Stivrins Returning for Husker Volleyball

But will she actually play? That will depend on her recovery from back surgery, coach John Cook says.

Kaleb Henry | Jun 28, 2021

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

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 the All-America middle blocker 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 discussed name, image and likeness. NIL rules take effect in many states July 1, and Nebraska can opt in at any time based on an NIL law passed by the state legislature in 2020.

Cook said outside hitter Lexi Sun, who is also returning for an extra senior 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 super seniors returning for a bonus year 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.

Published Jun 28, 2021

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.