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Cook likes state tourney in Lincoln
COMMENTARY
By Bob Hamar
bob.hamar@theindependent.com
We’re just two months away from the start of the high school volleyball season.
The 2009 season will be much like the ones of the past. It will end up with six team champions being crowned in November at the Nebraska Coliseum.
But things will change in 2010 when Grand Island and Hastings will host the state tournament. That decision in April by the Nebraska Schools Activities Association caused an uproar in the eastern part of the state.
Count University of Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook among those who was opposed to the move. The high school football championships are still played at Memorial Stadium and the basketball finals are at the Devaney Center.
That’s what bothers Cook the most.
“That to me is the unfortunate thing,” Cook said. “We don’t take that away from basketball players and we don’t take it away from football. I don’t know why they took it away from volleyball.”
“That’s every girls dream is to play a state championship match in the Coliseum,” Cook said. “I don’t care where it’s moved or how nice it is. It’s not the Coliseum.
“That’s my feeling on it. That opportunity is just like the boys getting to play in Memorial Stadium.”
There is no argument that the Coliseum is a special place for volleyball. Cook’s daughter, Lauren — who will play at UCLA this fall — got to play in the Coliseum this fall when Lincoln Pius won the Class B state title.
“The Coliseum is a special place for volleyball,” Cook said. “Again, I understand the reasons why. We’ve worked really hard to make the Coliseum available, moving matches and changing schedules and working with the other Big 12 teams.”
Cook makes it clear he has nothing against Central Nebraska. It’s just that he feels the athletes deserve the chance to play for a state championship on the home court of the Huskers.
“That doesn’t diminish the job Grand island will do and the people there,” he said. “I’ve been there several times and to Kearney and Hastings. Those people will do a tremendous job, but you can’t move the Coliseum out there.”
Spring fling
The Huskers had a strong showing at the Collegiate Beach Championships to end their spring season in April.
Kayla Banwarth and Brooke Delano won the Flight C title while Brigette Root of Grand Island and Megan Pendergast won Class D.
The Huskers as a team finished second with 34 points. USC was first with 37.
Although sand volleyball has been named an emerging sport by the NCAA, that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Many conferences, including the Big 12, are against adding the sport because of the current economic problems.
Cook has always been a supporter of the sport.
“There has been a lot of talk about starting sand volleyball,” Cook said. “It will be interesting to see where it goes and how big it becomes. It’s something we certainly like. It’s fun when we do well.
“We train for it and prepare for it. It’s fun to see our players — especially like Brigette Root — do so well in beach.”
Young talent
About 250 athletes took part in the Nebraska Volleyball Camp last month, and Cook was very impressed with what he saw.
“It’s a great opportunity. The top court was really strong,” he said. “We’re really happy with that. There are some great young kids coming up in the state. That’s very good for us to see. We’re excited about watching those kids develop. Hopefully they’ll get to the level they can play at Nebraska.”
Two of those young players who were at that camp are 6-foot-2 identical twins Amber and Kadi Rolfzen. They told Cook then that they were making a verbal commitment to join the Husker program — in 2013.
The twins are recent graduates of Papillion Junior High. They will play this fall for Gwen Egbert at Papillion La-Vista South High School.
Kadi plays outside hitter and setter for her club team while Amber is a middle blocker.
Cook can’t comment on potential recruits, but he obviously impressed with the freshmen-to-be. Egbert said they’re the real deal.
“Athletically, they’re there,” she told the Lincoln Journa Star. “Hitting- and blocking-wise they’re there.
“Defensively, their passing, they need to get better, but already, they can thump the ball.”
Bob Hamar is assistant sports editor for The Independent.
The 2009 season will be much like the ones of the past. It will end up with six team champions being crowned in November at the Nebraska Coliseum.
But things will change in 2010 when Grand Island and Hastings will host the state tournament. That decision in April by the Nebraska Schools Activities Association caused an uproar in the eastern part of the state.
Count University of Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook among those who was opposed to the move. The high school football championships are still played at Memorial Stadium and the basketball finals are at the Devaney Center.
“That to me is the unfortunate thing,” Cook said. “We don’t take that away from basketball players and we don’t take it away from football. I don’t know why they took it away from volleyball.”
“That’s every girls dream is to play a state championship match in the Coliseum,” Cook said. “I don’t care where it’s moved or how nice it is. It’s not the Coliseum.
“That’s my feeling on it. That opportunity is just like the boys getting to play in Memorial Stadium.”
There is no argument that the Coliseum is a special place for volleyball. Cook’s daughter, Lauren — who will play at UCLA this fall — got to play in the Coliseum this fall when Lincoln Pius won the Class B state title.
“The Coliseum is a special place for volleyball,” Cook said. “Again, I understand the reasons why. We’ve worked really hard to make the Coliseum available, moving matches and changing schedules and working with the other Big 12 teams.”
Cook makes it clear he has nothing against Central Nebraska. It’s just that he feels the athletes deserve the chance to play for a state championship on the home court of the Huskers.
“That doesn’t diminish the job Grand island will do and the people there,” he said. “I’ve been there several times and to Kearney and Hastings. Those people will do a tremendous job, but you can’t move the Coliseum out there.”
Spring fling
The Huskers had a strong showing at the Collegiate Beach Championships to end their spring season in April.
Kayla Banwarth and Brooke Delano won the Flight C title while Brigette Root of Grand Island and Megan Pendergast won Class D.
The Huskers as a team finished second with 34 points. USC was first with 37.
Although sand volleyball has been named an emerging sport by the NCAA, that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Many conferences, including the Big 12, are against adding the sport because of the current economic problems.
Cook has always been a supporter of the sport.
“There has been a lot of talk about starting sand volleyball,” Cook said. “It will be interesting to see where it goes and how big it becomes. It’s something we certainly like. It’s fun when we do well.
“We train for it and prepare for it. It’s fun to see our players — especially like Brigette Root — do so well in beach.”
Young talent
About 250 athletes took part in the Nebraska Volleyball Camp last month, and Cook was very impressed with what he saw.
“It’s a great opportunity. The top court was really strong,” he said. “We’re really happy with that. There are some great young kids coming up in the state. That’s very good for us to see. We’re excited about watching those kids develop. Hopefully they’ll get to the level they can play at Nebraska.”
Two of those young players who were at that camp are 6-foot-2 identical twins Amber and Kadi Rolfzen. They told Cook then that they were making a verbal commitment to join the Husker program — in 2013.
The twins are recent graduates of Papillion Junior High. They will play this fall for Gwen Egbert at Papillion La-Vista South High School.
Kadi plays outside hitter and setter for her club team while Amber is a middle blocker.
Cook can’t comment on potential recruits, but he obviously impressed with the freshmen-to-be. Egbert said they’re the real deal.
“Athletically, they’re there,” she told the Lincoln Journa Star. “Hitting- and blocking-wise they’re there.
“Defensively, their passing, they need to get better, but already, they can thump the ball.”
Bob Hamar is assistant sports editor for The Independent.
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