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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 1999)
Sports Page 12___Wednesday, October 13,1999 NU helps create in-state pipeline By John Gaskins Staff writer Just as some boys who grow up in Nebraska dream of being a part of the Memorial Stadium atmosphere, hun dreds of young girls flock to the Nebraska Coliseum to watch their own idols and dream of suiting up in a Comhusker uniform someday. Nebraska volleyball has not only become a national powerhouse, it has developed a pipeline of the state’s best prep players. And as a result of its suc cess, the program has turned Nebraska into a hotbed of high school volleyball stars. According to Rich Kem, a Nebraska volleyball historian, 172 Nebraska high school standouts from last year are cur rently playing college volleyball. That’s up from 133 in 1998 and 75 in 1997. In fact, Kern said, Nebraska leads the nation in Division I volleyball recruits per capita, meaning it has more recruits per millions, or RPM, of people in its state than any other. * That s a staggering total for a Midwestern state in a sport traditionally dominated by West Coast talent. California, which has always claimed to be the home of volleyball, is ninth in the nation in RPM. “We’re in a big-time hotbed,” said Jake Moore, Lincoln Pius X High School coach, who has guided his team to three consecutive Class B state titles and also coaches junior club ball. “When I first started juniors 10 years ago, Nebraska wasn’t that weli-known for volleyball yet. “Now, when we attend big national tournaments in club ball in spring and summer, we’re not looked upon as the little Nebraska team anymore. We’re a team that they have to reckon with and expect to be in the top four or five in every tournament. That’s been huge.” Take it from Moore’s ace player, senior Anna Schrad, who just recently committed to playing for NU next year. “Compared to other states, the 66 Compared to other states, the level of play in Nebraska is high” Anna Schrad Husker recruit whole level of play in Nebraska is very high,” Schrad said. “Every time you go out there, you’re playing a good team. Every match is tough.” In turn, the quality of Nebraska high school volleyball has provided the Huskers with some of their top recruits and greatest players. This year, nine of the 15 athletes playing for the 12th ranked Huskers hail from Nebraska, including two of the freshmen members of the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation. Our goal is to compete for the national championship, and we have a responsibility to go out and get the very best people we can,” said NU Head Coach Terry Pettit. “I think at a skill level, (Nebraska) has a pocket. If it comes down to recruit ing an exceptional athlete from Nebraska and another person, we’ll more than likely end up recruiting the Nebraska player for a lot of reasons: No. 1 - we know she’s going to be comfort able here. No. 2 - she probably already has a loyalty and commitment to the program.” The Seed is Planted It isn’t exactly mind-boggling to fig ure out how the popularity and level of play at the high schools has grown in “leaps and bounds” in the last 10 years, according to Bellevue West Coach Joanne Kappas. In 13 years, her teams have won eight Class A state champi onships, and she has seen more than 30 Please see VOLLEYBALL on 13 __ Nate Wagner/DN AN IN-STATE RECRUIT, Pius volleyball star Anna Schrad has committed to play for NU next season. NU not overlooking OU Despite 1-5 league mark, Sooners bring talent By John Gaskins Staff writer Terry Pettit said Oklahoma’s 6-10 record could have fooled him. After all, the 12th-ranked Cornhuskers’ opponent for tonight’s 7 p.m. NU Coliseum match brings four starters from last year’s team. The Sooners also will sport an intimidation factor that Pettit said 22nd-year coach Miles Pabst’s teams usual ly bring to the court. To open up his weekly press conference Tuesday, Pettit point ed out that before the season, Pabst predicted the Sooners would have a 16-0 record coming *» into this match. “I’m not sharing that with you to point out he was wrong,” Pettit said. “Why I am sharing it with you is to point out what kind of talent he thinks they have there. It’s a traditional Oklahoma team in many ways in that they are very big. They have some great athletes. They’re always scary to play because of their size.” But the fact remains that OU is struggling, and at 1-5 sits one game out of the Big 12 Conference cellar. Pettit said the main reason for this probably lies in the Sooners’ weakness on defense, where they give up an average hitting percentage of .240. That should play perfectly into the hands of the Huskers (12-4 and 4-2), who are looking to hit their stride in a season tainted by upsets and, at times, offensive woes. NU - which has seen Pettit tinker with both the lineup and offensive strategy all season - is coming off a .242 hitting perfor mance in a four-set victory over No. 20 Colorado. It was obvious from both the match on Saturday and Pettit’s words Tuesday the Huskers’ younger players have emerged into the spotlight. Freshmen Lindsay Wischmeier, Greichaly Cepero and Amber Holmquist have all started and seen signifi cant playing time in the new 6-2 offensive system. Also emerging is Jenny Kropp. Ever since she landed a key ace in NU’s comeback win at No. 4 Florida last month, the sophomore middle blocker from Grand Island has been one of NU’s most consistent fQrces, Pettit said. Kropp attributed her team best .431 hitting percentage and the Huskers’ recent offensive improvements since losses to Kansas State and Texas A&M to developed team chemistry. “I think after playing with our team, you get confidence in yourself and your teammates, and it just kind of builds,” Kropp said. “Things are just starting to click more.” Difficult schedule helps MU move toward title ■ Following the footprints of Nebraska, the Tigers are becoming a national power. By Brock Wendlandt Staff writer In its fourth year of existence, the Missouri soccer program is trying to mirror the elite teams of the Big 12 Conference and launch itself atop the conference standings. The Tigers (10-3 overall and 5-1 in the Big 12), who are in sole possession of second place and ranked 18th in the nation, travel to Nebraska on Sunday with an opportunity to win the Big 12 regular season title. “Nebraska has raised the level of every team in this conference,” said Missouri Head Coach Bryan Blitz. “We’re trying to follow in the footsteps of their success. If we could emulate them, we would be more than happy.” Missouri, Blitz said, has had a roller coaster season in terms of wins and loss es. But after going 11-9-1 overall and 5 5 in the conference last year, MU has stabilized its winning percentage and is looking to play in its first post-season. Much of the rocky road can be attributed to the Tigers’ tough schedule. They have also played four teams cur rently ranked in the top 25. MU beat No. 14 Michigan and No. 24 Baylor but suffered one-goal defeats to No. 22 Duke and No. 25 San Diego. Missouri’s third defeat came at the hands of Texas Tech, which handed the Tigers a 4-1 decision. “We took a beating at Texas Tech, and my hat is off to them,” Blitz said. However, Tech did MU a big favor by upsetting Texas A&M last weekend, catapulting the Tigers into position to compete for the conference crown. Mizzou is led by junior forward Nikki Thole’s 14 goals and the defensive prowess of Mandy Pavlovits. Pavlovits, a high school Parade All American out of St. Louis, spent her first three seasons at South Carolina and transferred to Missouri for her senior season. Please see TIGERS on 13