First downs and second guesses: I’m really looking forward to the big debate on Tuesday night. That is, the one at the Devaney Center with the net in the middle. No.
5 Nebraska and No. 9 Creighton will celebrate the sport of volleyball in Nebraska on Tuesday night. It will be interesting to see who celebrates afterward.
Is it finally Creighton’s turn? The Jays are 0-20 against the Huskers. But Coach Kirsten Bernthal-Booth’s program has never been closer, never looked more like Nebraska’s volley machine. It’s the first time the two programs have met as top 10 teams.
Creighton was No. 9 in September of 2017 but CU and NU didn’t play that year. These look like two elite teams and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see either — perhaps even both — playing in Louisville in mid-December.
Creighton, of course, has been to the Elite Eight once and never to a Final Four. But Booth has quietly built a national program and a loaded roster that looks ready to take the next giant step. It starts with outside hitters Norah Sis (who missed last year’s NU match) and Ava Martin.
Kendra Wait is one of the best setters in the nation. Like a lot of top volleyball coaches, Booth is becoming proficient at using the transfer portal to elevate a team. CU added 6-4 middle blocker Elise Goetzinger from Kentucky, and defensive specialist Maddy Bilinovic.
A few weeks ago, Booth told me that the pair of transfers were going to add a toughness to her team, designed to help CU finish big matches and get to the next level. Goetzinger and Bilinovic won’t be intimidated by the loud noises at Devaney. On the other hand, the Huskers are deeper and will have the height advantage and the edge mentally with their series dominance.
But what’s going on with the Huskers mentally right now? The timing of this match makes it more interesting. Nebraska entered the season supremely confident and motivated by last year’s loss in the NCAA title game. But they lost a clunker match at SMU last Tuesday — which caught veteran coach John Cook by surprise.
Especially when his Huskers didn’t fight back. Did two wins over The Citadel and Montana State right the ship mentally? Are there early-season kinks with chemistry and roles to be worked out? If Creighton comes out and wins the first set, how will the Huskers respond? A win over Nebraska would change how the CU program is perceived — locally and nationally. And it could change how the Jays see themselves — especially in December.
The Huskers? Well, they’re supposed to win. But that’s every match that they will play the rest of the season. They'll develop a championship mindset in matches like these.
And none of the Huskers want to be the team that loses to Creighton. Last year the Jays — without Sis — got to a fourth set before losing. Two years ago, they played an epic five-setter in Omaha.
Tuesday night they will state their cases. And somebody is going to get the last word. One of the best things about Matt Rhule’s Monday presser is context.
For instance, Rhule pointed out that the field goal struggles have been in part due to having a hard time getting the snap in the proper place. And Rhule gave proper credit to linebacker John Bullock on Tommi Hill’s pick six against CU. Rhule said Bullock blanketed Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders’ first option, and forced him to look outside — where Hill was waiting.
There’s always a reason why plays happen. Hearing what those reasons are is meaningful, and welcome, context in a world of snap judgements. Bud Crawford has had an iconic career in the ring.
But from now when I see him I’m going to think of him leading the Huskers out of the tunnel wearing that red jersey and the belt. What an incredible moment — for him and everyone. And to hear that Crawford told Rhule he was upset the team didn’t play better in the second half.
That’s gold. Great to see the spotlight on Cade Haberman, the Northern Illinois senior tackle and Westside High grad. Haberman blocked Notre Dame’s field goal attempt and sealed the Huskies’ upset at ND.
There might be people who wonder if Frankie Fidler is going to play at Michigan State. But those people are not at Michigan State. Fidler, the shooting star from Bellevue West and UNO, had an impressive summer after transferring to MSU in the spring.
He averaged 39.4 points (with 17 three-pointers made) in four games of MSU’s “Money Ball” summer league tournament. During the Spartans’ recent trip to Spain, Fidler led the team in scoring with 14.
3 points per game. Fidler is the favorite to start at small forward for Tom Izzo this season. The MSU basketball blog “Spartan Avenue” wrote about Fidler: “Fidler is able to score at all three levels but he so far has shined the most from midrange with a killer set of moves that he can create space with.
It’s truly such a beautiful part of his game to watch.” Here’s a great idea from Kevin Thompson, of First National Bank: Free Bikes 4 Kids Omaha. FB4K Omaha is a nonprofit that collects bikes from people who aren’t using them and provides them for kids in the community.
This year’s collection day is Saturday, Sept. 14 from 9 a.m.
to noon at several area Walmart locations. The collection points will be at Walmart at Aksarben, L Street Plaza, 168th and Maple, 180th and Center, I-80 and 370, 72nd and Giles and Lake Manawa Center. Congrats to Martie Cordaro, who will be honored Sept.
19 as a “Face on the Barroom Floor” at the Omaha Press Club. Trust me, that’s a good thing. It means the Storm Chasers President and General Manager is a valued member of the Omaha community.
Since arriving in Omaha in 2006, Cordaro has elevated our sports town experience with pro baseball, soccer and high school sports. Nobody has been a bigger advocate for honoring Omaha baseball and sports history than Cordaro and the Chasers. He’s also my favorite Louisiana Tech fan in Omaha.
Well, he might be the only Louisiana Tech fan I know. Get local news delivered to your inbox!.
