Nebraska Cornhuskers Volleyball: A Legacy of Excellence

The Nebraska Cornhuskers women's volleyball team stands as a titan in the landscape of collegiate volleyball, boasting a rich history marked by unparalleled success, unwavering fan support, and a commitment to excellence. Representing the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference, the Cornhuskers have consistently set the standard for achievement, amassing more wins, holding the number one ranking for more weeks, and producing more AVCA All-Americans than any other program in the nation.

From Humble Beginnings to National Prominence

Nebraska's volleyball journey commenced in 1967 as an "extramural" sport, operating under the umbrella of the school's physical education department. Initially, the team was coached by graduate students seeking teaching credits and lacked dedicated uniforms or practice time. However, this modest beginning laid the foundation for what would become a volleyball dynasty.

A pivotal moment arrived in 1978 when Terri Kanouse and Shandi Pettine became the first volleyball student-athletes at Nebraska (and among the first nationwide) to receive full scholarships. These trailblazers earned All-America honors and propelled the Cornhuskers to four consecutive AIAW tournament appearances, establishing Nebraska as a force to be reckoned with outside the traditional West Coast strongholds.

The Terry Pettit Era: Building a National Powerhouse

The hiring of Terry Pettit in 1977 marked a turning point for the program. Pettit transformed the Cornhuskers into a national power, challenging the dominance of West Coast schools. In 1985, Pettit declined an offer to become the head coach for the Oregon Ducks. His loyalty would soon pay off as his Nebraska program reached new heights.

Under his guidance, NU reached the national championship game for the first time in 1986, led by middle blocker Karen Dahlgren and her innovative "slide attack," a technique rarely seen in college volleyball at the time. While they fell short of the title, this appearance signaled Nebraska's arrival on the national stage.

The Cornhuskers returned to the title game in Hawaii in 1989, enjoying strong local fan support, but were ultimately swept by Long Beach State. Despite the loss, Pettit's 1989 team, featuring Janet Kruse, Virginia Stahr, and Stephanie Thater, made history as NU's first players to earn two first-team All-American honors.

After seventeen consecutive regular-season championships, Nebraska lost control of the Big Eight in 1993. However, with the emergence of Papillion native Allison Weston, a sophomore on the team, Nebraska rebounded.

In 1995, after an early-season loss to Stanford, Nebraska embarked on a remarkable twenty-six-game winning streak, finishing the regular season 27-1 and earning the nation's top ranking for the second consecutive year. The Huskers avenged their 1994 tournament loss to Penn State and overcame first-set losses to Michigan State and Texas to secure the program's first national championship. This victory marked Nebraska as only the third school from outside California or Hawaii to claim a national title in men's or women's volleyball, and Weston was named AVCA Player of the Year.

Pettit retired in 2000, leaving behind a legacy of 694 wins and thirty-seven combined conference championships. His impact on the program was so profound that when Nebraska moved its volleyball program to the Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2013, the playing surface was dedicated in his honor.

The John Cook Era: Sustaining Excellence

John Cook, an assistant under Pettit, took the reins in 2000 and continued the program's tradition of excellence. In his debut season, Cook led the team to the NCAA's second-ever undefeated season, solidifying his reputation as one of the sport's premier coaches.

Read also: A Look at the Cornhusker Band

Cook's tenure has been marked by four national championships and the development of volleyball stars such as Sarah Pavan, Jordan Larson, and Lexi Rodriguez. The 2000 team, led by setter Greichaly Cepero, the AVCA national player of the year, finished 20-0 in conference play.

Nebraska's dominance extended into the early 2000s, with the team finishing 20-0 in conference play in both the 2001 and 2002 seasons, extending a Big 12 win streak that would eventually reach seventy-seven.

In 2005, Sarah Pavan led Nebraska to a blistering start, defeating four top-five opponents within the season's first two weeks. The team lost only once in 2006 and earned the top seed in the NCAA Division I tournament for a third consecutive year. A five-set win over Minnesota propelled Cook's team to the national semifinal, hosted in Omaha for the first time.

Cook took his team to North Platte to play a spring exhibition in April 2007, the start of an annual tradition that has seen the Cornhuskers travel to small towns across Nebraska. NU began the season three months later the favorite to repeat as champion and started 19-0 before an October loss at Texas ended NU's record streak as the number-one team in the weekly AVCA poll. At the time, Nebraska had played 103 consecutive matches and nearly three full seasons as the country's top-ranked team.

Conference Transitions and Continued Success

UCLA ended Nebraska's record ninety-match home win streak early in 2009, and Texas ended NU's five-year run atop the Big 12, becoming the first team to beat the Cornhuskers three times in one season.

Read also: Historic First Meeting

In 2011, Nebraska joined the Big Ten Conference, marking a new chapter in the program's history. This move brought regular matchups against longtime rival Penn State and Cook's former employer, Wisconsin. NU won the Big Ten in its first year but was upset by Kansas State at the Coliseum in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Nebraska's earliest exit since 1993.

Tennessee transfer Kelsey Robinson was named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2013, the program's first season at a renovated Bob Devaney Sports Center after thirty-eight years at the NU Coliseum.

Volleyball Day in Nebraska: A Record-Breaking Event

On August 30, 2023, Nebraska hosted Volleyball Day in Nebraska at Memorial Stadium, a historic event featuring four schools from the University of Nebraska system. The official attendance for Nebraska's 3-0 victory over Omaha was 92,003, setting a Memorial Stadium record and marking one of the highest attendances ever for a women's sporting event.

This event was the fourth of twenty-seven consecutive victories to open the season, including a five-set win over top-ranked Wisconsin. NU spent the rest of the season ranked No.

Recent Match: Nebraska vs. UCLA

The top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team continued its undefeated season with a 3-1 victory at UCLA. Although the Huskers' runs of 48 consecutive sets won and 15 consecutive sweeps came to an end, Nebraska answered the set three setback emphatically to improve to 25-0 on the season and 15-0 in Big Ten play.

Andi Jackson tied her season high with 15 kills and hit .625 with no errors. Bergen Reilly posted 34 assists and 11 digs while leading the Huskers to a .299 hitting percentage. Laney Choboy had 14 digs.

Looking Ahead

Cook announced his retirement in January 2025 after 722 victories, fourteen conference championships, and four national titles in twenty-five years as head coach.

Nebraska's volleyball program has a tradition of excellence, a passionate fan base, and a commitment to innovation. As the Cornhuskers continue to compete in the Big Ten Conference and on the national stage, they are poised to add even more chapters to their remarkable story.

Venues

Nebraska played its first varsity volleyball season at Mabel Lee Hall before moving to the NU Coliseum in 1975. The Coliseum was constructed in 1926 adjacent to the recently completed Memorial Stadium.

Statistical Achievements

The Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball team has achieved numerous statistical milestones throughout its history, including:

Assists in a match: 116 (Nov. 5, 1988 vs.
Assists in a match: Lori Endicott, 109 (Nov. 5, 1988 vs.

NCAA Tournament History

The Cornhuskers have a long and storied history in the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament, consistently earning bids and competing for national championships.

Opponents

Nebraska has faced a wide array of opponents throughout its history, including:

Pittsburgh
Stanford
Kentucky
Washington
Penn State
UCLA

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