LINCOLN — Kori Cooper wanted to make the night about teammates and less about her.
Her teammates — and Nebraska’s fans — were not about to let that happen.
The Nebraska volleyball co-captain went out in style on Senior Night at the Coliseum Saturday in leading the No. 8 Huskers to a three-set sweep of Colorado.
Aided by a crowd of 4,189 that roared “Coop” after each of her points, NU’s lone senior produced nine kills on 15 hits as the Huskers easily topped CU 25-16, 25-11, 25-11.
“I feel very blessed to play in front of the best fans in the nation,” she said. “I feel sorry for the athletes that don’t get to play in this kind of venue.”
From her final pregame locker-room meeting to her match-ending kill, the night was full of special moments for Cooper.
Teammate Brook Delano made the night even more memorable for the 6-foot-2 middle blocker by wearing Cooper’s infamous camouflage jacket from the sidelines.
“The girls texted me last night, ‘Where’s the camo jacket?’” NU coach John Cook said. “They wanted to bring it out today, and I think that was really a tribute to Kori.”
Cooper sported the jacket last season during NU’s stunning Seattle Regional comeback while she sat out with a season-ending knee injury, and she was glad to see it again Saturday.
“I actually wasn’t aware that was going to make an appearance tonight, but that camo jacket holds a special place in my heart,” Cooper said.
Cooper, a four-year senior who’s helped NU to a 118-12 record during her career, hit at a .600 clip to improve her Big 12-leading season percentage to .378.
Junior Lindsey Licht led the Huskers with 10 kills on a season-best .625 hitting percentage, and Tara Mueller added nine more kills to guide NU to its seventh straight win.
NU’s offense produced 51 kills and kept the Buffaloes off balance throughout the match, and its defense used 53 digs to hold CU to a .104 hitting percentage.
As impressed as Cook was with NU’s performance on the court, the response from fans to Cooper’s final match at home left him “speechless.”
“That was as loud as I’ve ever heard for a senior in here,” he said. “It just makes me really appreciate what we have here at Nebraska.
“Kori will remember that for the rest of her life as a student-athlete.”
Nebraska (23-6, 16-4) hasn’t dropped a set since being swept at Texas on Oct. 30 and now turns its attention to the NCAA tournament.
Cook will find out Sunday just how much NU’s undefeated November helped the Huskers when the tournament’s pairings are announced at 2 p.m.
“I’m going to be really interested to see what all shakes out,” he said. “It’s going to be a great tournament, and my hope is we’re here for the second round.”
Colorado (7-22, 2-18)...............16 11 11
At Nebraska (23-6, 16-4)...............25 25 25
Colorado (kills-aces-blocks): Edelman 3-0-1, Schroeder 7-0-0, Steinhaus 3-0-0, Cyr 0-0-1, Fogle 6-0-0, Burkett 4-0-1, Lindroth 0-0-0, Evanyo 0-0-0
Nebraska (kills-aces-blocks): Anderson 5-0-0, Licht 10-0-1, Wilberger 7-0-1, Cooper 9-0-0, Mueller 9-0-0, Werth 7-1-0, Banwarth 1-1-0, Mancuso 0-2-0, Pendergast 0-0-0, Yanz 0-1-0, McNeal 3-0-1
Set assists: Kansas 22 (Burkett 12, Cyr 9, Schroeder 1); Nebraska 46 (Anderson 36, Banwarth 4, Yanz 3, Cooper 2, Mancuso 1). A: 4,189.
Contact the writer:
444-1207, chad.purcell@owh.com
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