More than 4,100 fans, many of them wearing red, watched college volleyball Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
OMAHA — Over the years, the Nebraska volleyball team has grown accustomed to playing in front of packed crowds at the Devaney Sports Center and, of course, the Sea of Red.
For the first time all season, Nebraska got to play a match in front of fans on Monday. However, the roughly 12,000 empty seats at CHI Health Center Omaha provided a different backdrop instead.
Call it the "Sea of Gray."
Still, apart from a smattering of Texas fans directly behind the Longhorns’ bench, the overwhelming majority of spectators in the arena were clad in red. That included Rich and Donna Hill, season-ticket holders since the 1980s who would hardly ever miss a match in normal seasons but had to watch all the matches on television this year.
“It hasn’t been the same, and I don’t think today will be the same, either, since it won’t be full,” Rich Hill said before the match.
To get their Husker volleyball fix, the Hills snapped up postseason tickets as quickly as they could. So did Michelle Kreifels and her daughter Karly, who typically attend four or five matches per season. This year, the Huskers’ regional final match was all the Kreifels could attend, so they jumped at the chance to give Karly her first glimpse of postseason volleyball.
“We were just talking about it while driving up here that we’re so excited to finally be able to go,” Michelle Kreifels said. “It’s a good environment, that’s for sure, and especially when it’s in Omaha, that makes it even better.”
An unorthodox spring season and the inability to attend matches all season only served to increase the excitement for Nancy Harlow, who made the two-hour trip east from Central City to watch the Huskers. Harlow followed along with the team by watching highlights on the internet all season long but said nothing compares to finally seeing them play in person.
Both teams took notice of the potential impact the crowd could have, so Texas prepared to deal with the noise while Nebraska basked in it. Leading up to the match, junior Nicklin Hames said the Huskers watched the red slowly trickle into the arena during the Washington-Pittsburgh game.
That made it even more disappointing that their time in Omaha ended before reaching the Final Four. More than 4,100 fans were in attendance for Nebraska-Texas.
“We’re upset,” Hames said. “It’s Omaha, which is kind of a bummer because it would have been so much fun to play in front of the fans for a national championship.”
Nebraska coach John Cook also noticed the impact that playing in front of fans had on his team. Cook said it felt like "a real volleyball match," and that the crowd willed the Huskers on at times. Still, only having one match in front of an actual crowd served as a reminder of what could have been this year, and perhaps what awaits next season.
“I never thought how much we would miss having full arenas and big crowds, whether you’re on the home or the road," Cook said. "… I appreciate the fans that came out today and cheered us, they were awesome as always, but, man, do we miss it and hope we can get back to normal."
Photos: Nebraska and Texas battle for a spot in the Final Four
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Kenzie Knuckles prepares to serve the ball against Texas during an NCAA regional final match on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Nicklin Hames (left) and Lexi Sun celebrate a point in the third set of an NCAA regional final match against Texas on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Texas' Logan Eggleston (center left) attempts to block a kill by Nebraska's Jazz Sweet (12) in the first set of the NCAA regional final match Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Texas' Morgan O'Brien (top center) celebrates with her team after a point in the third set of the NCAA regional final match against Nebraska on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Kaylei Akana dives to save the ball in the third set of an NCAA regional final match against Texas on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Lexi Sun makes a diving attempt during the third set of an NCAA regional final match against Texas on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Lexi Sun lays on the court after failing to save the ball in the third set of an NCAA regional final match against Texas on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Texas' Logan Eggleston (left) spikes the ball against Nebraska's Jazz Sweet (top right) and Lauren Stivrins in the second set of an NCAA regional final match on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Kayla Caffey dives to save the ball in the first set of an NCAA regional final match against Texas on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Nicklin Hames serves against Texas in the first set of an NCAA regional final match on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins (26) celebrates after a kill against Texas in the first set of an NCAA regional final match on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Jazz Sweet hits the ball over the net in the second set of an NCAA regional final match against Texas on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Nicklin Hames dives for the ball in the first set of an NCAA regional final match against Texas on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska assistant coach Jaylen Reyes waits for warmups before the NCAA regional final match against Texas on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska senior middle blocker Lauren Stivrins warms up before facing against Texas in the NCAA regional final match on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Pittsburgh's Sabrina Starks, a graduate of Platteview High School, hugs family members after Pittsburgh's loss to Washington in an NCAA regional final match on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Fans watch as Pittsburgh and Washington face off during the fourth set of a NCAA regional final match Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Texas' Logan Eggleston (left) spikes the ball over Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins (26) and Nicklin Hames in the fourth set of an NCAA regional final match Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Texas celebrates on the court after defeating Nebraska in an NCAA regional final match on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Texas' Logan Eggleston hits the ball over the net in the fourth set of an NCAA regional final match against Nebraska on Monday at the CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska exits the floor after losing to Texas in an NCAA regional final match on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Lexi Sun dives a second to late to save the ball in the third set of an NCAA regional final match against Texas on Monday at the CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Texas's Skylar Fields (5) spikes the ball past Nebraska's Kayla Caffey (3) and Jazz Sweet in the second set of an NCAA regional final match on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Nebraska vs. Texas, 4.19
Nebraska's Kaylei Akana warms up before the start of their NCAA regional final match against Texas on Monday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Reach Clark Grell at 402-473-2639 or cgrell@journalstar.com. On Twitter at @LJSSportsGrell.
April 20, 2021 at 12:10PM
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Sea of Red or sea of gray, diehard fans finally get chance to watch their beloved Huskers up close - HuskerExtra.com
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