LINCOLN — It's easy for John Cook to be blunt now.

Considering all that Jordan Wilberger has done with the Nebraska volleyball team, there's no need for Cook to sugarcoat his initial impression of the Scottsbluff walk-on.

“Jordan works really hard, and she's a good athlete,” Cook said. “But I never thought she'd play in a big match.”

Of course, Wilberger ended up on the court for some of the biggest matches in program history. After redshirting as a freshman in 2007, the reserve middle blocker got thrown into the fire late last season after Kori Cooper suffered her season-ending knee injury Nov. 19.

Wilberger held her own and looked as if she belonged as the Huskers made their run through the NCAA tournament, which included a win over Washington in the regional final and a five-set loss against Penn State in the national semifinals.

Wilberger likely will be in the middle of the fray again today as the fifth-ranked Huskers take on No. 8 UCLA at the Devaney Center. There's a chance the showdown will break an NCAA regular-season attendance record, and you'd think these high-profile matches might be the kind that could overwhelm a player such as Wilberger.

But all through this entire wild ride, the stoic 6-foot-1 sophomore has never let her feet leave the ground.

“I've always just tried to focus on the little things,” said Wilberger, affectionately called Willy by her teammates.”I just try to bring energy, have fun and take care of the things I've been trained to do. A lot of my success last year just came from the confidence the team had in me. When your teammates trust you, it's easy to trust yourself.”

Cook still is being careful with Cooper as she recovers from her surgeries. In an effort to try to keep NU's only senior healthy for the whole year, Cooper has played in three matches and nine of 29 sets. That has kept the door open for Wilberger.

“She's gaining a lot of confidence, and you'll notice that (setter) Sydney (Anderson) has a lot of confidence in her,” Cook said. “She's getting more swings than she did last year, and getting them under more stressful situations. She's still relatively inexperienced, but she's done a great job.”

In helping the Huskers open 7-1, Wilberger has made five starts. She's averaging 1.48 kills and nearly one block per set, and she's hitting .315. Most important, Wilberger has continued to make big plays at critical times.

It might not be a role Wilberger imagined she'd have, but it's clear she's comfortable when her number gets called.

“I came here with expectations just to grow as a person,” said Wilberger, who starred in volleyball, basketball and track at Scottsbluff High School. “I didn't have any goals to start or become an All-American. I think any success (a walk-on) has here comes from the program the coaches have built and the history we have as a team in supporting each other.”

Today's match will be the Huskers' first against a Top 10 team, and it will mark the first meeting between Cook and his daughter, Lauren, UCLA's freshman setter. The Bruins also are 7-1, with their only loss at No. 6 Hawaii.

“We need our best effort of the year,” the NU coach said. “But it's going to be a fun match. It's another chance for us to get better and for our kids to learn how they're going to have to play.”

Contact the writer:

444-1207, chad.purcell@owh.com

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