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Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook named AVCA National Coach of the Year

Abby Barmore HuskerOnlineby:Abby Barmore•12/14/23•

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Nebraska volleyball John Cook
Nebraska volleyball John Cook (Photo by Abby Barmore/HuskerOnline)

Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook is the AVCA National Coach of the Year for the third time in his career.

Under Cook’s leadership, the Huskers won their first Big Ten championship since 2017 and beat Wisconsin for the first time in as many years as well.

Nebraska, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, battles Pittsburgh in the Final Four on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. CT at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

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The Huskers have been to two Final Fours in the last three seasons. Over the last nine seasons, Nebraska has advanced to six national semifinals.

Cook is also the Big Ten Coach of the Year and the AVCA North Region Coach of the Year. Nebraska started the season 27-0 and is now 32-1 heading into the Final Four.

Turning a young squad into champions

The Huskers added five freshmen and junior opposite hitter Merritt Beason, who transferred from Florida. Beason and four freshmen have starting roles.

Beason earned her first AVCA All-America honor, a first-team selection. Libero Lexi Rodriguez was rewarded her third All-American honor and her second first-team pick. Beason was also the AVCA North Region Player of the Year. And Rodriguez is the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second time.

Freshman setter Bergen Reilly and freshman outside hitter Harper Murray have won many awards this season. Reilly is the first-ever freshman Big Ten Setter of the Year, a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a second-team All-American.

The Rally: No. 1 Nebraska and No. 4 Pitt battle in another Final Four

Murray was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year and is a third-team All-American. She was also on the All-Big Ten First team with Reilly, Rodriguez and Beason.

Reilly, Murray and middle blocker Andi Jackson were Big Ten All-Freshman team members and made the North Region teams. All three, including defensive specialist Laney Choboy, have tremendously impacted this team.

Cook and his coaching staff did an amazing job of mentoring a team with no seniors into the top-ranked team in the country. Nebraska isn’t done yet. They are two wins away from Cook’s six national championship.

What we learned from Nebraska volleyball’s Final Four press conference

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