The 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship is just hours away from starting its run. With the schedule now revealed, fans of the sport are scurrying to get their traveling itineraries finalized. But recent news of several flights in the US experiencing technical and mechanical troubles is looking like a storm brewing on the horizon. Amidst such concerns, Nebraska head coach John Cook couldn’t be happier about the prospect of starting the NCAA journey on home soil.

The Huskers have had an incredible regular season in 2024. Finishing with a 29-2 overall record (19-1 in the Big10), the Nebraska girls shared the Big Ten trophy with Penn State. And now, with Florida A&M on its way to meet Merritt Beason, Lexi Rodriguez, & Co. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday, the veteran volleyball coach sighs a breath of relief about not having to travel for the first round of the national tournament.

In a recent presser, Coach Cook talked about how the Huskers squad is pulling its socks up for the upcoming NCAA Championship run. In a YouTube upload by HuskerOnline from December 5, John noted how starting the campaign in a familiar environment could be a crucial advantage for the hosts on Friday. “The great thing is when you’re at home, we get to stay in our rhythm,” Cook said candidly, underscoring that the athletes would be well suited to retain the momentum they gained during the regular season.

Further commenting on how things have been wobbly for the airline companies in the country at the moment, Cook expressed his relief about being able to host Florida A&M for the first round of the NCAA tournament. “That’s the beautiful thing about being at home,” confessed Nebraska’s master strategist. Highlighting how routine helps to keep things smooth, Cook said the Huskers are in a groove, and that could be the decisive factor for their first NCAA game of the year.

Notably, last weekend, Nebraska played two back-to-back matches against Penn State and Maryland as its last matches of the regular collegiate season. In tonight’s presser, John Cook referred to that as well, saying, “We know what it’s like to go back to back,” and making it evident that the team is ready for the imminent tasks. Middle blocker Andi Jackson and setter Bergen Reilly also reflected the same mindset. “There’s no place like Nebraska. And getting to play at home is a huge advantage,” said Sophomore Reilly. However, despite their high spirits, we already know that Cook is working hard on the drawing board for the upcoming match.

John Cook has a special motivation for Friday, and he needs help from the fans

The Nebraska Huskers won their last NCAA volleyball title back in 2017. Since then, the national trophy has become an elusive prize that Cook hasn’t been able to touch. With five of the Huskers seniors on their way out of the Lincoln campus at the end of this season, John understandably wants to make their final ride together one to remember. Last month, Coach Cook acknowledged that winning the NCAA championship would be a massive feat and a deserving tribute for the seniors who are en route to the exit. And he believes the fans could help to make that a reality.

“I’m putting it on our crowd. They’re going to will us to Louisville. They better will us to Louisville,” said Cook at a presser earlier this week. Last year, at the NCAA tournament, the Texas Longhorns defeated the Huskers in the finals in Tampa, Florida, making the heartbreak more acute. But this year, the fans have been in overdrive mode since the start of the season: showing up at every match in flocks to cheer for the athletes at the top of their voices. However, considering the old foe that stands in Nebraska’s way, Cook and his team need to pull a special bunny out of the hat.

Florida A&M and the Huskers have met only once before: in 2004, when Cook was handed a 3-1 loss. This time, he’s eager to get one back, and the Devaney Center could be the perfect stage to do so. Given the Nebraska athletes’ current form, do you think John Cook’s passionate ambition will come to fruition? Tell us in a comment!