China Trip Blog Day 6: A two-match Monday for the Huskers

Nebraska played two matches today.

After practicing here at Zhejiang University's arena, the Huskers headed to the Zhejiang Physical Education Professional University's training facility for a meeting with the Zhejiang Pro A Team.  As you may have guessed, we're in Zhejiang Province, which lends its name to universities and its own provincial pro volleyball team.

Zhejiang's Pro Volleyball team practices at the Physical Education Professional University's facility because it's impressive: less than four years old, there are 12 full courts - six on the top floor and six more on the floor just below. This mammoth volleyball is about eight stories tall and sits adjacent to many other brand new athletic facilities.  Clearly the Chinese government hasn't spent all its money on U.S. debt- university and athletic infrastructure is going up at an impressive clip.

Nebraska swept the Zhejiang Pro Team: 25-16, 25-19, and 25-18 - the second win over a pro team of paid adult players on the trip.  The Zhejiang group had lost one player to the Chinese national team and was tired after having just finished a long tournament on the road, but Nebraska was impressive again.  The setters, middles, and right sides were connecting all afternoon.  Allison McNeal, Lindsey Licht, and Morgan Broekhuis were especially tough to stop.  Brooke Delano showed signs of breaking out of a mini slump, dropping a handful of kills.  Jordan Wilberger was her effective self, making one memorable solo block.  Gina Mancuso finished with 3 blocks in two games and the Huskers finished with 14 as a team in the sweep. The Husker servers had Zhejiang passing worse than a kidney stone.

The Huskers then rested a number of starters later in the afternoon versus our hosts here at Zhejiang University.  Brigette Root set her first match as a Husker, Paige Hubl played the entire match at libero, and Megan Pendergast started as an outside hitter.  The Huskers pulled out the first set and then lost the final two - falling two sets to one before a boisterous crowd of about 500, many of them UNL business students here taking summer classes for the month.

Zhejiang University is one of two Chinese University partners of UNL, and we have received first-class hospitality.  A big red banner greeted us last night here at the foreign student dorm: Welcome Nebraska University Volleyball. Another banner promoting today's match stood outside the arena, which is a few blocks up the hill from our dormitory.

Today ended with an extravagant dinner hosted by the Zhejiang University's Vice Chancellor.  Toasts and gifts were numerous.  This is a strengthening partnership that provides all UNL students the chance to study in this beautiful city of Hangzhou, known as one of two Paradise Cities in China.  There a common saying here: "In Heaven, there is Paradise; on earth Suzhou and Hangzhou."  Trees, parks, gardens and blue skies are common in this city of 6 to 10 million about 140 miles south of Shanghai.  Tomorrow should be another fun and productive day for the Huskers, hanging out in Hangzhou.

I'm John Baylor in China with Nebraska Volleyball - describing what I see.

Feel free to email us feedback on these reports or ask questions to the Husker coaches and players in China at John@JohnBaylorTestPrep.com