At one point during her recruitment, John Cook and his staff were discussing potentially redshirting Olivia Mauch this season. By the end of the spring, that thought had left the coach’s mind.
The Bennington grad was too good not to play, he said — words that have proven to be true through the first four weeks of the season. Mauch has secured a key role playing two and a half rotations in the back row and has helped the Huskers navigate the nonconference with a 10-1 record and No. 2 national ranking.
Mauch has played libero her whole life, but with Lexi Rodriguez holding down that role for the huskers, she’s been happy to transition to a different role to get on the court and help the team.
“It’s different,” Mauch said. “I’ve always been a libero, but now I get to learn from the best. So just trying to still be myself, just in a different position.”
Mauch said her confidence level is where she’s improved the most through the first four weeks of the season, and her teammates have seen that growth as well.
“I think just her confidence has grown a lot,” Rodriguez said. “She’s a lot more vocal, a lot more going to stand her ground, whether it’s on the court or whether it is vocally. And I think for a freshman, and especially a freshman DS, that can be kind of hard to play how she wants to play, even though her position has changed a little bit. But I think she’s done a great job, and she has a great presence that kind of bleeds into everyone else, that calming sense, self-confidence that kind of goes into everyone else around her. And I think that’s a hidden talent, and it’s super cool to see from such a young player.”
Mauch is averaging 1.35 digs per set overall this season, but that figured has bumped up to 1.9 over the past six matches as she’s come into her own and adjusted to Division I volleyball. She’s recorded at least five digs in Nebraska’s last four matches, all sweeps, including three against top-15 teams.
“That kid, nothing bothers her,” Cook said. “She’s got ice in her veins. She doesn’t say much. I have no idea what she’s thinking, but she plays ball every day. She’s really consistent.”
Cook said Mauch’s serve receive has been “awesome,” which might actually be underselling it. According to VolleyMetrics, Mauch is third in the country among Power Four players with at least 100 receptions with a 2.41 passer rating (using a 0-3 scale). She’s produced a good pass on 64.8% of her receptions and Nebraska has posted 45.7 first-ball sideout percentage on her passes (the best among Nebraska’s four regular passers). She’s been charged with just two reception errors on 105 serves directed her way.
To no surprise, No. 1 in passer rating is Rodriguez at 2.49 with a 70.7 good pass percentage, and Mauch said she’s learning as much as she can from her senior teammate.
“I’d just say her calmness in serve receive,” Mauch said. “I look up to that a lot, and I can kind of see it in myself a little bit when I pass. So just like her calmness, and then her angles are beautiful.”
Last season, Cook played both Harper Murray and Merritt Beason all six rotations to give the Huskers a back-row attack option at all times. This year, with Mauch joining Rodriguez and sophomore Laney Choboy, Cook has opted to prioritize passing and defense, incorporating all three “littles” into the lineup as each one brings something different to the table.
“Those are three elite liberos, and all three of them have been involved in the USA program, so obviously somebody else thinks they’re pretty good besides us,” Cook said. “So we think they can be difference makers in there and getting those three in there, it gives us a way to earn points and a way to try to get our team in system, passing. So those guys are elite.”
Cook likes to split the season up into three parts — nonconference, conference and postseason. With 11 matches under her belt, Mauch is officially through the first phase of her collegiate career. Up next is the Big Ten, and the freshman is looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m super excited,” Mauch said. “I know the competitiveness is just up a level when you get to the Big Ten. I’ve always watched it on TV, but now I get to be part of it, and I’m so excited.”
