By Greg Echlin for VolleyballMag.com
LINCOLN, Nebraska — One day, when she becomes a coach, Nicklin Hames thinks there will come a time when she will have to ask players to change positions.
And when that player balks, Hames can tell her, well, about Hames.
A 5-foot-10 sophomore at the University of Nebraska, Haymes was an All-American setter for four years. Her career includes two trips to the NCAA Finals, including once last December when Nebraska lost 5-1 to Wisconsin in the Battle of the Big Ten Titans.
“I lost two (champions) by six points,” said Haymes.
“Six points total, that’s heartbreaking.”
Now, to stay a part of it and perhaps win it all, Haymes is transitioning to a defensive specialist.
Haymes said she and coach John Cook discussed the transfer in the offseason and made a decision with each other.
“I probably wanted to stay in the final year and then go coaching,” Haymes said. “We talked about it.”
After playing four years and getting a fifth from the NCAA due to the pandemic, Haymes had a transfer option.
“People asked me a lot. Why didn’t you want to move and go somewhere else?” I couldn’t imagine myself leaving,” Haymes said. “I love the program, I love the team, I love the culture.”
And once she graduates, she can remain as Cook’s graduate assistant.
“One of our goals was to be a leader in women’s sports specifically in this state and to inspire young girls and athletes to dream big,” says Cook, who builds the coaching tree for former assistants. I was.
That list includes: Craig Skinner, who led Kentucky to the 2020 NCAA title. Dani Busboom Kelly (his VolleyballMag.com National Coach of the Year last year), who led Louisville to his 2021 NCAA Semifinals. Chris Tamas of Illinois. Kayla Banwarth of Ole Miss. Tyler Hildebrand of Long Beach.
And most recently, Jordan Larson, the best volleyball player from Nebraska (Hooper). After America won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Larson went to Texas as an assistant coach. After that, she signed her contract in Italy. Meanwhile, her husband, David Hunt, quit Pepperdine’s men’s coach and joined the Texas staff. Larson is back from her pro season and is now a volunteer coach in Texas, where she brings another level of play into her practice.
No such story is lost on Haymes, who, as a Huskers freshman, broke Larson’s freshman record (25) with double-doubles.
“I’m immersed in everything and seeing the amazing things they’ve accomplished,” said Haymes. “I am very excited to be back[eventually]and to be a grad assistant because I feel there will be a lot of opportunities open up for me as a coach. I think I can learn more than anyone else in order to become a .
Nebraska will face at least four of Cook’s former staffers. The Huskers will play as host of the Ole Miss on September 3, and a week later, Long will be home to Beach State University before heading to Kentucky on September 18 to head to the Big Ten for his season with Illinois and he will be 1. play times. in Champaign on October 22nd.
But first, there’s the business of James thriving this season in transitioning from the position he’s played for his entire life to another perspective as a passer and defender.
“I have to let the lore down a little bit. I’ve been failing for a while since high school, so getting in was definitely a new experience,” said Hames, who is from Maryville, Tennessee.
It’s not that Haymes wasn’t a great defensive setter. She was her second on the team last season behind libero Lexi Rodriguez in 388 her digs (3.40/set).
Sophomore Kennedi Orr and junior Anni Evans battle for the setter spot while Hames moves to DS.
“In any case, I think we are doing well,” said Hames.
From a Cook’s point of view, it’s all about getting players to “buy in”.
It’s not that he hasn’t done something like this before. Just last season, he moved libero Kenzie Knuckles to DS and started Rodriguez as freshman libero.
Rodriguez was VolleyballMag.com’s second team All-American, and Haymes was honorable mention.
“This is the story of the Nebraska volleyball team,” Cook said. “I will do whatever it takes to help that team win. I will play any position, whatever role we have identified. If you have a team of players who believe in it and buy into it, you have a great team. I guess.”
And Hames?
“Nicklin is a complete team player. I think she’s looking forward to new challenges.”
The 22-25, 31-29, 25-23, 23-25, 15-12 championship game loss to Wisconsin last December was the Huskers’ third loss since losing 28-26 to Stanford in the NCAA Finals. Years later. , 22-25, 25-16, 15-25, 15-12.
“At first, it’s hard to process all the emotions. It still stings a little bit when you talk about it,” Hames said. I think it’s really special because I want to go back to where I can play, and I want to be able to, as we say, ‘follow the feeling’ of being able to play in a national championship.”
This year’s NCAA Championship will be held in Omaha, 54 miles from Lincoln. Nebraska swept Texas in a title match the last time it was played there in 2015. The Huskers won the championship in 2017 by beating Florida to his 4-1 victory in Kansas City.
None of that is lost for the Huskers, who ranked #1 in last week’s AVCA preseason coaches poll.
“We’ve seen that with this team this spring and summer,” Haymes said.
“I can see how motivated and driven they are because they want to win in the end.”
Join the team!
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