Omaha might host a lot more excellent college volleyball in April than just the NCAA Final Four.
The CHI Health Center already has been selected as the site of the Final Four, scheduled for April 22 and 24. But now there’s chatter that all 48 teams in the tournament might play their matches in Omaha in a coronavirus “bubble.”
Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook alluded to that possibility at a press conference about 10 days ago.
“I’m still not sure it’s 100%, but I think we’re pretty close to Omaha hosting, and maybe the whole thing, I’ve heard,” he said.
The NCAA has gone to the bubble concept — one city or area for an entire tournament — for the men’s basketball tourney, and probably the women’s tournament as well, to limit travel and contain the coronavirus.
Indiana has been selected for the men, and the NCAA said last week that the San Antonio area is under consideration for the women’s tourney.
The NCAA, the Nebraska athletic department and other sources had little more to say about the NCAA’s intentions.
“There are a lot of different options being discussed” for the women’s volleyball tournament, Lauren McLaughlin of the NCAA said in an email. Changes in the way the tourney is handled would have to go through NCAA leadership, she said.
Another NCAA spokeswoman, Kristin Fasbender, said the organization will see how the season and pandemic unfold, and then make decisions about the tournament.
Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority spokeswoman Kristyna Engdahl said MECA and NCAA officials have discussed the possibility of Omaha hosting more than the Final Four.
MECA oversees the CHI Health Center, the city’s convention center and arena. Engdahl said the facility would be available for competition in April but offered little more information.
The Husker volleyball team, typically among the best in the nation, has won the NCAA title five times. Omaha has hosted the Final Four three times.
Deborah Ward, interim executive director of Visit Omaha, said the city would have no problem with hotel space.
“We know that the possibility of hosting that bubble event has been discussed, but there’s no final word yet,” she said Wednesday.
Ward said Omaha has experience with the bubble concept. Thirty-eight NCHC hockey games were held in Omaha in December to start the conference’s season.
Doug Parrott, public relations consultant for the Omaha Sports Commission, noted that Omaha also has experience hosting major sports events such as the Olympic Swim Trials and the College World Series.
“Things could probably be put together pretty quickly,” said Parrott. He said he had no information on the volleyball tournament.
University of Nebraska at Omaha Athletic Director Trev Alberts said coaches and college sports officials want the athletes to have the chance to compete.
“I think there’s a lot of discussions,” he said Tuesday. “You hear rumors, you hear thinking, you hear, ‘What about this?’ “
World-Herald staff writers Tom Shatel and Jon Nyatawa contributed to this report.
MEET THE 2021 NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Keonilei Akana

Freshman /// Defensive specialist
Hometown: Hauula, Hawaii
Notable: Akana will be the second Hawaiian in program history to play for the Huskers, joining career assist leader Fiona Nepo (1995-98)
Kayla Caffey

Junior /// Middle blocker
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Notable: In 2019 as a sophomore at Missouri, she ranked second in the SEC and ninth nationally with a .408 overall hitting percentage.
Hayley Densberger

Senior /// Defensive specialist, libero
Hometown: Malcolm, Nebraska
Notable: In 2019, she played in 28 matches and tallied 23 digs and five service aces.
Nicole Drewnick

Sophomore /// Setter
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Notable: Drewnick has opted out of the 2021 season.
Anni Evans

Freshman /// Setter
Hometown: Waverly, Nebraska
Notable: A four-year starter at setter for Waverly, she recorded 3,294 career assists for the Vikings.
Emma Gabel

Redshirt freshman /// Defensive specialist, libero
Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska
Notable: She received Journal Star Class A all-state honorable mention as a junior in 2017.
Nicklin Hames

Junior /// Setter
Hometown: Maryville, Tennessee
Notable: She started all 33 matches last season and earned AVCA All-North Region and All-Big Ten First-Team honors.
Kenzie Knuckles

Sophomore /// Defensive specialist, libero
Hometown: Yorktown, Indiana
Notable: She was selected to the All-Big Ten freshman team last season after leading the Huskers with 3.83 digs per set as NU's starting libero.
Madi Kubik

Sophomore /// Outside hitter
Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa
Notable: Last year, she earned AVCA All-North Region and North Region Freshman of the Year and was named the VolleyballMag.com National Freshman of the Year.
Kalynn Meyer

Freshman /// Middle blocker
Hometown: Superior, Nebraska
Notable: Meyer is a two-time Journal Star Girls Athlete of the Year and first-team Super-State selection.
Callie Schwarzenbach

Junior /// Middle blocker
Hometown: Kearney, Missouri
Notable: Last season, she appeared in every match and recorded 1.24 kills and 1.11 blocks per set.
Lauren Stivrins

Senior /// Middle blocker
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
Notable: Named an AVCA second-team All-American after averaging 2.55 kills and 1.07 blocks per set with a .374 hitting percentage last season.
Lexi Sun

Senior /// Outside hitter
Hometown: Encinitas, California
Notable: She led the Huskers with 3.57 kills per set last season, earning AVCA All-America third team honors.
Jazz Sweet

Senior /// Outside hitter
Hometown: Topeka, Kansas
Notable: She played in all 33 matches a season ago and averaged 2.77 kills and 0.69 blocks per set while hitting .279.
Riley Zuhn

Sophomore /// Middle blocker, outside hitter
Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado
Notable: She played in 17 matches and posted seven kills and six blocks as a freshman last season.
rick.ruggles@owh.com, 402-444-1123