Licht hitting and healthy

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By TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star

A year ago, Lindsey Licht’s first concern during the second half of the Big 12 schedule was to stay healthy enough to play.

This year, Nebraska’s junior right-side hitter is getting healthy on the competition.

Licht, who hit .300 or better just once after Nov. 1 a year ago, has hit .400 or better in three of Nebraska’s four matches this month.

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Nebraska's Lindsay Licht pounds the ball over the block of Oklahoma defenders in Nebraska's win in October. (LJS file)

Nebraska's Lindsay Licht pounds the ball over the block of Oklahoma defenders in Nebraska's win in October. (LJS file)

In the last week alone, Licht hit .619 against Texas A&M and .522 against Baylor, in both cases leading the Huskers with 13 kills.

With Licht heating up, volleyball coach John Cook said Nebraska is shaping up as the balanced offensive team that the Huskers must be to go far in the NCAA Tournament.

“Baylor was trying to stop Kori (Cooper) and Brooke (Delano), and Licht made them pay,” Cook said. “That’s what has to happen. Balance is what gives us the best chance.”

Having swept four straight matches, No. 9 Nebraska (20-6, 13-4) visits Kansas on Saurday to face a team clinging to the slimmest of postseason hopes.

Kansas (15-12, 7-10) is led by Karina Garlington and Allison Mayfield, outside hitters who combined account for more than half of the Jayhawks’ swings. Garlington was a high school teammate of Licht at Grandview in suburban Denver.

Unstoppable in the prep ranks, Licht hit .212 while averaging 2.56 kills per set in her first full collegiate season a year ago. Bothered by a bum elbow and foot pain toward the end of the season, Licht underwent surgery that kept her off the court in the spring.

This season, she’s bounced back to hit .263 while averaging 2.76 kills, but in the second half of Big 12 play, those marks are .393 and 3.50. Licht’s improved athleticism has shown up more and more of late, in awe-inspiring attacks where the 6-foot-5 lefty has bounced the ball inside the 3-meter line, Or, as happened against Baylor, Licht can deftly take a pass tight to the net and dump it for a kill against a surprised defense.

“Those are athletic plays that she’s continued to get better at,” Cook said.

As a team, Nebraska continues to improve, hitting .285 during the second half of the conference season after hitting .235 in its first 10 Big 12 matches.

Said Cook: “We’re getting close to where I thought we could be.”

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