Huskers Practice in Omaha

The Nebraska volleyball continued preparations for Thursday's nationally televised showdown with No. 1 Penn State today with a 90-minute workout and press conference at Qwest Center Omaha. The fourth-ranked Huskers began the afternoon with a hour meeting with ESPN before seniors Rachel Schwartz, Jordan Larson and Amanda Gates and Head Coach John Cook met with the media.  

2008 NCAA Volleyball Championship Quote Sheet
Dec. 17, 2008 - Nebraska Press Conference
Head Coach John Cook
Amanda Gates, Jordan Larson, Rachel Schwartz

Head Coach John Cook
Opening Statement
 “We’re excited to be here.  We’ve had a great journey this season to get to this point and these three ladies here are a big part of why we’re here.  This process started last January.  For this team to be able get to this point of the year to be able to play in the final four in Omaha.  One thing I learned this week is that there are a lot of people who love Nebraska volleyball.  Even the people who hated Nebraska volleyball are loving Nebraska this week.  This team is so special and has done great things.  It’s a great story.”

Head Coach John Cook
About saying that Penn State is playing like a men’s team
“When you see the tempo they play with.  They’re running a faster tempo similar to what the men run.  If you come to volleyball 101 this spring, we’ll explain that and what that means and how that works.  They have six really dynamic athletes out there that are allowing them to play at a very fast tempo.  A lot of that relies on timing and precision.  They’re also running out of the back row.  Some times there are going to be four hitters coming at us in some of the rotations.  So many times there’s two hitters we have to worry about.  Now we have to worry about four hitters.  So for a football guy they’re running the spread offense and we’re going to have to defend it.  So (football) Coach (Bo) Pelini has been helping me all week.”

Head Coach John Cook
About players saying they’re focusing on having fun
“I think it’s an opposite reaction for last year.  These three kids decided no matter what we’re going to enjoy this journey.  Play hard and enjoy it.  Ironically each three are very different personality wise.  They decided that and that’s a definite reaction to last year.”

Head Coach John Cook
About the players not watching any tape of Penn State yet
“The first theory is they’re called student-athletes and they’ve been in final exams.  That’s why this week is so challenging for us.  We will start watching film on them tonight.  We’ve been preparing for this match since Aug. 8 (the first day of practice.)  We’re training to play teams like Penn State every day.   It’s a matter of adjusting the game plan.  We’ve played Texas twice, and we’ve played Stanford, and they’re just as talented as Penn State.  They’re going to make plays.  You just have to go on to the next play because there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Rachel Schwartz
About playing Penn State
“Penn State has had a great season so far and they’re a great team.  To be able to play against them is an honor.  I think right now it’s just we’re just going to keep doing what we’ve been doing all season.  Focusing on our side, focusing on the fundamentals, which is what Coach Cook talked about earlier in our 2 p.m. meetings.  Keep doing the things we’ve been doing all year.”

Rachel Schwartz
About her statement that it is an honor to play Penn State
“Any time you get to play a team like Penn State that hasn’t dropped a game yet this year is a huge honor.  We made it to the final four and had a chance at them.  That’s a great honor.  The competition is going to be awesome and that’s what every athlete wants.”

Rachel Schwartz
About obstacles the team has overcome since last January
“I think it is different for every individual the obstacle that comes their way.  How they perceive it is going to be different.  For me personally I think it was just making everybody believe.  After so many things happened to you, you have to somehow as a senior, as a person on the team, you have to make sure the belief stays there.  That belief is what is going to get you through hard times.  That’s the most important thing.”

Jordan Larson
About what impresses her about Penn State
“I haven’t really seen them play.  We know what they’re going to bring.  The tempo, the play.  We haven’t really seen that yet.  But we are preparing in many ways and we have been.”

“I think that’s been part of our inventory as well.  Look at what we did on Saturday.  That was unheard of.  Penn State hasn’t lost a match, but we’re going to fight.  We’re going to fight as hard as we can and find a way to get things done.”

Amanda Gates
About obstacles the team has overcome since last January
“At this time last year we definitely didn’t feel as good about our season.  How do you change that mentality and where do you go from there?  That was an obstacle we had to overcome right away to make sure we were starting off in January on a great note and making this team successful.”

Amanda Gates
About playing Penn State
“I don’t think it’s that intimidating.  Each team brings its own aspect to the court.  We’re just going to focus on our side.  I think this is an opportunity.  We’ll go at it fighting no matter what.”

Amanda Gates
About the seniors’ legacy
“The three of us started our careers in Omaha and at the media day press conference I said that our goal was to end our careers here.   I think that’s really, really special.”