The Nebraska Huskers have reached their 33rd NCAA Regional Finals! Defeating the Dayton Flyers by 3-1 on Friday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, John Cook’s team is now one step closer to winning the NCAA volleyball trophy for the first time since 2017. But it wasn’t just the action on the court that hogged the fans’ attention. Instead, Rebekah Allick’s activities on the stands made the fans go ga-ga.

Parallels with retired swimmer Tom Daly came in quickly after the Huskers’ middle blocker was spotted crocheting to pass the time while her teammates battered the visitors. Speculations about whether it was merely a time-killing thing or an unknown hobby of Allick’s quickly engulfed the community. However, there might be an even deeper reason behind the whole shenanigan.

Nebraska blocker’s surprising reason for crocheting

During the Dayton Postgame Presser,” uploaded by the Nebraska Huskers on YouTube on December 13, the junior student-athlete revealed why she was seen crocheting during the Dayton game. She said, “I think the biggest thing is staying present,” underscoring how she was doing her best to keep her composure while waiting to go on the court. She went on to talk about keeping your gaze close by instead of thinking too much about the future as the key to keeping calm.

“…being able to separate ourselves from that match and not looking too far into the future,” the Nebraska star said after the win, clarifying that Sunday’s match against Wisconsin isn’t occupying the team’s mind entirely. Allick also highlighted how she sometimes detaches herself from her surroundings by doing simple things like having a snack: “Just finding out where your feet are and figuring out what you need. Staying external,” she revealed. Ad that’s probably where crocheting comes in: to help Rebekah keep her mind off the pressure of winning games.

One journalist floated the idea that crocheting helps Allick maintain control over her nerves; she laughed as she said, “…a little bit whenever my nerves are running high.” She then proceeded to elaborate on how her crocheting skills are also a way to give back to her squadmates. “They’re a gift to the girls right now,” she beamed with a bright smile. “I never thought I’d be asked about crocheting. I’m gonna be really honest. But yeah, it’s like a kind of headband ear warmer type of thing. The girls like their hair, so gotta honor that,” the Nebraska blocker said further about why working on other things brings out the best in her. But whatever the case, Huskers fans would only pray that the seemingly simple activity helps her this weekend too.

Old foes to cross the Huskers’ path again

The Huskers finished their regular season 29-2 overall. With an impressive 19-1 record in the Big Ten, Cook’s girls managed to win the conference title back-to-back, this time sharing it with the Penn State Nittany Lions. They roared into the 2024 NCAA Volleyball tournament and have so far trounced every opponent they crossed paths with (3-0 vs. Florida A&M, 3-0 vs. Miami, and today’s 3-1 victory against Dayton). On December 15, Nebraska will meet Wisconsin for the third time this season. In their two previous encounters previously this year, the Huskers swept the Badgers both times, a feat they achieved after a long, long time.

Last year, the Nebraska team reached the finals but ultimately was defeated by the Texas Longhorns in Tampa, Florida. The result left a bitter taste in the mouth of John Cook & Co., and this year, they’re looking fixated on making amends. Moreover, five of the Huskers seniors will be leaving the Lincoln campus at the end of the season. That seems to be making their teammates feel the itch even more to win the national title and give Lexi Rodriguez, Lindsay Krauss, and the others the best parting gift possible. But the current batch of Nebraska seniors hasn’t felt what it’s like to win the NCAA title.

“They’ve literally done everything but win a national championship, and you know, we still got an opportunity to do that,” said Coach John Cook about why the whole team has looked unstoppable all season. Now, all Nebraska’s seasoned head coach wants is to see the Huskers nation rally behind Allick and the others to help them reach the national finals and win the Championship Trophy together. Will you also be among the volleyball loyalists who will cheer for the Cook’s girls this Sunday? Tell us below!