Todd Henrichs: Seniors built their own legacy
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By TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star
For three homegrown talents, three players whose Nebraska volleyball dream began in the days of Allison Weston and Christy Johnson and Terry Pettit, the word “authentic” seemed an interesting choice for a theme to their senior seasons.
Yet as Husker fans put their collective arms around Jordan Larson, Amanda Gates and Rachel Schwartz on Saturday night, that word, which on the surface seemed so surprising, proved to the perfect fit for this team.
These Huskers were never the most talented, and that was before surgeries decimated the lineup.
But by doing things in their own unique way, they still have a chance to do something that’s not authentic, but nearly automatic, at Nebraska. Win the regular-season finale Saturday at Baylor and the Huskers will add another Big 12 championship banner to the Coliseum rafters.
How have they done it? The seniors’ leadership style, unique in its simplicity, deserves significant credit.
“We just wanted to create a fun environment where people could feel comfortable,” Schwartz said.
And so it was Saturday. On the night that the three seniors were honored, there could have been a woe-is-me attitude. From last year’s disappointment, to the departure of setter Rachel Holloway, to the recent injuries, not everything has gone perfectly for this season class.
But perfect is what they are, at least when playing in their home state. With Saturday’s 25-18, 25-13, 25-12 win over Texas Tech, the kids from Hooper, Columbus and Lincoln improved to 77-0 in matches played within the borders of the state.
To finish it out at the final four in Omaha would seem a long shot at this point. But the fact that they’ve gotten the team this far, that they willed the Huskers to wins over Stanford and USC and Texas and K-State, they’ve in many ways already exceeded expectations.
Last week, Larson asked the team: If the season ended now, would it be a success? Absolutely, they said.
“Embracing challenges, that’s what essentially creates a team,” Schwartz added. “To sit here and say that we’ve been punched in the mouth too many times, that would be selfish.
“Selfless is how we wanted this team to play.”
Larson, Gates and Schwartz will forever have championship rings from 2006, but there’s so much more that they’ll hold onto. Though they weren’t the best of friends at the start of their careers, they’re to the point now where they say they’ll be calling each other 40 years down the road.
On Saturday, after what could potentially have been their final match inside the Coliseum, they shared something else. Tears.
Or as Larson put it, “a waterfall.”
“We make each other better people,” she said. “Amanda Gates is someone you want to be around because you know she’s going to make you a better person. You can say the same thing with Schwartz. She has a great head on her shoulders.”
Together, they came up with a strategy for erasing all the bad memories of last season. It’s worked wonders.
This team clearly has a strong bond, one not unlike the union between the Huskers and the loyal fans who fill the Coliseum.
On Saturday, they welcomed Scottsbluff native Jordan Wilberger to the starting lineup. They cheered Kori Cooper, who showed up on crutches a day after surgery. They saluted Brooke Delano, who was back on the sideline a week after being lost for the season.
But mostly, they came to honor three uniquely Nebraskan seniors. All had big nights, with Larson leading the way with 15 kills.
One came left-handed. Authentic.
“We all know what volleyball truly means to the state of Nebraska,” Schwartz said. “That’s truly special.”
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.
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