Honoring Weston, Pettit and 1995, 2005 Husker Teams

Pettit Court Honors the Past, Invents the Future

Allison Weston: Epitome of Nebraska Volleyball

Randy York N-Sider

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Nebraska will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Huskers’ first national volleyball championship team Friday night with a homecoming salute between the second and third sets of No. 3-ranked NU’s Big Ten Conference showdown against No. 9-ranked Minnesota. Terry Pettit, the coach for whom the Bob Devaney Sports Center Court is named, and Allison Weston, the 1995 AVCA Player of the Year, will be recognized at the Devaney Center, along with the rest of the 1995 team.

Take Five Q&A: Weston Reflects Back on Her Career

Pettit (pictured above when NU's court was dedicated in his name) and Weston (pictured below when Nebraska beat Texas in the 1995 NCAA national championship game) will join the '95 Husker team at a Friday night private reception inside Memorial Stadium. The 1995 national championship team and 2005 NCAA runner-up team also will be recognized at halftime of Saturday’s Nebraska-Northwestern nationally televised football game, along with four other Husker teams in a Weekend of Champions celebration. In a “Take Five” interview, I asked Weston five quick questions about this weekend’s special ceremonies:

Q-1: When a reunion like this materializes, why is it important and how do you frame reflecting back on the past?

A-1: “It’s mostly about honoring the tradition that accompanies a program as solid as the Nebraska volleyball program. Looking up to the players who came before me, I remember thinking how amazing it would be to become a part of that when I was in high school. Then being on the team and adding to that tradition. I look back at the evolution of the Coliseum and how that was the iconic volleyball venue in the country. Now the Devaney Center is holding more avid fans than ever to watch volleyball. I’m excited to see it first-hand.”  

Q-2: What’s the most memorable experience you remember from that national championship team?

A-2: “So many memories come back…the championship match, of course…that final point and the whole team embracing…the absolute overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment shared with a group of teammates, coaches, family and fans.”

Intensity in High School, College, National Level

Q-3: How did competing at the highest level in college prepare you to go even higher in the sport you love most?

A-3: “Prior to college, I played for one of the most intense coaches in high school, Gwen Egbert. That intense training enabled me to play and be successful at Nebraska. My experiences at Nebraska, in turn, were invaluable in paving the way to preparing for the National Team and competing in the Olympics. The sheer number of hours you spend in the gym and weight room are dedicated to improve your skills and that speaks volumes. We always played a competitive schedule and it just made us better.”

Q-4: How often do you watch Nebraska volleyball games on TV and how cool is it to have something like BTN to enhance national recruiting?

A-4: “I don’t get to see many volleyball matches on TV, but the Big Ten Network has definitely opened up new doors and increased the exposure of college volleyball, which is awesome.”

Q-5: Are you a football fan and if so, how would you strategize rebounding from four losses on the last play of the game?

A-5: “As heart-breaking as that is, you have to come back each week and practice hard, keep improving and believe that good things are yet to come. I’ve gone through losing streaks and it’s painful. Literally, everything hurts. But that’s the thing about being part of something that you’re passionate about. The highs are higher and the lows are lower. Those lows are a true gut check, and commitment and hard work are what get you through it. That’s what’s happening right now. This team is fighting back.”

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