As one of Nebraska's toughest and most determined volleyball players, Kori Cooper has always been known as a battler.
But after Saturday's loss to Texas in the regional finals, the lone senior on the Nebraska volleyball roster wasn't going to win the battle to fight back the tears, even on the dais at the post-match press conference.
They were tears of both sadness and joy. Sad that her collegiate volleyball career had ended one week earlier than she hoped, but happy that she helped shape the bright future of this young Husker team that appeared to be on the verge of falling apart in late September after a 9-4 start.
“This team has been on an incredible journey,” Cooper said. “It's about the journey and not the end result. I'm proud of this team, I'm proud to be a part of this team, and I know they're going to do great things.”
Nebraska did great things with Cooper on its roster the past four seasons. The Huskers won a national championship when she was a freshman in 2006, made another appearance in last year's final four and rebounded to make this campaign a memorable one after the shaky beginning.
The Huskers were 121-13 in Cooper's four years in Lincoln. She had to miss last year's final four at Qwest Center Omaha after injuring her knee late in the season against Texas, so she dressed in camouflage and was the lead towel-waver and cheerleader for her teammates.
Her senior year appeared to be heading south after the rocky start, but it's no coincidence that the Huskers started to turn things around after Cooper was able to go all-out following her rehab.
The Huskers won 10 consecutive matches — all sweeps — heading into the third match of the season against Texas. Nebraska won the first set 25-21 to run its streak of consecutive sets won to 31, but then the Longhorns rallied to win the next three and end Nebraska's season at 26-7.
Cooper, who hails from Amarillo, Texas, did all she could to help Nebraska get to Tampa and one more chance to play in the national semifinals. She had 11 kills and just four errors in 28 attempts along with a pair of digs.
“You can't replace Kori,” junior setter Sydney Anderson said. “She's been a great captain, a great friend and a great leader. She brings fire, she brings hope. You look at what she's gone through, two torn ACLs, two surgeries and she's bounced back.”
The partisan Qwest Center Omaha crowd of 9,253 showed its appreciation for Cooper with a few more chants of “Coop” and the cheers of appreciation she got after the match. Cooper also was named to the all-regional tournament team, and that honor was accompanied by one last ovation.
What the crowd did for Cooper also was so impressive to Nebraska coach John Cook that he made it part of his opening comments after the match.
“Their appreciation for the team at the end and for Kori was something that I think Kori is going to remember forever and be telling her grandkids,” Cook said. “That was pretty special.”
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444-1201, alexsdad@mail.com
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