Stop me if you’ve heard this before in June: Lauren Stivrins is coming back.
This time it is for real, confirmed by head coach John Cook to VolleyballMag.com. Cook said Stivrins will play as long as she is healed from her back surgery.
“She ended up having back surgery so she can’t go (pro) right now,” Cook said. “Her best option was to stay with us and rehab.”
In the interview, Cook also talked Name, Image, and Likeness. NIL rules go into effect in many states July 1, and Nebraska can opt in at anytime based on an NIL law passed by the Unicameral in 2020.
Cook said Lexi Sun, who is also returning for an extra season, might make more money in a single, final season with Nebraska than if she turned pro. He said Lauren Cook West, his daughter who as a former Husker and current member of the volleyball broadcast team, makes “500 bucks” for social media posts involving Dorothy Lynch salad dressing.
When NIL does begin, likely this week for NU too, Cook said they are “going to be all in.” That includes potentially two pivotal seniors returning to lead a team that includes the best recruiting class in collegiate athletics.
High expectations? Maybe. But that’s just another day for Cook and Nebraska volleyball.