LINCOLN — The Nebraska volleyball staff is headed to Brazil this summer time for a visit that ought to get a younger squad a time to develop collectively.
“No seniors, so let’s get them going,” NU coach John Prepare dinner mentioned. “Now we have six new gamers, so it’s a superb alternative to get a head begin on the season.”
Nebraska can be in Brazil Could 29 via June 14. Whereas there, the staff will play matches towards membership groups. They’ll additionally could play the under-23 and under-21 nationwide groups.
Groups can take journeys as soon as each 4 years. Prepare dinner has beforehand taken the Huskers to Japan and China, together with in 2019. On account of China’s journey restrictions, NU opted for Brazil on the advice of assistant coach Jaylen Reyes.
“(Reyes) went all the way down to Brazil final yr simply to review their coaching for seaside and indoor and felt like it could be a reasonably good place to go,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “They play good volleyball. We really feel like we bought a reasonably good journey deliberate.”
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For at the very least yet one more season, school volleyball can have veteran-laden groups due to each seniors and super-seniors utilizing an additional season allowed by the NCAA’s COVID-related insurance policies.
As of now, the Huskers’ roster does not embrace any seniors.
Nebraska must get expertise shortly, and the Huskers will go into fall camp with about three weeks of additional observe from the journey and 10 further observe days earlier than the journey. They will additionally get some matches collectively for a gaggle that might be enjoying a number of sophomores and freshmen this fall.
Nebraska’s 5 freshmen — setter Bergen Reilly, center blocker Andi Jackson, defensive specialist Laney Choboy and hitters Harper Murray and Caroline Jurevicius — every enrolled in January and can participate within the seaside volleyball season and spring camp.
Nebraska had two gamers switch after spring observe final season, so it’s doable the Huskers should still add a senior through the switch portal. However how would Prepare dinner really feel about fielding a staff that will not have any seniors?
“You realize what I at all times say, ‘If the canine goes to chunk it’s going to chunk as a pup,’” he mentioned. “In order that’s what I advised our freshmen. These guys are aggressive and so they’re gifted and so they know there’s a nice alternative right here for them. They usually knew that after we recruited them.”
Whereas there are no Husker seniors, juniors Lexi Rodriguez, Lindsay Krause and Ally Batenhorst have already got veteran expertise. And Nebraska provides two-year Florida starter Merritt Beason.
Notes
» NU has locked within the bulk of its 2023 nonconference schedule. Creighton will play the Huskers in Lincoln. Additionally, Nebraska performs at Stanford and hosts Kentucky as a part of a four-year scheduling settlement now in its third season.
The Huskers will play at Kansas State, probably for a Sunday match, as a return journey for Ok-State enjoying at a match in Lincoln and to assist the Wildcats open a brand new volleyball enviornment. There’s a probability Nebraska will play two matches towards Ok-State that week.
The Huskers will open their season internet hosting a match that features matches towards Utah State, SMU and Lipscomb.
And Lengthy Seaside State, coached by former NU assistant coach Tyler Hildebrand, will come to Lincoln to play the Huskers for the second yr in a row.
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts has floated the concept of the Huskers enjoying a match at Pinnacle Financial institution Area to accommodate a crowd of 15,000, however as of now that’s not a part of the schedule for the 2023 season.
“Now we have among the finest services on the planet right here (at Devaney),” Prepare dinner mentioned.
» Nebraska is about three weeks into observe for the seaside volleyball season, with the primary matches scheduled for Feb. 24.
The staff can have an intrasquad match on Saturday to assist solidify the lineup of pairs for the primary match.
Setter Kennedi Orr isn’t enjoying on the seaside volleyball staff so she will concentrate on indoor coaching and cut back the possibilities of aggravating her earlier knee harm.
“We simply don’t need to take an opportunity irritating her knee, as a result of it bought irritated final yr within the sand,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “We’re simply attempting to maintain her coaching constant.”
Nebraska volleyball’s AVCA All-People
Lexi Rodriguez
Kayla Caffey
Lauren Stivrins
Lexi Solar
Nicklin Hames
Madi Kubik
Kenzie Maloney
Annika Albrecht
Briana Holman
Mikaela Foecke
Kelly Hunter
Amber Rolfzen
Justine Wong-Orantes
Kelsey Robinson
Kadie Rolfzen
Lauren Prepare dinner
Gina Mancuso
Lindsey Licht
Hannah Werth
Brooke Delano
Sydney Anderson
Tara Mueller
Jordan Larson
Tracy Stalls
Rachel Holloway
Sarah Pavan
Jennifer Saleaumua
Melissa Elmer
Christina Houghtelling
Jenny Kropp
Greichaly Cepero
Amber Holmquist
Laura Pilakowski
Nancy Metcalf
Megan Korver
Fiona Nepo
Lisa Reitsma
Christy Johnson
Kelly Aspegren
Allison Weston
Stephanie Thater
Janet Kruse
Karen Dahlgren
Others
Attain the author at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner.