• Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook

LINCOLN — Since the start of Nebraska's season, Gina Mancuso hasn't been able to talk too often with her sister, Dani. That's because the elder Mancuso has been overseas playing volleyball in Europe.

But the former Husker standout filled the rookie in on what she could expect before she arrived at NU this summer. Looking back, Gina Mancuso said, her sister's words had plenty of wisdom.

“She said that of course there's going to be ups and downs,” said Mancuso, an outside hitter. “But she told me, ‘You'll get through it, and in the end you'll enjoy every minute of it.'”

The season for Mancuso — and all of her teammates — has been marked by highs and lows. But as the 10th-ranked Huskers gear for the final month of the regular season, starting with tonight's home match against Missouri, Mancuso and NU haven't lost hope for success in December.

The 2008 Gatorade national prep player of the year, Mancuso piled up 2,371 kills — second in state history — at Papillion-La Vista. She has had to adapt to a much different role this season, but Mancuso said all she wants to do is help the Huskers win.

And even though she's not slamming kills from the front row, Mancuso has shown she can make a difference with her digging, passing and serving. Playing primarily this year as a back-row specialist on the right side, Mancuso is averaging close to two digs and 0.23 aces per set — the most by a Nebraska freshman since Jordan Larson in 2005.

Possessing a jump-float serve that can dart and dive, Mancuso has earned a reputation for having Nebraska's nastiest serve. She had four aces in an Oct. 10 win over Kansas State, and she's recorded 10 aces — and only three errors — in the past seven matches. But she also has impressed coach John Cook with her all-around skills in the back row.

“Her passing numbers are great, her serving numbers are exceptional — for a freshman, that's huge,” Cook said. “Defensively she gets better every week, so I think she's growing into that role we created for her. She continues to have a bigger impact on games, and I think she's now embracing that a little bit.”

In future seasons, Cook said, Mancuso still has a world of potential to help in a more prominent attacking position.

But until that day comes, the freshman is OK doing whatever the team needs.

“I do miss swinging in the front row, but this is my role this year and I just have to face it,” Mancuso said. “I'm trying to do whatever is best for the team.”

Coming off a three-set loss at No. 2 Texas, the Huskers (16-6, 9-4) are facing two huge matches, Cook said. After Mizzou (14-9, 6-6), the Huskers travel to Iowa State on Saturday, when they'll try to avenge last month's loss.

Nebraska beat Missouri this season on the road, but the Tigers played that night without standout Julianna Klein, who is expected to play tonight. Plus, NU knows how Mizzou's Paola Ampudia can pile up kills. Ampudia, who's averaging 4.34 kills in Big 12 matches, had 23 kills in the first match against NU.

“This week is big for us,” Cook said. “I hope our players sense that, and we definitely have a chance this week to take a big step as a team. We're at a point in the season now where we have a chance to make a big move — both psychologically as a team and in sending a message to the Big 12.”

Contact the writer:

444-1207, chad.purcell@owh.com