Chants, Huskers to meet

Since clinching a berth in the NCAA tournament, Coastal Carolina’s volleyball players have talked about making the most of their experience.

The Chanticleers learned their fate Sunday, and though Lincoln, Neb., wasn’t as glamorous as some of the other potential destinations, they will experience an atmosphere that transcends the entire sport. Tenth-seeded Nebraska will host Coastal (20-13) in the first round of the 64-team tournament on Friday.

The Cornhuskers, who have ranked first, second or third in Division I attendance every year since 1990, attract crowds of nearly 5,000 at on-campus Nebraska Coliseum. Coastal’s 33 matches this season have been played in front of a total of 7,678 fans.

Nebraska’s home-court advantage has played a big role in the school’s three national championships. The school’s 2006 title was clinched in front of more than 17,000 fans down the road in Omaha, Neb.

“I think it’s going to be the best atmosphere possible,” Coastal coach Kristen Bauer said. “Our girls have done a good job of playing with fans cheering against them, so I’m hoping they do well at a place where the fans are just cheering for good play. That’s why they do. It’s not the crowd that heckles so much, but one that appreciates good, hard volleyball.”

Nebraska has been nearly unbeatable at home, winning all 66 matches from 2005-08. Even though the Cornhuskers are 11-3 at home this season, the Chants understand the tough challenge in front of them. Nebraska was one of just 16 teams to earn a seed for the event.

But that didn’t dampen Coastal’s spirits.

“It’s something that we’ll never get to experience again,” junior Chelsy Kimes said. “I think we should all take it in and have fun with it. … After watching them in the finals last year, picturing ourselves on the other side of the net will be kind of cool.”

If the Chants were to pull a shocking upset, they would face the Washington State-Northern Iowa winner on Saturday. Nebraska is the favorite to earn a Sweet 16 berth and move on to the Omaha Regional, which will be contested Dec. 11 and 12.

Bauer was secretly rooting for a chance to play Nebraska. After losing in the 2008 Big South tournament final, she couldn’t stand watching Nebraska beat Liberty 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA tournament knowing that her team could have been playing in Lincoln instead of the Flames.

She has adapted some of the principles of Terry Pettit and John Cook, Nebraska’s former and current coach, to use in her program. Last offseason, she read Pettit’s book, “Talent and the Secret Life of Teams.”

“I’ve always envied the program they have,” said Bauer, who is in her 11th season at Coastal.

It took nearly 15 minutes for the anxious Chants to learn their destination Sunday. Watching at the Crafty Rooster, a bar in downtown Conway, some of them were hoping for a more exotic destination such as Los Angeles, Austin, Texas, or Gainesville, Fla.

Yet, in the end, they were just happy to see their name mentioned among the best teams in college volleyball.

“Hopefully this will be the beginning of a legacy for Coastal Carolina volleyball,” senior Jill Nyhof said. “I feel like we’ve accomplished so much already. We have a long way to go, but that’s the fun of it. It’s a completely different stage now, and an entirely different world of volleyball.”

NCAA tournament first round

Friday, Dec. 4

Washington State vs. Northern Iowa, 4:30 p.m.

Coastal Carolina at Nebraska, 7 p.m. (or 30 minutes following conclusion of first match)

Saturday, Dec. 5

Friday’s Winners, 5 p.m

From Coastal athletics: Tickets go on sale Monday morning at 8 a.m. and can be purchased on Huskers.com or by calling 800-8-BIGRED.  All-session ticket prices are $32 reserved and $28 general admission and include the two first-round matches and second-round match.

The Cornhuskers, who have ranked first, second or third in Division I attendance every year since 1990, attract crowds of nearly 5,000 at on-campus Nebraska Coliseum. Coastal’s 33 matches this season have been played in front of a total of 7,678 fans.

Nebraska’s home-court advantage has played a big role in the school’s three national championships. The school’s 2006 title was clinched in front of more than 17,000 fans down the road in Omaha, Neb.

“I think it’s going to be the best atmosphere possible,” Coastal coach Kristen Bauer said. “Our girls have done a good job of playing with fans cheering against them, so I’m hoping they do well at a place where the fans are just cheering for good play. That’s why they do. It’s not the crowd that heckles so much, but one that appreciates good, hard volleyball.”

Nebraska has been nearly unbeatable at home, winning all 66 matches from 2005-08. Even though the Cornhuskers are 11-3 at home this season, the Chants understand the tough challenge in front of them. Nebraska was one of just 16 teams to earn a seed for the event.

But that didn’t dampen Coastal’s spirits.

“It’s something that we’ll never get to experience again,” junior Chelsy Kimes said. “I think we should all take it in and have fun with it. … After watching them in the finals last year, picturing ourselves on the other side of the net will be kind of cool.”

If the Chants were to pull a shocking upset, they would face the Washington State-Northern Iowa winner on Saturday. Nebraska is the favorite to earn a Sweet 16 berth and move on to the Omaha Regional, which will be contested Dec. 11 and 12.

Bauer was secretly rooting for a chance to play Nebraska. After losing in the 2008 Big South tournament final, she couldn’t stand watching Nebraska beat Liberty 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA tournament knowing that her team could have been playing in Lincoln instead of the Flames.

She has adapted some of the principles of Terry Pettit and John Cook, Nebraska’s former and current coach, to use in her program. Last offseason, she read Pettit’s book, “Talent and the Secret Life of Teams.”

“I’ve always envied the program they have,” said Bauer, who is in her 11th season at Coastal.

It took nearly 15 minutes for the anxious Chants to learn their destination Sunday. Watching at the Crafty Rooster, a bar in downtown Conway, some of them were hoping for a more exotic destination such as Los Angeles, Austin, Texas, or Gainesville, Fla.

Yet, in the end, they were just happy to see their name mentioned among the best teams in college volleyball.

“Hopefully this will be the beginning of a legacy for Coastal Carolina volleyball,” senior Jill Nyhof said. “I feel like we’ve accomplished so much already. We have a long way to go, but that’s the fun of it. It’s a completely different stage now, and an entirely different world of volleyball.”

NCAA tournament first round

Friday, Dec. 4

Washington State vs. Northern Iowa, 4:30 p.m.

Coastal Carolina at Nebraska, 7 p.m. (or 30 minutes following conclusion of first match)

Saturday, Dec. 5

Friday’s Winners, 5 p.m

From Coastal athletics: Tickets go on sale Monday morning at 8 a.m. and can be purchased on Huskers.com or by calling 800-8-BIGRED.  All-session ticket prices are $32 reserved and $28 general admission and include the two first-round matches and second-round match.