Cook family expects to enjoy volleyball battle

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By TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star

The menu at the Cook household Saturday read as follows:

Tri-tip steaks.

Potatoes.

[+]Enlarge

UCLA freshman setter Lauren Cook (center) is sets against BYU at the Ameritas Players Challenge on Sept. 10, 2009. (Gwyneth Roberts)

UCLA freshman setter Lauren Cook (center) is sets against BYU at the Ameritas Players Challenge on Sept. 10, 2009. (Gwyneth Roberts)

Corn on the cob.

All Nebraska traditions that Lauren Cook has a strong affection for.

“This is so awesome to be back here,” the UCLA setter said Thursday. “When you go away and you come home, there’s nothing I can compare it to in terms of excitement.”

Except maybe lining up across the net from your father’s team, which Cook will do Sunday when No. 5 Nebraska and No. 8 UCLA meet in an anticipated early season match at the sold-out Devaney Sports Center.

It’s been fascinating to watch this week as Nebraska coach John Cook talked about the game plan he’ll employ against his daughter, a setter without tendencies and whose offensive prowess coming into the weekend was evident in her 17 kills in 27 swings.

“We’re going to have to deal with that whether she’s my daughter or not,” Cook said.

Just imagine, for a minute, all that’s been dealt with to bring us to the point where the Cook family — mom and younger brother included — can celebrate a special event.

Lauren Cook says she gets her competitive drive and her love for the game from her father, and her outgoing personality from her mother.

“She adds the fun aspect to it,” Lauren said.

Which could explain why Lauren is at UCLA instead of Nebraska, where there always would have been a cloud hanging over her.

Whispers of “Was she playing because she’d earned it or only because she was the coach’s daughter?”

Of course, there was risk involved in going elsewhere, as well.

“Wanting to step out and do something on her own was a priority from day one,” her mom, Wendy, said.

Still in the early stages of her freshman season at UCLA, Cook is certainly on her own now. But not necessarily  today.

She’ll no doubt be surrounded by teammates motivated to make this a match that they all can fondly remember.

And, of course, we know those Big Red fans will still have a soft spot for one of their own.

As for the opposing coach, he made a couple of promises to his daughter this week.

First, the team meal would be special. As will the match, no matter what happens.

Said John Cook: “I’m going to make sure I enjoy it.”

Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.