Despite Team’s Success, Nebraska Volleyball Coach John Cook Reveals Ignorining Team’s ‘No Error’ Achievement

After narrowly missing out on winning the 2023 NCAA title, Nebraska volleyball has had an incredible season this year. With the 2024 NCAA Championships almost upon us, Nebraska has been successful on every front. Whether it’s attracting huge crowds or staying undefeated in the Big 10 Conference, the Huskers have delivered. However, in their recent match against Oregon, the Huskers were flawless in one stat.

While talking to the press ahead of their clash with Minnesota, coach John Cook discussed the Huskers’ no “service errors” stat during the Oregon game. “Did you know it right away or did somebody tell you?” a reporter asked Cook. While the veteran coach explained he saw the stat later, he also admitted to not acknowledging the achievement.

“Nate told me the last time we did that we lost, which was 2017 to Northern Iowa, and then I immediately erased it. We didn’t make a big deal about it,” revealed the Huskers’ coach during the press conference. While making no service errors throughout an entire game speaks of the consistency of the team, the Nebraska volleyball coach knew stats don’t win matches.

After all the last time they achieved this milestone and still lost. However, Cook did give credit to the younger Nebraska Huskers under his tutelage. “Anytime you go the whole match and don’t make an error, it’s not like we’re lollipoping balls in or underhanded… Our team was really focused and did a really good job of executing…” added the four-time NCAA-winning coach.

NU dominated Oregon in their clash, sweeping their opponents 3-0. Nebraska volleyball stars Harper Murray, Lexi Rodriguez, and Bergen Reilly performed exceptionally. Murray led the charge with 14 kills and 10 digs. Meanwhile, Rodrigues bagged 14 digs, while Reilly was the backbone of the Huskers’ defense with 33 blocks. However, besides their impressive performance on the court, the team’s influence has transcended the sport.

How Nebraska Volleyball is having a massive impact on women’s sports

Over the last two years, NU has reached new heights of popularity among volleyball fans. John Cook, who has been with the team for over two decades, has never seen his team reach such monumental levels of significance. After defeating Washington, the present asked Cook how the Cornhuskers have had the “Caitlin Clark effect” for volleyball.

Die-hard Nebraska volleyball didn’t like the comparison. For them, the transcendental fame that NU has achieved has been the result of decades of hard work from figures such as John Cook. However, the 68-year-old didn’t mind the comparison. “It’s been bizarre. I mean, everywhere we go, I think this all started with a stadium match last year,” said Cook.

“The whole country knows about Nebraska volleyball. And I mean, we break a record every place we go,” the 3x AVCA National Coach of the Year admitted proudly. Besides holding the women’s sports live attendance record at 92,003 fans, NU has continued to break barriers in the 2024 season. After the live audience, the Huskers even bagged the ESPN viewership record.

On September 22, the match between NU and the Louisville Cardinals averaged 684,000 viewers, breaking the ESPN viewership record for a regular season match. Since then, Nebraska volleyball has also helped teams like Washington set home-ground attendance records. “We want to hold every record…” John Cook had said in September. Looking at the Husker’s momentum, it’s hard to argue against that statement.