Eight players in NCAA volleyball Final Four are from Nebraska. How the state develops talent

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska’s volleyball culture is unlike any other in the country.

In fact, eight of the players taking the court in the Final Four are from Nebraska.

From the packed arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center to enthusiastic crowds at local high school games, the sport is embedded into the state’s identity.

But what’s driving the sports’ success?

“It’s really based on a lot of tradition and a lot of great people who come before us,” said Tonia Tauke, a former Husker volleyball player and now a youth volleyball coach at Nebraska One.

She said even before her playing days in the 1990s, Huskers were going on to the Olympics.

“Girls growing up in Nebraska were able to watch the Huskers play volleyball,” she said. “I think when you get to see girls be so athletic and do great things, it makes you want to do that.”

It starts from a young age.

Strong support in after-school programs, high school athletics and Nebraska’s youth volleyball clubs play a huge role in developing talent.

“We like to teach our kindergartners how to throw squishy balls correctly so that you are getting that motion so that when you’re in fourth or fifth grade, you’re able to overhand serve.” Tauke said. “And I think being able to do the sport at such a young age brings the love and desire up for it.”

She said it’s important to keep volleyball fun for the players.

“Like be able to play in sand and go to the ocean and play in a sand tournament or be able to travel and go places and show what you can do against other competition.” Tauke said. “So making it fun and keeping it exciting for the younger players I think is what we do to keep the sport going.”

Tauke headed to Louisville to watch the game.

She said with a strong foundation and the continued investment in its youth programs, the future of volleyball in Nebraska looks bright.