Nebraska rolls past Mizzou
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By TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star
Brooke Delano learned her right from her left years ago. But keeping them straight on the volleyball court? Well, that hasn’t been so easy in a year where the redshirt freshman has been called on to fill in on either side of the net.
“That’s been the story of our team this season,” senior Husker teammate Jordan Larson said in saluting Delano for her dedication. “Everyone is willing to do whatever they can to help this team win.”
Eight weeks after Delano was an emergency replacement for left-side hitter Tara Mueller, she stepped in for right-side hitter Lindsey Licht on Wednesday night and it was her three consecutive blocks in the first set that sparked third-ranked Nebraska to a 25-19, 25-22, 25-14 win against Missouri.
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Delano finished with just four kills and four blocks, but she had no errors and with those back-to-back-to-back blocks, she immediately cast doubt in Mizzou’s Lauren Nuckolls’ mind.
NU coach John Cook celebrated one of the blocks with rare emotion, flexing his muscles as if he were in a pose off with Mr. Universe.
“As I’ve said all year, she’s had a very difficult role on our team,” Cook said. “The last few times she went in, it was late in games, and it was hard to go in and do well.
“She started off great tonight, and I couldn’t help but get excited.”
Cook said that Licht, who was coming off four straight matches with double-digit kills, “was banged up” and that he hoped the sophomore would return for Saturday’s match at Kansas. Next Wednesday, the Huskers travel to No. 4 Texas with the Big 12 title at stake.
Licht, who sparked the Huskers in their win against the Longhorns earlier this season, was in uniform Wednesday and did go through warm-ups. But the left-handed hitter rarely swung with her left arm.
Delano said she trained exclusively at right-side hitter the past two days in preparation for Wednesday’s match.
“Every position has different things about it that I like,” said Delano, who was recruited as a middle blocker.
With her quickness, she could be a force running quick middle attacks. But most of her kills Wednesday came on high sets where she effectively ripped the ball off the fingertips of the blockers’ hands.
“She showed her versatility tonight,” Cook said.
Missouri’s offense amounted to Lincoln Christian graduate Megan Wilson, at least in the first two sets. The junior finished with 16 kills — two short of her career high — and hit .500 for the Tigers (12-13, 6-9 Big 12).
“You can’t not have fun playing here,” said Wilson, who came in averaging fewer than two kills per set.
“Before the match, we talked a lot about just going up and swinging, and not thinking,” she added. “Tonight, I used what they gave me.”
Nebraska (24-1, 15-1 Big 12) was in control for the majority of the match. The only drama was late in set two when the Huskers twice used kills from Kori Cooper to maintain their lead.
Larson capped the set-two win with an ace, her second, to go with 16 kills and 13 digs. Mueller added 13 kills as NU hit better than .350 for a second consecutive match.
“I thought we did some really good things,” Cook said.
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.
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