Former Head Coach Terry Pettit built the Nebraska volleyball program brick by brick for 23 seasons. While the Husker helm is now manned by Head Coach John Cook, Nebraska’s tradition of excellence has continued to reach new heights.

During the Pettit/Cook era, the Huskers have qualified for 20 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, advanced to eight NCAA Final Fours, won the 2000 and 1995 NCAA Championship and produced 22 athletes who have won 42 All-America awards.

Cook credited the NU Coliseum with willing the Huskers to a come-from-behind, 3-2 win over South Carolina in the 2000 NCAA second round. During his tenure, Pettit was always quick to point out that part of Nebraska’s solid foundation came from fantastic facilities, specifically its home court in the 4,200-seat, Nebraska Coliseum.

"Winston Churchill said ‘in the beginning, we build buildings. In the end, we are shaped by the buildings we live in.’ I think the Coliseum shapes Nebraska volleyball," Pettit said. "It’s an environment that creates intimacy. It’s a classic structure and in a lot of ways reflects what the Nebraska program is all about."

The Coliseum, which sits nestled on the University campus, is a beautiful display of architecture highlighted by its powerful Roman columns gracing the front steps. But while it’s beauty is appreciated by Husker players, coaches and fans, it is one of the most-dreaded places for opponents to play in the sport of volleyball, and arguably one of the toughest places to play in college athletics.

Nebraska volleyball has had unmatched success in the confines of the cozy Coliseum, posting 12 undefeated seasons and compiling an all-time record of 360-24 under its roof. During the 1990s, Nebraska posted a record of 142-6 in the Coliseum, thanks to two of the 10 longest winning streaks in NCAA volleyball history.

While these numbers are impressive, the Big 12 and former Big Eight members manage even fewer wins. That’s because Nebraska doesn’t lose to conference opponents in the Coliseum.

Only once in 26 years of regular-season Big Eight/Big 12 play, has a conference opponent ever won on the Coliseum floor. In fact, in 26 years of play, only three conference opponents have managed to win in Lincoln. Nebraska suffered its first-ever regular-season loss to a conference foe in 1999, falling to Kansas State, 15-9, 16-14, 16-18, 7-15, 15-17, on Sept. 22, snapping a streak of 101 consecutive wins against regular-season conference opponents.

Nebraska lost a 2-1 decision to Missouri on Oct. 15, 1977, but no regular-season standings were kept until 1983. Nebraska’s only other loss in Lincoln was a 2-3 decision to Colorado on Oct. 8, 1997, in the Bob Devaney Sports Center, giving NU a 161-2 all-time league record in the Coliseum.

Pettit said the home-court advantage is most valuable during its long, hard-fought battles.

"The home crowd is a big advantage when we’re fatigued or drained in the middle of a four- or five-game match," Pettit said. "The players use the energy and electricity from the fans to pull them through difficult stretches. I don’t think that it’s as big an advantage against the elite teams, but it definitely makes a difference."

Nebraska has used that success at home to propel it through the NCAA Tournament.

The Huskers have hosted an NCAA Tournament match every season since 1984 and have capitalized on every opportunity by compiling a 34-1 playoff record in the stoic building. And Nebraska fans have been rewarded by seeing each of the Huskers’ NCAA regional championships won on their home court.

Nebraska carried a 65-match Coliseum win streak into the 1999 season, but suffered a loss to No. 6 Pacific in the State Farm/NACWAA Classic semifinal. Ironically, the streak began after NU’s loss to No. 1-ranked Stanford in the State Farm/NACWAA Classic Championship on Aug. 26, 1995.

The win streaks are a direct result of Nebraska’s frenzied crowds that routinely jam the building’s bleachers. The Huskers finished second in the nation in 2001 with an average attendance of 4,316.

Fans have been known to line up as much as four to five hours in advance to see their Husker volleyball team in action. During the 2000 season, fans set an NCAA regular-season attendance mark of 12,504 for a match against Colorado in the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Nebraska has averaged over 3,000 fans for 10 of the past 12 seasons.

The Coliseum’s roots go back to the 1920s when it was the home for the Husker basketball team. NU’s cagers played on its hardwood floors from 1926 to 1977, when the construction on the Bob Devaney Sports Center was completed.

Since then, the volleyball team has been its lone tenant. In 1991, the Huskers had a one-year hiatus from the Coliseum while the building was being renovated and tailored for volleyball. The renovation provided a more comfortable atmosphere for players, coaches and fans. Among the additions were a new sound system, scoreboard, overhead lights and a new floor. Offices for coaches and administrators, as well as a conference/media room, were constructed for a better working environment.

In 1997, the Husker locker room and ready room underwent a complete facelift. Then, before the 2001 season, two HuskerVision replay screens and two Daktronics statistics boards were added at either end of the court.