Taylor Landfair is the latest A1-grade combat card that the Nebraska Huskers Volleyball team drew for themselves. After playing for Minnesota for three years, the talented outside hitter is heading to the Huskers. While Golden Gophers fans are still in disbelief, Nebraska fans are celebrating this moment. Given that Taylor Landfair chose Minnesota after giving it serious consideration, her supporters never imagined that she would abandon them.
Despite leading the team to the postseason, a number of concerns were voiced the instant Landfair was added to the trade block. The outside hitter has not responded to this yet, but she has now spoken out about it.
An alteration in 2022 that resulted in an alteration in 2023
Taylor Landfair just shared a number of anecdotes on her Instagram feed, explaining her decision-making process to her ravenous followers. She began by expressing her gratitude to the shows that reached out to her and the fans for allowing her the time she needed. Speaking of Minnesota, Landfair disclosed that after reducing her college selections to just three, she decided to enroll as a Golden Gopher.
Her account showed that although she was offered excellent possibilities by all universities, it was the head coach of Minnesota’s team that truly drew her in. “I chose Minnesota largely because of the connection I felt with Hugh (McCutcheon),” Taylor Landfair wrote. I felt that his method of teaching the game, his expertise in volleyball, and his experience would help me improve my all-around performance because I came from very demanding programs throughout my prep years.
Despite the fact that McCutcheon attracted Taylor Landfair to Minnesota, the head coach departed the team at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign. Landfair, who had won Big Ten Player of the Year and first-team All-American accolades under him, was severely hurt by this. After McCutcheon was replaced, Keegan Cook gave the team his all, but things didn’t go as planned.
The Gophers did make the postseason, but only after suffering 13 losses did they make it. This was a significant setback because Minnesota finished with a 22-9 record in 2022 and advanced to the third round of the playoffs. However, the Golden Gophers only advanced to one round of the playoffs in 2023. In fact, despite supporters anticipating more from their 2022 star, Taylor Landfair, even her performance stats suffered.
The declining number of goals scored by Taylor Landfair
Taylor Landfair amassed 479 kills in 31 matches during the 2022 season, raising her average kills per set to an incredible 4.35. Although this statistic handily defeated multiple powerhouses’ attackers, it had a sharp decline in 2023. This season, in 30 matches, Landfair could only muster 361 kills, falling far short of the opposition by nearly 100 kills. She did get better at digging, going from an average of 1.63 to 2.03 digs per set, but it would have been great if it had been an added characteristic.
Despite being named to the 2023 Big Ten first team, her digging stats weren’t good enough to make up for her loss of attacking specialization. The outside hitter felt the effects of this. Landfair said, “The answer for my decision to leave Minnesota is simple; it is no longer the right fit for me,” in response to an inquiry about her departure. This indicates that the offensive specialist still thinks that joining Minnesota was the best decision for her.
She hasn’t specifically blamed Keegan Cook for her leaving, but she now feels very differently. “Coaches and athletes both have decisions to make, and each should be true to what they feel is best,” the author stated. “Neither side is right or wrong.” Taylor Landfair made the decision to join John Cook’s and the Nebraska Huskers’ camp because she wanted to do what was best for herself.
However, what made Taylor Landfair select Nebraska?
With an incredible season record, coach John Cook led the Nebraska Huskers to the NCAA volleyball championship finals. Despite the fact that his team lost to Texas in the championship game, everyone praises Nebraska’s 2023 campaign. Even though Nebraska’s players are very talented, it takes a skilled coach to get a team full of rookies to the championship game.
Nebraska, on the other hand, didn’t barely make it, unlike Minnesota. With just one loss under their belt, the Huskers were the top seed going into the postseason. Taylor Landfair must have been very drawn to Nebraska’s program because of this. She was so convinced of this that she even turned down an offer from Kelly Sheffield’s Wisconsin Badgers.
Taylor Landfair was virtually certain to see the same passion in John Cook. Bergen Reilly of Nebraska won the Big Ten Setter of the Year award in 2023 and was named to the All-American second team. Harper Murray, an outside hitter who made the third team of the All-Americans, accomplished a similar achievement.
Even though this was only Nebraska’s rookie squad, junior Lexi Rodriguez secured her spot on the All-American team for the third time. Cook has already spent a lot of time developing his players during their early development. In actuality, not a single player is leaving Nebraska because they are still eligible for college. Therefore, Taylor Landfair might have chosen her location well. With their newest star addition, will John Cook and the Huskers be able to win the championship in 2024? We’ll find out in time.
Also read:
