Nebraska's Meendering to Redshirt 2000 Season

Lincoln -- Nebraska head volleyball coach John Cook announced Wednesday that two-time AVCA All-American Nancy Meendering will redshirt during the 2000 season. The 1999 Big 12 Player of the Year will have one year of eligibility remaining and will complete her collegiate career during the 2001 season.

Meendering's decision to redshirt came after she missed the spring season while training with the U.S. National Team in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"This is something that's been evolving over the past four months, but we feel this is what's best for Nancy," Cook said. "As of two weeks ago, there was still a chance she could get called to play with the national team, so we had to prepare for the season without her. I do feel like we're lucky because we had the China trip to prepare this team to play without Nancy. So I feel like we're way ahead of the game and that we have a chance for a great season. "

The absence of Meendering from the lineup will be just one of several changes the Huskers have undergone in the past season, as Cook replaces former head coach Terry Pettit who retired in December with a 694-148-11 record in 23 seasons at Nebraska.

Nebraska's other changes include a switch from a two-setter offense to a traditional 5-1 offense, a change at the starting setter position and the addition of two new assistant coaches and a director of volleyball operations.

Despite the changes, Cook is optimistic the 1999 Huskers will challenge to win their third consecutive Big 12 championship.

"Volleyball Magazine picked us No. 11," Cook said. " If there are 10 teams better than us, then it's going to be a helluva year in college volleyball, because I think we're pretty good. We'll have a pretty challenging stretch to open the season and that will tell us how good we are. There's some great teams out there and we're going to get a chance to play them."

Greichaly Cepero, a 6-2 sophomore from Dorado, Puerto Rico, enters the season as the starting setter after earning Big 12 Freshman-of-the-Year honors at outside hitter last season. Cepero will give the Huskers a powerful attacking setter after finishing third on the team in kills with 218 in 1999.

Cook said Nebraska's left side and middle attack will be one of the strength of the team in 2000. Senior Kim Behrends (1.85 kpg in 1999) will team up with sophomore Laura Pilakowski and freshman Anna Schrad to make up a solid corps of outside hitters.

" When we struggled last year, most times it was because of our left side attack," Cook said. "I think if this year's team played last year's team, we'd beat them nine out of 10 times. We're smoother and more balanced on offense. I think you'll see Pilakowski emerge as one of the top outside hitters in the country. With Kim Behrends or Anna Schrad also at the left side, we'll have some of the most physical left sides Nebraska has ever had. That's why I believe we're better now than we were last December."

Nebraska also returns All-America candidates Amber Holmquist and Jenny Kropp as starting middle blockers. Holmquist led the Big 12 Conference in hitting percentage and blocks per game (1.75), while Kropp's 1.36 blocks per game ranked second in the league.

"It's a new beginning in many ways," Cook said. "But I feel we have a great foundation to go into this season."

The team began two-a-day practices on Wednesday and will continue practicing twice a day until school starts on Aug. 21.

Nebraska compiled a 27-6 record, including a 17-3 mark in the Big 12 last season. The Huskers fell to UC Santa Barbara in the NCAA Pacific Regional semifinals in Palo Alto, Calif.