Fiona Nepo was Hawaii's
prep player of the year in 1994.
Star-Bulletin

Literally.

The sophomore setter from Honolulu has little fear - and shows none - when it comes to running the Cornhuskers' offense this season. Nepo was scheduled to officially take over the Nebraska team today against host Illinois State in the second match of the State Farm NACWAA Classic.

Preseason favorite Hawaii met Florida earlier today.

Nepo actually had the reins handed to her a few months ago when the 1995 University Lab School graduate was voted the Nebraska team captain after spring ball.

It was a vote of confidence that, at first glance, was a surprise. Nepo only started one match for the Cornhuskers last season, but was used as a defensive specialist in 30 of the team's 32 matches.

The vote didn't surprise Nebraska coach Terry Pettit, however.

"Even though we had four returning starters, the players saw something in Fiona that the coaches had already seen, that she had great leadership skills," said Pettit, who has coached seven All-American setters since 1981.

"Fiona is probably the most athletic person we've ever had at that position, and has the most potential for a collegiate player I've ever seen.

"Fiona has great quickness and is the best blocking setter we've ever had. She's such a free spirit and has such an infectious attitude. She's probably the heart of this team."

An inflamed right Achilles tendon had the 5-foot-9 Nepo hobbling earlier this week, but she practiced yesterday in the Klum Gym-like atmosphere of Redbird Arena. The 10,200-seat facility has no air conditioning, just high-powered fans that were turned off during yesterday's 90-degree afternoon heat.

A healthy Nepo would be good news for Pettit, who already has lost three players to season-ending injuries. Out are top recruit Katie Jahnke, a high school All-American who was penciled in at middle blocker; senior blocker Jen McFadden, the second-leading blocker on the team last season; and redshirt freshman Denise Koziol, who had 10 kills and two aces in last Saturday's Red-White intrasquad scrimmage before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.

Still, the young Cornhuskers will be a force. Although losing three All-Americans, Nebraska returns seven players from its first NCAA title team, including Lisa Reitsma, a 6-4 junior hitter, who is a national player of the year contender.

Nepo guarantees her team will be in the title hunt.

"We're out to repeat as champions," said the 1994 Hawaii state player of the year. "As long as we can stay focused, we can do it. I haven't thought that much about us being defending national champs. It's a whole new team and a whole new season.

"But I would like to do it again."

Nepo, of Samoan ancestry, has had bouts of homesickness ever since moving to Lincoln, Neb. She laughs when relating one story from last year.

"I was in the cafeteria and a group of (Asian) exchange students came in," she said. "I went over to sit next to them. It felt like home again."

And does she miss rice?

"I'm a potato girl now," she said. "Oh, and corn. Definitely corn."

There was no corn in the care package Nepo received yesterday from her family. Inside the package were mangoes and li hing mui gummy bears.

The Cornhuskers were going for a school-record 32 wins in a row today. Last season, they lost to Stanford in the championship match of the NACWAA tournament playing before winning their next 31.

"I think back to a year ago and was never worried about the team with Christy Johnson setting," Pettit said of his graduated senior All-American. "If a team's success is determined by its setter, then we can all sleep at night. I am not worried about our team being in Fiona's hands."