Cook Talks about NCAA Regional

Nebraska Volleyball Coach John Cook met with the media on Tuesday to discuss the Huskers' trip to Florida for the NCAA Regional. Fans can also listen to the Husker Volleyball Show with John Cook and John Baylor beginning at 7 p.m. (click on Sports Nightly link).

Head Coach John Cook
Opening statement:
“As a coach I’ve been thinking a long time about what I’d say, as we get close to this regional, I’ve been thinking about this day since January, knowing that this will be a defining moment weekend for our team. The message I have for them is the same message I have for you guys, which is that we’ve done everything possible to prepare for this weekend. Our players have done everything that’s been asked of them, and I think we’re in a great position mentally, physically, and team-wise to go down there and have our best weekend of the year. If we do that, we’ll be in Omaha. We know that we’ve sold out (the Qwest Center), so there’s nothing left to do but go down there and play lights-out in terms of confidence, and make it happen.”

On having to travel to the Florida regional to reach the National Semifinals:
“We knew we would have to be in a regional somewhere on the road, and it didn’t matter where. Our focus going in has got to be going in and winning a match against San Diego. We can’t worry about anything else besides our side of the net. I just know our team is going to have a tremendous amount of confidence just knowing that they’ve done everything they can to prepare, and that’s all you can really do as a coach, and that’s all you can ask for. These kids have sold out this year.”

On whether it is an advantage to have played San Diego already this season:
“We looked at the tape, and we had some different lineups and people in different spots. It was so long ago it could have been last year for all that matters. The good thing is that we have a comfort level with actually having played them, so that helps, and it will help us in our preparation.”

On the pressure to win a regional at home:
”We’ve had a regional at home, and I’ll tell you what, there is a lot of pressure when you have a regional at home, because you know how important it is to have that opportunity to play, and you don’t want to mess it up. For this team, we’ve been a great road team this season, and I think if you look statistically, we might have been a better road team than we’ve been at home. So it does take that distraction away and the expectations that everybody assumes you’re going to win because you’re at home, so it takes that pressure away from you. It’s just going to be us and a few fans going down there, so I like that fox-hole mentality.”

On the importance of defense in the NCAA Tournament:
“I think defense does win championships, and that’s how you pressure teams, with your defense. In volleyball it’s about not letting them get kills, and bringing the ball back up, and continuing to attack. If you look at the Big 12 Football Championship game this weekend, Oklahoma played great football even though we were in their half of the field most of the night. I think football, volleyball, and basketball coaches will all tell you that defense is what puts you in position to win championships. That’s something we started from day one (of the season), trying to be a good defensive team.”

On having to travel to the regional during finals preparation:
“There are some things they have to take care of academically, and fortunately our travel has been arranged to let them go to school Wednesday. But overall there is just a lot of excitement for this weekend. We’re happy to be in a position where we get to go to a regional. It’s showtime, so it is exciting.