Huskers-Huskies a fitting finale
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BY TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star
SAN ANTONIO — Now we’re talking. Today’s NCAA volleyball championship match features big kills, big blocks and big words.
All the rage on the Riverwalk wasn’t about Nebraska’s top-ranked blocking unit going up against the nation’s most efficient offensive team in Washington. No, all the volleyball folks wanted to talk about centered on one word.
Crush.
It’s the ultimate, he-said, she-said battle.
Head coach John Cook this season compared his Nebraska team to a land-roving Hummer. “We’re just going to crush everything and plow along,” he said following last weekend’s regional final.
It’s been more than a month since Washington’s Sanja Tomasevic was quoted as saying “we’re going to crush them,” leaving everyone from Seattle to San Antonio to ask just who the senior All-American was referring to.
“I am sure I never talked about Nebraska, and if they did ask me about Nebraska, I know I said we’re looking forward to USC, UCLA or whoever,” Tomasevic said during Friday’s news conference. “That quote was before the UCLA match. I said if we played the way we were capable and controlled the things we know we can control, we would crush UCLA.”
Nebraska players, who had copies of the quote taped to their lockers almost before newspapers citing it hit doorsteps in the Pacific Northwest, weren’t necessarily buying the explanation.
And even if they had, it likely would remain a source of motivation for today’s nationally televised (ESPN2) final at the Alamodome.
“That was a mistake for her to say that,” said Nebraska sophomore Sarah Pavan. “When you go against a team like us, you don’t say that we can’t do something, because we’re going to go out and prove them wrong.”
Nebraska (33-1) can become only the third women’s volleyball program to go wire-to-wire at No. 1. The Huskers are seeking their third championship after winning titles in 1995 and 2000. In all, NU has advanced to the finals five times.
Meanwhile, third-ranked Washington (31-1) is playing in the championship match for the first time in school history.
Both teams have cruised to this point in the tournament, sweeping five straight opponents. NU has outscored foes 450-292 in postseason play. For Washington, the advantage is 450-325.
But nobody, neither Cook nor Tomasevic, expects things to come easy in today’s clash of volleyball titans. Both teams are balanced offensively, and despite contrasting styles on defense, just as effective at slowing down the opposition.
With today’s match, Nebraska will have played nine of the top 14 teams in the latest rankings. The Huskers see Washington as just another match, but one they’ve been looking forward to since the beginning of the season.
With the promise of some crushing blows, mental toughness might be the key.
“Who can get the momentum and keep it, and then when you don’t have it, get it back,” Cook said. “We want to play our style of volleyball, and at some point inflict our will on Washington.”
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7439 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.
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