Compliments from Cook dinner as Huskers put together for semis battle with Pitt

By Joey Johnston for VolleyballMag.com

TAMPA — Nebraska’s Massive Pink contingent has landed on the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. Saying the Huskers journey properly is like saying the Gulf of Mexico sunsets are form of fairly.

The fandemonium stays an unimaginable sight.

Or is that … inc-RED-ible?

However regardless that the bandwagon has lengthy been stuffed to the brim and a few paint this weekend as a Nebraska coronation, it’s truly a fierce competitors.

Nobody is aware of that higher than Nebraska coach John Cook dinner, who will lead his top-ranked Huskers (32-1) into Thursday night time’s nationwide semifinal in opposition to the Pittsburgh Panthers (29-4).

That’s why Cook dinner had his gamers locked-in and ready Wednesday morning as they took the court docket for a public apply that included a number of hundred (you guessed it) red-clad onlookers.

Cook dinner informed his gamers it was the perfect pre-final 4 apply he had seen from his program.

“There’s a lot happening right here and it has gotten extra (busy) yearly,’’ Cook dinner stated. “It’s arduous to remain centered on why we’re right here. These guys needed to stand up this morning and go to a morning apply. We don’t apply within the mornings (through the common season). However they got here in and took care of enterprise.

“They’ve been doing all of it yr. I used to be not shocked. Typically, they deserve a praise.’’

The Panthers deserve a number of compliments of their very own. Pittsburgh has earned its third consecutive nationwide semifinals berth and doesn’t think about itself because the supporting act.

“I believe that we attempt to deal with each opponent the identical,’’ Panthers setter Rachel Fairbanks stated. “Clearly, each opponent is totally different (stylistically). However we simply deal with getting ready very well and never letting all of the outward noise get to us, simply specializing in who we’re as a staff and enjoying our greatest volleyball.’’

“Annually (of reaching the Remaining 4) has been just a little totally different story,’’ Pittsburgh coach Dan Fisher stated. “However I’ll simply say we’ve got superb gamers who care rather a lot about their teammates and their staff tradition. We don’t have egocentric gamers at Pitt who’re in it for the mistaken causes. And we practice arduous.’’

At Pittsburgh, the followers have observed.

Fisher recollects the times early in his tenure when ACC house matches may draw a number of hundred spectators. Now the Panthers have a stable following and a tradition that draws high gamers.

“I simply love that our campus isn’t very conventional,’’ Panthers center blocker Chaimaka Nwokolo stated. “You could be in a special neighborhood in 10 minutes. You don’t see the identical Pittsburgh each day.’’

“The College of Pittsburgh campus is built-in with the town and there’s greenery, there are parks,’’ Fairbanks stated. “There are such a lot of totally different points to the town of Pittsburgh. The tradition of Pittsburgh is cool.’’

Fisher stated Pittsburgh’s choices are a “enormous promoting level’’ for attracting gamers.

“They love what they metropolis has to supply,’’ Fisher stated. “Pittsburgh is a great-sized metropolis as a result of it has all of the issues that huge cities do, nevertheless it’s not overwhelming. I believe our staff takes benefit of it.’’

The perimeter sports activities fan may not find out about Pittsburgh’s volleyball success. However Nebraska volleyball? It has crossed over to the non-volleyball crowd. How might it not? Nebraska’s August match in opposition to Omaha in soccer’s Memorial Stadium — attendance: 92,003 — acquired most publicity and put faculty volleyball earlier than a completely totally different viewers.

Good for the game.

Good for Nebraska.

“Pittsburgh’s volleyball staff could be very athletic and really well-coached,’’ Cook dinner stated. “That is their third last 4 in a row. Coach Fisher has found out a option to get that staff there.

“They’ve rebuilt by way of the switch portal. He has two fabulous freshmen. And he’s been in a position to recruit the entire nation. They’re enjoying at a very excessive stage. It’s going to be an ideal problem.’’

As all the time, although, the Huskers could have the assist of their red-clad trustworthy. By the perfect of occasions — and even when the staff doesn’t get this far — the Nebraska followers are all the time there, promoting out each house match for the reason that 2001 season.

Nebraska always works on its connection by way of your complete state, even scheduling a spring match in Central Metropolis (inhabitants: 3,032), which Cook dinner in comparison with a “Tremendous Bowl’’ in that tiny city.

“We’re tremendous grateful for all of Husker Nation,’’ Cornhuskers libero Lexi Rodriguez stated. “They present up the place we’re at. They all the time assist us. It’s superior.

“We all the time get alternatives to work together and provides again to them. I believe that’s one thing they realty take pleasure in and one thing they’ll all the time keep in mind. It permits them to only be so supportive of us each single yr.’’

Can the Panthers upstage Nebraska’s run? Or will the Cornhuskers’ unimaginable season proceed?

We already know what Amalie Area may seem like. Nebraska’s Massive Pink contingent has arrived.

Inc-RED-ible.