Pius X setter Cook commits to UCLA
Lincoln Pius X junior Lauren Cook should have some family close enough to watch all of her home college volleyball matches starting in the fall of 2009.
It just won’t be her mom and dad.
Cook, the daughter of Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook, has orally committed to play at UCLA, ending months of speculation where the 5-foot-8, two-time first-team Super-State setter would end up.
Cook had said repeatedly that she would probably leave home to go to college. That came to fruition after the Bruins offered her a scholarship during a campus visit to Los Angeles this past weekend.
“My dad supports my decision,” Lauren said. Both her father and mother, Wendy, are from the San Diego area.
“He wanted me to stay close to home, but he trusts Andy (Banachowski, UCLA head coach) and Kim (Jagd, assistant head coach). He knows they’ll take care of me and make me a better volleyball player.”
Banachowski will be entering his 42nd season as head coach this fall. He’s guided the Bruins to six national titles and 25 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bruins reached the regional finals last season.
“They’ve (the Bruins) got three huge recruits coming in this year who are 6-7, 6-5 and 6-4, so I’ll have great hitters to set to,” Lauren Cook said. “I’ve had my mind set on UCLA for a long time, and it worked out that they wanted me too.’’
After earning national player of the year honors for the junior class from PrepVolleyball.com in January, Cook became the No. 1 setter recruit from the class of 2009. Last fall, she led the Thunderbolts to their second straight Class B state title with a state-record 1,341 assists. Cook also contributed 165 kills (.435 hitting efficiency), 51 ace serves and 292 digs.
Cook, who plays club for the Nebraska Volleyball Academy’s 18-and-under team, led the NVA’s 17-and-under squad to the USA Volleyball Junior Olympics National club division championship last summer. She was named MVP of the tournament.
Reach Ron Powell at 473-7437 or rpowell@journalstar.com.
It just won’t be her mom and dad.
Cook, the daughter of Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook, has orally committed to play at UCLA, ending months of speculation where the 5-foot-8, two-time first-team Super-State setter would end up.
Cook had said repeatedly that she would probably leave home to go to college. That came to fruition after the Bruins offered her a scholarship during a campus visit to Los Angeles this past weekend.
“My dad supports my decision,” Lauren said. Both her father and mother, Wendy, are from the San Diego area.
“He wanted me to stay close to home, but he trusts Andy (Banachowski, UCLA head coach) and Kim (Jagd, assistant head coach). He knows they’ll take care of me and make me a better volleyball player.”
Banachowski will be entering his 42nd season as head coach this fall. He’s guided the Bruins to six national titles and 25 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bruins reached the regional finals last season.
“They’ve (the Bruins) got three huge recruits coming in this year who are 6-7, 6-5 and 6-4, so I’ll have great hitters to set to,” Lauren Cook said. “I’ve had my mind set on UCLA for a long time, and it worked out that they wanted me too.’’
After earning national player of the year honors for the junior class from PrepVolleyball.com in January, Cook became the No. 1 setter recruit from the class of 2009. Last fall, she led the Thunderbolts to their second straight Class B state title with a state-record 1,341 assists. Cook also contributed 165 kills (.435 hitting efficiency), 51 ace serves and 292 digs.
Cook, who plays club for the Nebraska Volleyball Academy’s 18-and-under team, led the NVA’s 17-and-under squad to the USA Volleyball Junior Olympics National club division championship last summer. She was named MVP of the tournament.
Reach Ron Powell at 473-7437 or rpowell@journalstar.com.
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