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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1997)
Matt Miller/DN jl KATIE JAHNKE practices with the Nebraska volleyball team Wednesday. Jahnke, a freshman frem West Bend, LI Wls., missed last seasea with a knee Injnry. Husker duo back in action N Jahnke and Koziol are glad to be back at practice. ■' * ■ ■ ■ ——. By Shannon Heffelfinger Staff Reporter Mention the summer of 1996 to Nebraska volleyball players Denise Koziol and Katie Jahnke, and neither can help but cringe. Prior to that summer, both players were in top physical shape and ready to com pete with sopho more Jaime Krondak fbr the outside hitter posi tion vacated by Billie Winsett. But within those three months, Koziol, a native of Norfolk, and Jahnke, of West Bend, Wis., both suf fered serious knee injuries. Expected to contribute heavily on the court, both were restricted to cheering from the sidelines during the Comhuskers’ sec ond straight Final Four season. Now, after spending last fall receiv ing daily rehabilitation treatments while their teammates practiced, Koziol and Jahnke are back on the court for spring workouts. NU Coach Terry Pettit said join ing the team on the court once again represents an important step physi cally and mentally in the two players’ recoveries. “I’m sure that just being able to be a part of practice is very good for them,” Pettit said. “I know what it means to be an athlete and not be able to do the things you love to dp. I’m certainly rooting for them and I hope they can cone back all the way.” Attempting to regain their previ ous form has been a long journey for both players, particularly Koziol, who has not played competitively for two years. The 5-foot-ll outside hitter redshirted the 1995 season. After a year of adapting to the Huskers’ sys tem, Pettit thought Koziol might be a key contributor during 1996. But Koziol’s carefully laid plans were brought to an unexpected halt when she landed awkwardly while playing at the net during a preseason scrimmage, tearing her anterior cru ciate ligament. Koziol remembers the moment vividly. “I’d seen it happen so many times to people in high school.” Koziol said, “As soon £s I came down, I had a re ally bad feeling' and! just knew what had happened.” Facing another year of watching from the sidelines was almost too much for Koziol to handle at the be ginning of the season, both physically and emotionally. “I didn’t go to practice at the be ginning of the season because it was uncomfortable to sit,” Koziol said. “And during the first match, I had to leave during warmups because it was so hard to watch.” The support and encouragement her teammates gave to her motivated Koziol to make a comeback. After seven months of rehab, Koziol is now practicing with the team three days a week but is limited to back row and defensive drills. “Just being on the court is good for me,” Koziol said. “It makes me feel like I’m progressing, even though it seems so slow.” Although Koziol is limited now, Pettit expects her to be ready tO go during the fall. Just being on the N court is good for |J me.” y Denise Koziol |_ NU volleyball player ■ ■ "7“7 ■ “Denise’s ball handling skills are really good,” Pettit said. “I’m sure that she’ll compete for a front-row role in the fall as well, and I’d hope Katie could do that also.” Jahnke — a member of the 1995 U.S. Junior National team — was forced to undergo reconstructive knee surgery in July after tearing the ACL in her right knee. Although less seri ous than Koziol’s injury, Jahnke was restricted from playing competitively for the same amount of time and par ticipated in a similar rehab program. And like Koziol, sitting on the side lines while her teammates competed was difficult at first. “It was hard to watch,” Jahnke said. “I was frustrated at first, but I always knew I could get back. “I’ve been waiting for a long time for this. The first time I practiced, it was really exciting. It was motivation, and I know I can do it.” Pettit said he is confident in both Jahnke and Koziol and has high hopes for them next fall. “I certainly would expect that they’ll be in position to play big roles,” Pettit said. “They are very good play ers. We haven’t lowered our expecta tions or our hopes for them.” #Eleggt \ M: ■ HMR • SUN • NARS • WNMNG FOR M»l AND WOMEN ^UtcUHAMH’U MICROWAVES A MORE ....■■■■■■«■.—. . . — ' American Heart M Associations^^ Fighting Heart Disease and Stroke AMERICAN HEART L ASSOCIATION MEMORIALS Ac TRIBUTES warns®® — u ' Long Island Tea Night N Even Thursday $2 Teas $3.w Super Teas (24 oz.) y Win Prizes and play TV Trivia. U $2 wings all night long! N .. at?* FLY INTO SUMMER! Register NOWfor Summer Classes! at: Bldg. UNL Summer Sessions Dates: Pre-Session—May 19-June 6 8-Week Session-May 19-July 11 1st 5-Week Session-June 9-July 11 2nd 5-Week Session—July 14-August 14 SUMMER SESSIONS ‘97 There’s No Place Like Nebraska in the Summer! This weekend only, Laser Fantasies Presents: •7: . ?f-:'".“fe^- ■'■-/ ■ . . - .. ■--. • ';7- .jm fe. . A laser show featuring the best of Van Halen, including “Jump”, “Right Now”, “Ice Cream Man”, “Panama”, “Runnin' With the Devil”, “Dreams” and more! Showtime?: Friday and Saturday Night, April 4 & 5 8:00,9:30 and 11:00 p.m. Admission: Adults: $5, UNL students (w/UNL ID): $4 ■ Watch for these exciting Laser Fantasies in coming weeks!: April 11-12: Rockin' 80's (fcjfunng Guns 'N' Roses md mcre!| April 18-19: Nine Inch Nails April 25-26: Pink Floyd: The Wall May 2-3: Pink Floy<i: the Wall May 9-10: Nirvana May 16-17: Rush May 23-24: The Doors May 30-31: Grateful Dead MUELLER PLANETARIUM ST^Tj^fUSEIJM(MORRILLHALLM£*^T^^I»ttpj0wwWj4WjCOBi/iiiiiejler/