Fans Define Seattle Volleyball Celebration in One Word ? Exhilaration

Nebraska volleyball fans found the word they prefer to define the Seattle celebration photo that sold Tuesday for $745 in the Huskers.com Auction . . . “Exhilaration!”

Exhilaration – the state of being stimulated, refreshed or elated – garnered 55 percent of the votes cast in a Huskers.com Fan Poll. “Joy” finished a distant second with 18 percent, followed by “Belief” with 13 percent. “Exhaustion” and “Shock” each drew more a couple dozen votes for 6 percent each, and “Something Else” had only 2 percent of the total vote.

The picture that merited a two-page spread in Sports Illustrated looks just as good to John Cook in mid-July as it did to Nebraska’s head volleyball coach when it was published seven months ago.

Cook, in fact, has the photo well-placed behind the desk in his office, and there’s another custom-framed, huge back-lit photo just like it on the wall leading up the stairs to NU’s volleyball offices. It’s Cook’s way of making sure that every player, fan and recruit sees the highly inspiring shot.

Now, thanks to the Nebraska Photo Store, Husker volleyball fans everywhere can have the same iconic photo in their own homes or offices.

But you might first consider bidding on an 18-by-24-inch wrapped canvas of the photo, personally signed by Cook, who also wrote one of his favorite phrases on this special Huskers.com auction item  . . . “Dream Big!”

Here’s what you see in the photo:

Jordan Larson (10) on her knees, staring at the jubilation across the floor after serving an ace that ended one of the Huskers’ greatest volleyball rallies in school history.

Rachel Schwartz (5) looking like she’s just discovered the winning ticket in the lottery.

Tara Mueller (19), the Seattle Regional’s Most Outstanding Player with 24 kills against Washington, clenching her fists and dealing with the disbelief that comes before triumph.

Amanda Gates (17) on her knees, eyes closed and arms extended like she was signaling “Touchdown!”

Kayla Banwarth (2) on her back, releasing all of the same emotions her teammates were experiencing.

Sydney Anderson (1), the all-tournament setter, doing what she always does . . . taking it all in, then closing her eyes and smiling widely. She was happy because everyone else was happy.

Every emotion you can imagine is reflected in the photo against a backdrop of disappointed, even stunned Washington fans, who had watched the fifth-ranked Huskies win the first two sets, 25-14 and 25-23 last Dec. 13. Fourth-ranked Nebraska won the next two sets, 25-17 and 26-24.

That set up a dramatic fifth set in which Nebraska trailed, 9-3, before going on a nine-point run that included eight straight points from the service line by Banwarth that staked the Huskers to a 12-9 lead.

When the Huskies pulled even at 13-13, a Washington attack error put Nebraska at match point before Larson ripped her second ace of the match, sending the Huskers into bedlam and a celebration like few others in program history.

Cook loves looking at the photo. It reminds him of the belief and faith of a team that wouldn’t let each other fail. “They just found a way to get it done,” he said. “It was a mystical season – right up to the last point that (unbeaten national champion) Penn State needed to beat us in the NCAA semis in Omaha.”

“You know what they say . . . a picture’s worth a thousand words,” Cook said. “That picture is why you coach so long and so hard. It’s the ultimate portrait of what you want to see. You see exhaustion and exhilaration. You see joy. You see shock … all the emotions that a player goes through in competition.”

The analogy Cook uses is, if you took a snapshot of your team at some point of the season, this is what you want to see. “We played so well as a team, and those players fought so hard for each other,” he said. “This photo represents so many things – chemistry, love, perseverance, and, perhaps the most important thing of all . . . belief!”

Tell us what you were thinking when you watched that memorable Nebraska win in Seattle. Click Huskers.com feedback, list your name, city or town and email address, and then select “Huskers.com content” under area of interest. Write your comments in the description box and then hit “submit support request.”

Voices from Husker Nation

'Greatest Game of All Time'

When I watched Jordan's ace on match point, all I could think of was: 'This is the greatest Nebraska volleyball game of all time!' I stayed up until 1 a.m. because I never gave up on this special team, and I knew they could do it!  What a team!" Lee Witzel, Madison, Neb.

Photo a Poster and a Blanket

"I was lucky enough to see this in person. Awesome!!! Unbelievable!!! The crowd noise was deafening!!!  All the Husker fans were screaming, jumping up & down & ready for the big showdown with Penn State. My daughter got a picture of the team, mid-floor huddle, with their arms raised & fingers indicating a  #1.This picture has been made into posters & even a blanket. There's nothing better than Husker Volleyball!!!!!  GO BIG RED!!!!" Vicki Haskell, Rural Fairbury, Neb.

Never Tires of Seeing the Replay             "The Husker volleyball game in Seattle was absolutely fantastic. I recorded it and never get tired of seeing it again. That team had it ALL. The togetherness was such an impressive characteristic of the team. I don't think I will ever see anything like it again, but I can DREAM." Vern F. Fiala, Kearney, Neb.