MINNEAPOLIS — It was back to work for the Nebraska volleyball team Friday afternoon. After all, there's one more match to play, Saturday against Stanford in the national championship match.
Nebraska rallied from an 0-2 deficit to beat Illinois in five sets Thursday in the semifinals.
After the Huskers attended the All-America awards banquet Friday morning, they were back on the practice court Friday afternoon.
The team also held a news conference.
“(Freshman middle blocker Callie Schwarzenbach) informed me today there's only two teams practicing, and we're one of them,†Nebraska coach John Cook said. “We're excited to be in the national championship match. Got to get to practice and prepare. Stanford is a good team. It's going to be a great challenge.â€
Stanford is the No. 1 blocking team in the country and had 17 blocks in its dominating 3-0 win against BYU on Thursday.
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But Nebraska has had success in earlier tournament matches hitting shots off blockers’ hands for kills.
“I know in practice we work a lot on tooling the block, hitting high lines,†Nebraska co-captain Kenzie Maloney said. “It's something we're really comfortable with. Hopefully it will be an advantage for us to have a big block up there tomorrow.â€
Photos: The news conference ahead of Saturday's national championship
NCAA Volleyball Press Conferences, 12.14
Nebraska's Mikaela Foecke (left) and head coach John Cook smile in reaction to a reporter's question on Dec. 14 during a press conference the day before the NCAA volleyball National Championship Final at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
NCAA Volleyball Press Conferences, 12.14
Nebraska's Mikaela Foecke (right) looks over towards Huskers teammate Kenzie Maloney as she answers a question on Friday during a press conference the day before the NCAA Volleyball National Championship Final at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NCAA Volleyball Press Conferences, 12.14
Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook answers a question Friday during a news conference the day before the national championship match at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NCAA Volleyball Press Conferences, 12.14
Stanford head coach Kevin Hambly smiles as he listens to a question from Cardinal player Jenna Gray on Friday during a press conference the day before the NCAA volleyball National Championship Final at Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
NCAA Volleyball Press Conferences, 12.14
Stanford player Jenna Gray (left) answers a question as Cardinal teammates Stanford’s Kathryn Plummer (center) and Morgan Hentz looks on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, during a press conference the day before the NCAA Volleyball national Championship Final at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: The Huskers stun the Illini with comeback in Final Four
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Jazz Sweet (12), Lexi Sun (10) and Mikaela Foecke (2) celebrate the Huskers' come-from-behind win in five sets over Illinois during the NCAA volleyball Final Four at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Looking on are Kenzie Maloney (left) and Nicklin Hames (1).
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Capri Davis (9) gets a high-five after scoring a point in the fifth set against Illinois on Thursday during the NCAA volleyball Final Four at the Target Center in Minneapolis
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska players celebrate their come-from-behind win over Illinois in five sets against the Illini on Thursday during the Final Four at the Target Center in Minneapolis.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Jazz Sweet (12), Lexi Sun (10), Lauren Stivrins (26) and Mikaela Foecke (2) celebrate the Huskers' come-from-behind five-set win over Illinois on Thursday during the NCAA volleyball Final Four at the Target Center in Minneapolis
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Kenzie Maloney (11) high-fives her teammates during player introductions Thursday before an NCAA volleyball Final Four match at the Target Center in Minneapolis
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Mikaela Foecke attempts a kill in the first set against Illinois on Thursday during an NCAA volleyball national semifinal at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Mikaela Foecke (2) watches as teammate Kenzie Maloney (11) lifts a pass in the first set against Illinois on Thursday during an NCAA volleyball national semifinal at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Illinois’ Jordyn Poulter lifts a pass in the first set against Nebraska on Thursday during an NCAA Final Four at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Mikaela Foecke (2) goes for a kill against Illinois’ Ashlyn Fleming (12) as Huskers teammates Nicklin Hames (left) and Kenzie Maloney look on in the first set on Dec. 13 during an NCAA Tournament semifinal at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Illinois head coach Chris Tamas (left) greets Nebraska head coach John Cook as Jen Tamas looks on before Nebraska and Illinois played at the Final Four in 2018.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star File Photo
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Mikaela Foecke (2) watches as Kenzie Maloney (11) makes a pass in the first set against Illinois on Thursday during an NCAA volleyball national semifinal at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Lauren Stivrins (26) goes up for a kill against Illinois’ Beth Prince (8) as teammate Mikaela Foecke looks on in the first set Thursday during an NCAA volleyball national semifinal at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Lauren Stivrins (26) attempts a kill against Illinois’ Beth Prince (8) in the first set Thursday during an NCAA volleyball national semifinal at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska volleyball fans Tammy Weber (right) of North Platte and Todd Shane of O'Neill joined hundreds of fellow Husker fans cramming into the Pourhouse for a pep rally Thursday before NU's NCAA Final Four match against Illinois at the Target Center in Minneapolis.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
The Big Red Express and Nebraska cheerleaders perform for hundreds of Huskers fans who crammed into the Pourhouse for a pep rally on Thursday before the NCAA volleyball national semifinal against Illinois at the Target Center in Minneapolis.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Mikaela Foecke (2) serves in the third set against Illinois on Thursday during a Final Four match at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Thursday's NCAA volleyball semifinals were sold out at the Target Center. in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Lexi Sun (10) elevates for an attempted kill in the first set against Illinois on Thursday at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The Huskers won the national semifinal 3-2.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Nicklin Hames lifts a shot in the fourth set against Illinois on Thursday during the NCAA Final Four in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Megan Miller (3) gets love from her teammates after a service ace in the fourth set against Illinois on Thursday during the NCAA national semifinals at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Lexi Sun (10) leaps to keep a ball in play against Illinois on Thursday during the NCAA Final Four at Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Mikaela Foecke (2) rises up for an attempted kill against Illinois in the first set as teammate Kenzie Maloney looks on Thursday during the NCAA Final Four at Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Mikaela Foecke (2) elevates against the Illinois defense for a first-set kill as teammate Lauren Stivrins looks on Thursday during the NCAA Final Four at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Lexi Sun elevates for a kill attempt in the first set against Illinois on Thursday during the Final Four in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Lexi Sun (10) digs out an Illinois shot in the fourth set on Thursday during the NCAA Final Four Target Center in Minneapolis. The Huskers finished the season ranked No. 2, one spot ahead of the Illini.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Jazz Sweet (12) and Callie Schwarzenbach (25) defend against Illinois’ Jacqueline Quade in the third set on Thursday during a Final Four match in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Mikaela Foecke (2) goes for a kill against Illinois’ Ashlyn Fleming (12) as Huskers teammates Nicklin Hames (left) and Kenzie Maloney (11) look on in the first set on Thursday during the NCAA Final Four at Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Lexi Sun (10) and Callie Schwarzenbach (25) walk off the court with teammates Sami Slaughter (4) and Mari Kurkova (7) after defeating Illinois in a come-from-behind five-setter on Thursday in the NCAA Final Four at Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Lexi Sun (10) and her teammates prepare to take on Illinois in the first set on Thursday during the NCAA Final Four at Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Nicklin Hames (1) leads off the Huskers' serving in the first set against Illinois on Thursday during the NCAA Final Four at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska’s Lexi Sun serves in the first set against Illinois at the NCAA Final Four in 2018. Sun, from Encinitas, California, will have a homecoming of sorts this weekend as the Husker play in San Diego.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Nebraska volleyball vs. Illinois, 12.13
Nebraska (bottom) and Illinois players react after the five-set win by Huskers who came from behind, down two sets to win on Thursday during the NCAA Final Four in Minneapolis.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com . On Twitter .
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