Husker Focused On Present

If you're worried about the Nebraska volleyball team peeking ahead to a potential rematch with Big Ten foe and NCAA Tournament host Wisconsin in the Regional Finals, relax.
 
These Huskers, coach John Cook said, are all about the present.
 
"This group, we're just trying to get them to focus on the next two minutes right now," Cook said. "That's where we're at with this group. I don't ever worry about them looking ahead. Can we get through the next five minutes and get everybody on the same page and going the right things?"
 
So there's that.
 
But more importantly, Nebraska's players and coaches have ultimate respect for the opponent they must defeat to earn a shot at Wisconsin.
 
Hawaii, with its crafty style of volleyball, has the Huskers on full alert, and with something to prove.
 
"They are super beachy, and they do have a lot of shots," Nebraska junior middle blocker Lauren Stivrins said of the offensive-minded Rainbow Wahine, "but I'm excited for us to go out there and show them what a Big Ten block looks like and a Big Ten back row."
 
No. 6 Nebraska (27-4) and No. 18 Hawaii (26-3) meet in Friday's NCAA Regional Semifinals at UW Fieldhouse in Madison, Wisconsin. The winner advances to face either host Wisconsin or Texas A&M.
 
Two of Nebraska's losses have to come to Big Ten champion Wisconsin, both sweeps. Topping the red-hot Badgers on their home court stands in the way between the Huskers and a fifth straight trip to the Final Four.
 
Of course, Hawaii presents the first obstacle.
 
The Rainbow Wahine ended Nebraska's season with a 3-1 victory in the 2002 NCAA Regional Finals in Lincoln. That avenged a loss to the Huskers in NCAA Semifinals in 2000 – Cook's first season that produced a national championship.
 
This Hawaii team carries a 13-match winning streak into Friday.
 
"They're good. Everybody's good at this point," Cook said. "There's only 16 teams practicing today."
 
Cook describes the Rainbow Wahine as a "normal" Hawaii team – great serving, passing, ball control and defense. A pair of senior setters anchor a 6-2 system that features a variety of hitters, big and small.
 
"Unique system," Cook said. "Unique players."
 
Nebraska, meanwhile, is in the Sweet 16 for the 19th time in Cook's 20 seasons as coach, thanks to a gritty victory over Missouri in the second round. The Huskers had to "dig down deep," Cook said.
 
"I think for our younger players, they learned they can hit serves under pressure. You saw Missouri miss a couple serves in that third game," Cook said. "We had to dig down. We had to make plays. It was a great test for us. One of the toughest second-round matches we've had."
 
Nebraska is also a unique team, of sorts, with no seniors. The Huskers met adversity and overcame challenges along the way, thanks to a tight-knit group.
 
"I think when you watch us, you see how much fun ad how much love we have for each other," sophomore setter Nicklin Hames said. "We've been through a lot together, and I think it shows out on the court. We have that ultimate trust in each other that I don't know if any other team really does. When you watch it, you want to be a part of it."
 
Cook sees players who sincerely enjoy each other and like to have fun – sometimes, perhaps, a tad too much fun for his taste. "It's over my fun level schedule," he joked.
 
But that may be why Cook becomes so captivated by simply watching his team play and compete that he sometimes forgets he's even coaching.
 
"We play hard and together, we play with emotion and passion," Cook said. "We make big plays, offensively and defensively."
 
It's an intense team, too. Cook proudly reported he had to blow the whistle and end Thursday's practice in Madison because the intensity became so high.
 
Another sign these Huskers are focused on the present, and not the future.
 
"You can't take any team lightly in the tournament. Every team's good and going to give us their best shot," junior outside hitter Lexi Sun said. "We always try to stay focused on the next team we're playing, and we're doing that for sure this week."
 
Reach Brian at brosenthal@huskers.com or follow him on Twitter@GBRosenthal.