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New faces, old mainstays
keep Nebraska near top
By John Adkisson
Staff Reporter
Change.
It was a prospect that stared
the Nebraska volleyball team
in the face as the Comhuskers em
barked on the 1991 season.
A new setter. A new home. A new
rule.
But as the Huskers prepare to host
this weekend’s NCAA Mideast Re
gional, the most underlying fact is the
same as it has been in recent seasons:
At 26-4, Nebraska is a heavy favorite
to win the four-team tournament and
advance to a third consecutive Final
Four.
In that sense, nothing changes.
Since 1986, when Nebraska first
reached the Final Four, the Huskers
have compiled 133-21 record and have
made it to the national semifinals two
more times. The most recent trip, last
year, ended with a four-game loss to
Pacific.
That team not only lost to Pacific,
but also lost an all-American setter as
well. As Husker Coach Terry Pettit
entered this season, he faced the task
of replacing Val Novak, who used up
her eligibility along with Becky Bolli
and Linda Barsness.
Enter sophomore Nikki Strieker,
who emerged as Pettit’s choice to
replace Novak. *
Strieker piled up 1,259 set assists
in her debut season as the Husker
setter, and earned her coach’s praise.
“She’s done a good job," Pettit
said. “She makes good decisions, and
she follows a good game plan. When
she’s assertive, she is a dominating
Dlaver.”
Nebraska freshman Kim Tonni
ges, has played in all but one of the
Huskers’ matches. Tonniges, a 5-foot
11 middle blocker from Lincoln East,
earned a starting role early in the
season and came on to rank fifth on
the team in total kills.
“Kim has been a steady player for
us,” Pettit said. “More than anything,
her blocking has improved over the
course of the season.”
And then there were the main
stays: all-American outside hitter Janet
Kruse, who finished with 243 kills
despite missing eight matches; senior
Cris Hall, who ranked second on the
team with 376 kills; junior Stephanie
Thater, who emerged as one of the
best middle blockers in the nation
while leading the Huskers in kills and
blocks; and junior Eileen Shannon,
who almost certainly will break sev
eral Husker career records next sea
son.
The mainstays struggled early,
however. Kruse went down in Nc
See CHANGES on 2
■ 15th year at Nebraska
■ 468-110 at Nebraska, 515-127 career
■ seven-time Big Eight Coach of the Year
1 1986 American Voiieybali Coaches
Association National Coach of the year
■ Pettit has coached 16 All-Americans §
and 61 All-Big Eight selections |
Crls Halt
Brian Shellito/DN