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For players, if the Nebraska volleyball teams meet their expectations, a goal for the fourth consecutive time is the fourth NCAA finals – the Huskers' progress in the region serving to receive some of the game.
This is one of the areas in which Nebraska had a resounding success last season, with the graduation of two outstanding passers-by to Annika Albrecht and Sydney Townsend.
Nebraska is still working to get the same service as last season, which is understandable for young players such as Lexi Sun and Hayley Densberger, who now play a major role in passing.
There were signs earlier in the season that Nebraska was not yet an elite passing team. Iowa State and Creighton both insisted the Huskers were on duty, but Nebraska were still able to win those matches. But Nebraska coach John Cook knew the Huskers needed to improve their pass.
"We have to do better so we can reach a higher percentage and not have (smuggler Nicklin Hames) in trouble all over the field," Cook said last month.
Nebraska's conference winning percentage (.263) ranks third among the Big Ten.
In recent defeats against Minnesota and the Penn State, one of the things Nebraska has not been able to overcome is its demise.
The Huskers (15-3, 6-2 Big Ten) will have another chance to progress in the passes and their game in the overall standings with a monster weekend. On Friday, the fifth ranked Huskers will be 9th in Wisconsin (12-4, 5-3) and Saturday will be a rematch against Minnesota No. 3. Cook doubts that there is a more demanding weekend in university athletics, having to face two top-10 teams in two states, the second match starting about 21 hours after the end of the first.
Minnesota leads the Big Ten with an 8-0 record, winning 24 of 25 sets in the league.
Service in Nebraska is essential to allow his group of talented forwards – Mikaela Foecke, Sweet Jazz, Lauren Stivrins and Sun – to get to work by beating in situations where they can have the most success. A bad pass makes the Huskers predictable, which means Nebraska hits two blockers.
A good pass could be even more important for Nebraska this year, when the Huskers will have a smuggler in first year. Teams like Minnesota and Illinois that have veterans, scavengers, are sometimes able to give a good set to their batters even if there is no perfect pass.
"The less you can stress (Hames), the easier it is for her," Cook said.
To help illustrate the goal of the Husker's smugglers, coaching staff placed tape on the training ground this week to determine where the pass should be placed. It is a box about 5 feet deep and 10 feet long in front of the net.
"Just put that ball in the blue box. That's what they have to do, with the tempo, "said Cook, of the mentality that the smugglers of the Huskers must have.
Foecke is the preferred target of the opposing servers, with 291 attempts this season. After that, the Huskers who get the most passes are Kenzie Maloney (265), Densberger (180) and Sun (134).
In the ranking system used by Nebraska to evaluate the service received, the Huskers are at an average of 2.62. The goal is 2.8, which the Huskers have met during last year's championship season.
"We think that we must continue to improve the passes. So we are not yet in our numbers, "Cook said. "We are close, but we are not there yet."
Foecke tries to move from one aggressive state of mind to another.
"I think that to be a good passer, the ball must be up there," Foecke said. "Some services will come and be very hard, so you will have to fight very hard."
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