Houghtelling named player of the year
SAN ANTONIO — Back in Cambridge, 1,000 miles from the center of the collegiate volleyball world this week, Cambridge High School coach Judy Mousel was no doubt beaming.
The volleyball player that no college coach wanted to see play volleyball, that is until Mousel stepped in, was standing at a podium here as volleyball’s national player of the year.
It’s a story so wild that even Christina Houghtelling, the award’s surprise winner, couldn’t believe it.
“When I heard Christina, I was like, ‘No way,’ and then they came out with Houghtelling,” she said. “I never would have expected this to happen in my life.”
Nebraska’s junior outside hitter joins a select group of volleyball stars, the likes of Logan Tom and Tara Cross, Danielle Scott and Misty May.
Houghtelling is the third Husker to be named AVCA player of the year, joining Greichaly Cepero (2000) and Allison Weston (1995).
Like Weston, Houghtelling was a multi-sport athlete in high school who developed into a superstar on the volleyball court.
“That’s the epitome of Nebraska volleyball right there,” said Weston, now the acting head coach at Montana. “A home-grown kid playing for the Huskers and excelling into a star on the national level.
“That tradition was started long ago, and I love to see that tradition carried on.”
Questions over who would be player of the year approached an all-time high leading up to Friday’s banquet honoring the All-America teams. Sanja Tomasevic of Washington was a contender, along with Houghtelling’s teammates Sarah Pavan and Melissa Elmer.
In fact, Pavan was named Big 12 player of the year over Houghtelling earlier this month. Nebraska coach John Cook said Friday that he nominated Pavan because she had better numbers in matches against conference opponents.
Houghtelling, meanwhile, has starred on the national stage, earning most valuable player honors at the Volleyball Showcase in August and at last weekend’s NCAA Omaha Regional.
“In the big matches, she’s come up big,” Cook said.
Houghtelling’s turnaround from last season is as remarkable as it is rewarding. From averaging 2.90 kills a game on .229 hitting as a sophomore, Houghtelling has stepped up to average 3.70 kills a game on .377 hitting this year.
“Last year, it was such a mental thing,” said Beth Houghtelling, Christina’s mother. “If there was one thing I could give Christina, it would be confidence.
“Even here, she’s like, ‘I don’t know if I deserve this.’”
Mousel, however, would say otherwise. She had 100 percent confidence in Houghtelling’s ability to play for a top-flight program such as Nebraska, so much so that she pleaded with Cook to at least come out and watch her play.
The next time he visits, there will be a tribute to Houghtelling’s success story.
Placards highlighting the players of the year in the different divisions, including Division II recipient Erin Gudmundson of Nebraska-Kearney, stood outside the banquet hall. The Division I sign, however, listed only a big question mark.
Soon, the sign, carted off by Ken Houghtelling, Christina’s father, will find a place in Cambridge, where folks have known the answer all along.
“It’s going to be unreal when I go home,” Christina Houghtelling said.
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7439 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.
The volleyball player that no college coach wanted to see play volleyball, that is until Mousel stepped in, was standing at a podium here as volleyball’s national player of the year.
It’s a story so wild that even Christina Houghtelling, the award’s surprise winner, couldn’t believe it.
“When I heard Christina, I was like, ‘No way,’ and then they came out with Houghtelling,” she said. “I never would have expected this to happen in my life.”
Nebraska’s junior outside hitter joins a select group of volleyball stars, the likes of Logan Tom and Tara Cross, Danielle Scott and Misty May.
Houghtelling is the third Husker to be named AVCA player of the year, joining Greichaly Cepero (2000) and Allison Weston (1995).
Like Weston, Houghtelling was a multi-sport athlete in high school who developed into a superstar on the volleyball court.
“That’s the epitome of Nebraska volleyball right there,” said Weston, now the acting head coach at Montana. “A home-grown kid playing for the Huskers and excelling into a star on the national level.
“That tradition was started long ago, and I love to see that tradition carried on.”
Questions over who would be player of the year approached an all-time high leading up to Friday’s banquet honoring the All-America teams. Sanja Tomasevic of Washington was a contender, along with Houghtelling’s teammates Sarah Pavan and Melissa Elmer.
In fact, Pavan was named Big 12 player of the year over Houghtelling earlier this month. Nebraska coach John Cook said Friday that he nominated Pavan because she had better numbers in matches against conference opponents.
Houghtelling, meanwhile, has starred on the national stage, earning most valuable player honors at the Volleyball Showcase in August and at last weekend’s NCAA Omaha Regional.
“In the big matches, she’s come up big,” Cook said.
Houghtelling’s turnaround from last season is as remarkable as it is rewarding. From averaging 2.90 kills a game on .229 hitting as a sophomore, Houghtelling has stepped up to average 3.70 kills a game on .377 hitting this year.
“Last year, it was such a mental thing,” said Beth Houghtelling, Christina’s mother. “If there was one thing I could give Christina, it would be confidence.
“Even here, she’s like, ‘I don’t know if I deserve this.’”
Mousel, however, would say otherwise. She had 100 percent confidence in Houghtelling’s ability to play for a top-flight program such as Nebraska, so much so that she pleaded with Cook to at least come out and watch her play.
The next time he visits, there will be a tribute to Houghtelling’s success story.
Placards highlighting the players of the year in the different divisions, including Division II recipient Erin Gudmundson of Nebraska-Kearney, stood outside the banquet hall. The Division I sign, however, listed only a big question mark.
Soon, the sign, carted off by Ken Houghtelling, Christina’s father, will find a place in Cambridge, where folks have known the answer all along.
“It’s going to be unreal when I go home,” Christina Houghtelling said.
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7439 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.
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