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<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska Quotes<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
Head Coach John Cook
Opening Statement
“I thought it was a very intense match. It was a notch up from last night. WichitaState, I thought, was one of the best defensive teams we’ve played this year. They dug a lot of balls that they kept in play and rallied. I can’t remember a time in the last three or four weeks where our team has been so winded with the rallies. At this time of the year, you’re going to play matches where teams are just relentless, and WichitaState did that all night tonight. They deserve a lot of credit for playing a great match in the Coliseum and competing really hard tonight.”
On Nebraska’s serving
“I thought WichitaState was a good passing team. Their libero is exceptional, and we were trying to keep it away from her. We’ve been stressing since last January that to win a national championship, you’re going to have to go in and serve great in this tournament. I think our players have a lot of confidence right now, and I really think they’re attacking mentally with their serve. I think you saw that tonight. We’re doing it with a variety of ways, whether it’s a big jump serve, short, sticking it in a corner somewhere.”
On senior outside hitter Christina Houghtelling
“She’s just got a tight back, and it tightened up again tonight. She probably could have played through it, but it’s just not worth risking that. She’s made a lot of progress, and she was looking good in warm-ups, but it just tightened up. We have a couple of days now to get that out. I’m really confident she’s going to be ready to go.”
On freshman outside hitter Tara Mueller
“I thought Tara was much more relaxed tonight that she was last night. I saw what we’ve seen from her in practice and earlier in the season. It was great. I think that first big block she had really got her going, and she was taking some big swings. I thought she was much better tonight and really helped our team.”
On WichitaState
“Each year, I think they become more athletic. They still play relentless defense, and they always have an exceptional backcourt, defensive specialist and liberos. They run a great system. Strategically, they’re running a very good system in that when they pass, it’s difficult to defend. Again, when teams run that system with how they use Lundgren, you have to serve tough. It neutralizes that a little bit, and they become more of a one-dimensional team.”
Senior right side hitter Sarah Pavan
On playing her final match in the Coliseum
“It’s sad. I was definitely thinking about it before the match today. I just really took the time to look around and really appreciate what I’ve been able to play in front of for four years. Running around at the end, just taking a look one last time with the crowd, I knew I’d never play in front of a crowd like this again. I was definitely really sad about it, but I’m definitely looking forward to going to Wisconsin next weekend.”
On her career coming to a close
“Your last time out, you want to play well. I didn’t really get too hung up on that. I just wanted to make the most of it. Now every match can be your last of your career, so you just want to make the most of every match you play. You just go out and work hard for your teammates to reach that common goal we have.”
Freshman libero Kayla Banwarth
On freshman outside hitter Tara Mueller
“Last night after the match, she wasn’t very happy with herself. She knew that she was playing nervous, so tonight she played the way she knew she could play. She did really well tonight.”
Wichita State Quotes
Head Coach Chris Lamb
Opening Statement
“I am proud of our team tonight. I am proud of our team all season. It has been a great year for us. I trust that the Huskers played well tonight. I certainly think that they served well tonight. They gave everyone a heck of a show tonight. I thought that was an amazing match to watch. My own team was amazing me with some of the balls they were digging and some of the swings they were able to take. I was proud they fought to the end.
“Somewhere in the middle of the season, someone was telling me Nebraska might be the best college team ever. I saw them on TV and I had no argument with that. What they are capable of is off-the-chart-good. I was so proud that we gave them everything we had. I thought we hung in there pretty well in the back row. We fought to the end. I wish we could go back up there and go for another hour and a half to be honest with you.”
On if Nebraska’s attack wore them down
“It wears you down. They have such great balance and great kill percentage all over the floor and an amazing setter. I am sure at the very top John Cook will tell you where the holes are. It is still the most pressure that we have faced all year. Couple that with them playing well and serving well, that is a tough hand to draw. We found ourselves just reacting to everything all the time. When you find yourself reacting, you just have to make plays and we made a lot of plays tonight.”
On preparing for Nebraska’s serves
“I think throughout the season that was another thing that we never saw and therefore never had a way to prepare for. I was lucky enough as a young up-and-coming coach to go to men’s practices at Stanford and stand on boxes and just rip balls as hard as I could. We had our assistant coach stand on a box this week and rip balls. It is different when it is live. It is different when it is coming at you hard and deep. We have not seen that all year and here it is. Hang in there and do the best you can. I thought it got a little better late.”
Senior Outside Hitter Sara Lungren
On the atmosphere in the Coliseum
“I honestly could not imagine a better atmosphere and a better way to go out. I thought we came out and gave it our all. They are a great team. Our defense was there. We gave them a lot of plays. We played awesome. This obviously ended our season, but what a way to go out. I would not have wanted it any other way.”
Abby Harsh
On the atmosphere in the Coliseum
“I totally agree (with Sara). We were sitting on the bench during a timeout and we just looked up and said ?what a better way than this.’ It has been an amazing season and career. Every time I looked up on the scoreboard, I felt like we were pushing. They are an awesome team.”