Huskers Honored in Return to Coliseum

Lincoln ? The Nebraska volleyball team was welcomed home on Sunday, as a crowd of nearly 300 greeting Huskers following their NCAA runner-up finish in San Antonio.

The Huskers, who returned to Lincoln early Sunday afternoon, were escorted by a police escort to the Coliseum, where they were joined by fans and honored for athletic and academic accomplishments during the season, which included a 33-2 record, the Big 12 and regional title and the school’s third runner-up finish. Off the court, the program had two first-team Academic All-Americans and six academic all-Big 12 award winners.

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman opened the ceremony by proclaiming the week of Dec. 18-24 to be “Husker Volleyball Week” across the state in honor of the Nebraska volleyball program.

In addition to the proclamation, University of Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman, who came down to San Antonio to watch Saturday’s championship match and present Melissa Elmer with her diploma, Athletic Director Steve Pederson, Head Coach John Cook and the Husker captains all addressed the crowd and thanked the crowd for its support throughout the season.

Cook noted that nearly 5,000 Husker fans that traveled down to San Antonio for the NCAA championships, while Christina Houghtelling spoke for the team congratulating Elmer and fellow senior co-captain Jennifer Saleaumua on outstanding careers.

“It is overwhelming,” Cook following the ceremony. “When they told us about the ceremony this morning, we thought it would just be a couple of people when we got back to the airport, but to have the University president, the chancellor and the governor here along with all of the fans shows that there was a lot of preparation and effort into this event. It takes the sting off of last night’s loss, and makes you feel honored to be a part of Nebraska Athletics.”