Sep 24, 2016Symbolic Stair Runs
Throughout the final week of summer conditioning, the University of Nebraska volleyball team’s theme had focused on legacy. The week ended with a symbolic conditioning test led by strength coach Brian Kmitta.
Over the summer, the team had been discussing its focus on winning a Big Ten title. To emphasize that goal, the conditioning test featured 14 sets of stair runs with a 10-pound weighted vest—each set represented one of the Big Ten teams—followed by a weight-free final ascent to symbolize how the Big Ten season will have gotten the team ready for the NCAA Tournament. Once they get to the NCAA Tournament, the team will be prepared and able to just play.
“It was just cool, because Brian throughout the whole time we were running was saying, ‘You’ve never won the Big Ten,’ and stuff like that,” Nebraska senior Kadie Rolfzen told the Lincoln Journal Star. “It was kind of a motivator. So I’d be on No. 10 and be like, ‘OK, this is Ohio State; this is Minnesota.’”
To further add to the team’s motivation, the test was held in the Sports Center’s top section. As the players ascended the stairs, they saw the school’s 2011 Big Ten championship banner.
“When we were going over goals, that was one of the big things for everybody, is that it’s important that they win a conference championship this year,” Kmitta told the Lincoln Journal Star.
