 6-5 left-handed outside hitter from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada; Traci Stalls, a 6-3 middle hitter from Denver, who played two seasons at the National Developmental Center; and Sidney's Megan Smith.

Pavin selected Nebraska over Stanford, marking the first time the Huskers won a recruting battle against the Cardinal, said Cook.

Smith was a three-sports standout for the Sidney Red Raiders.

"You have to have the talent to play at this level (NCAA Division I), said Cook, who led the Huskers to a national title in 2000. "We're very young team. We only have one senior on the roster."

Cook and the Huskers will play one game close to the Southwest Nebraska area in order for fans here to watch the team and Houghtelling play.

Nebraska will play Creighton at North Platte Oct. 10.