Cornhuskers triumph at 'home' in McCook

Monday, April 22, 2019
Many McCook and area fans’ eyes were on the Graff Events Center floor Saturday afternoon where NCAA 2018 tournament finalist Nebraska played its annual spring match against Colorado State Univeristy. Setter Nicklin Hames sends the potential in range of potential top Husker hitters Jordan Stivrins (26) and Jazz Sweet.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — As the Nebraska bus rolled into town Friday night, was this somewhere the Huskers had never been before or new old friends greeting them home?

Clearly, the later observation was true.

All-American Lauren Stivins and top hitter Jazz Sweet suddenly felt like good friends were waiting or them following a long spring trip.

“Ther wasn’t a lot out here. But what I will remember most?” Sweet said Saturday afternoon. “The fans. As soon as we got here, people were honking and waving. I’m not sure we expected anything quite like this.”

The Huskers soon got used to it, just as they’ve adapted smoothly whether it’s an exhibition or national championship match.

They clearly felt right at home in McCook’s Graff Events Center. Players laughed and happily ran into the arena where a “full house” of more than 1,700 fans had been waiting really for months.

Nobody seemed to leave disappointed — not even a Colorado State University team that pushed Big Red through four sets.

The mighty Cornhuskers won their first match since last December’s national finals thriller against No. 1 Stanford with three decisive wins by 25-13, 25-17 and 25-12 scores.

However, the “visiting” Colorado State fans and even some wearing red cheered a 25-23 set three Rams victory.

Former McCook native and North Platte High grad Olivia Nicholson served the winning point to help CSU avoid a potential 3-0 sweep.

The Rams showed why they also qualified for an NCAA tournament spot in 2018.

“It felt like a Big Ten (Conference) match,” Nebraska four-time national champion coach John Cook confirmed.

Nebraska quickly retained control with Sweet finishing her team-high 17 kills.

“Jazz had a fire under her today,” Cook observed. “She wants to be an All-American, so she’s pretty motivated. Playing like she did today will get her going in the right direction.”

Yet the Huskers also showed why they’re always aiming at a strong future.

On Saturday, freshman Madi Kubik and new libero Kenzie Knuckles stepped in like they’ve played many big NCAA tourney matches.

Kubik served four aces and drilled 15 kills.

Knuckles delivered four assists but mainly led the NU defense that rarely allowed talented CSU to take a lead beyond that third-set victory.

Cook took some timeouts following a few mistakes which occur during any spring exhibition match.

He seemed pleased overall — especially about the experience of his own first visit to McCook.

“It’s a nice town and you have beautiful weather. I’m sure that’s true all the time here,” he said as temperatures outside nearly hit 90 degrees on Saturday.

“It’s hard to describe because where else does this happen?” he added.

“No other sports are traveling around the state like this. And this is one of the best trips we’ve had.”

The McCook crowd was reportedly larger than three Nebraska played in front of during last fall’s regular season run to another Final 4.

Nebraska players continued showing appreciation and All-American class following the match that capped a busy 24-hour stretch.

They talked to media from Omaha, Lincoln, North Platte and even the McCook Gazette.

Yet the Huskers remained much longer to autograph all sorts of items in MCC’s auxiliary gymnasium. Fans were still mingling with their favorite Huskers past 5 p.m.

“As someone not from Nebraska, it’s cool how all you appreciated and support volleyball,” Stivrins concluded. “We felt like queens as soon as we stepped off the bus.”

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