Top recruit LINCOLN, Neb. >> In this city devoid of color, Nebraska red glows especially bright against a sky that varies between nondescript shades of gray. The sign at the airport welcoming you to Lincoln is an ugly faded shade of brown that nearly matches the color of the ground.
reunited with UH
Saleaumua ended up
Volleyball notebook
at Nebraska rather than
with the WahineBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comIt is a "balmy" 40 degrees here, unseasonably warm for a city that usually knows nothing but frigid temperatures for this time of year. But it's still a tad too cool for Southern California native Jennifer Saleaumua.
"When I first came here it was snowing," the Husker freshman said. "I've adjusted a little bit, not a lot. It's still cold. It's bad when it's windy and cold at the same time."
It didn't take her long to get adjusted to playing volleyball again. Saleaumua enrolled at Nebraska last spring after her letter of intent to Hawaii was voided. She was the nation's prize prep two years ago and the only player Hawaii signed that year. But Saleaumua couldn't enroll at the Manoa campus because her test scores didn't meet school requirements.
Instead, she agreed to play at Nebraska last December and joined her current teammates for spring practice. Saleaumua had doubts about whether or not she could still compete after not playing volleyball because she wasn't eligible for school.
"It took longer than I expected. I had been out for so long," Saleaumua said. "When I first came here, I was scared because I really didn't touch a ball that much.
"I thought I lost everything I had and had to start all over again. In spring training boot camp, I got back into shape."
After the initial awkwardness, the 5-foot-11 right-side hitter competed for and won a starting role with the Huskers, who play Miami in today's NCAA tournament round of 16 match. If Hawaii beats North Carolina today and Nebraska wins, the teams will play for a spot in the final four.
Saleaumua is the only true freshman in a senior-laden lineup. She does a little bit of everything, contributing 2.91 kills per game, 3.01 digs (second on the team behind libero Lindsay Wischmeier) and racking up a team-best 28 aces. She earned all-conference honors and joined senior teammates Greichaly Cepero, Laura Pilakowski and Amber Holmquist on the Big 12's first team.
"She's an all-around player. She does a great job with every skill," Nebraska coach John Cook said. "She's different than the players we have here. She plays the game so well, where most of our players are athletes who have been trained to play volleyball. Her biggest contribution is just her natural instincts and the way she plays the game."
That was obvious yesterday in practice. Her quick reactions during a six-on-six drill saved several rallies that would have ended had she not flinched in the right direction or popped up a ball that seemed destined to hit the ground.
Saleaumua said there aren't any bitter feelings toward Hawaii, the team that she once dreamed of representing. On her way into yesterday's practice, Saleaumua hugged Melissa Villaroman and waved hello to Kim Willoughby.
"I'm going to be excited to play," she said. "I'm pretty sure everybody is past all that. I'm sure they're going to want to play us. We've all been top four for the whole year. It'll be fun just to be out here."
The Wahine don't harbor any ill feelings either, though they do want to prove that Saleaumua is the one missing out.
"I didn't really get to know her as a person. I met her and she seemed really cool," senior Margaret Vakasausau said. "It just didn't work out for her. It was kind of a devastating factor in her life.
"As long as she's happy, that's great. But I'd definitely like to show her what she missed out on at Hawaii."
What: Central regional UH Volleyball
Who: No. 2 Hawaii (32-1), No. 4 Nebraska (30-1), No. 11 North Carolina (32-3), No. 23 Miami (27-5)
When: Today -- Hawaii vs. North Carolina, 1 p.m. Hawaii time, Nebraska vs. Miami, 30 minutes after the first match
TV: Live, KFVE (UH-UNC)
Radio: Live, 1420-AM (UH-UNC)
