Lindsay Krause is where she wants to be right now, playing outside hitter for the Nebraska volleyball team.

As a freshman last season, she was the best option as Nebraska's right-side hitter, so thats where she played. Nebraska didnt have a natural right-side hitter when lefty Jazz Sweet left, so the right-handed hitting Krause slid into the spot.

The Omaha Skutt graduate made it work, and was a key part of why Nebraska upset Texas in the NCAA Elite Eight. Texas didnt have an answer for Krause, who had 13 kills, hit .500 and had the match-winning kill on a shot that ricocheted off of the defense and into the crowd.

This season, Krause is playing her more natural position of outside hitter. Thats where she wants to be, and it's the position in which she hopes to be recognized as an All-American.

But regardless of the position she plays or even how much she plays Krause forces herself to keep a team-first attitude.

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I just want to be on a winning team, Krause said. If that means Im playing right side, cool. If that means Im playing outside, cool. If that means Im not in the lineup, that sucks for me, but cool. I want to be on a team thats going to win.

The Huskers are winning a lot again this year, with Nebraska taking an 11-1 record and No. 3 ranking into Sundays match at noon against Maryland (9-6, 0-3 Big Ten).

Krause is a goal-oriented person. Winning fuels her. Growth motives her.

My goal for this year is to stay on the left side and be a very effective outside hitter that needs to be respected by other teams, Krause said. But also going forward I want to be a six-rotation player, and I want to have my name on the wall in Devaney (as an All-American) by the time Im done with my career.

All-American status seemed to be a fitting goal watching Krause dominate throughout her high school career. When she hit the ball, it sounded different than anyone else in the gym.

Depending on the list, Krause was either the No. 1 or No. 2 national recruit for her recruiting class. Volleyball Magazine had Krause No. 1, while PrepVolleyball.com had her No. 2 (behind teammate Kennedi Orr).

The expectations only rise when youre playing for a team that is almost always expected to be a contender to reach the Final Four. Even so, Krause tries to maintain a joy in playing college volleyball.

So much joy comes from my team, and how we play together, Krause said. I think that was evident toward the end of the year last year, just how much we love each other. We kind of brought back the motto, With each other, for each other, just because of how much we love each other on this team and we want to succeed for one another.

As a freshman, Krause got to go to the Final Four something most players will never experience in their four of five years and then play in the national championship match. Nine months later, the thought of that still makes her say, Oh, wow.

It really was a surreal feeling, Krause said. It didnt finish how we hoped it would, and that really hurt a lot. But to be able to take in that environment and experience everything that goes along with the Final Four getting to travel there, the amount of fans there, the All-American banquet, the interviews and everything that goes along with the Final Four was great.

"Its such a crazy celebration of volleyball to get to be a part of.

This year, three from that group Krause, Lexi Rodriguez and Whitney Lauenstein are regular starters. Orr has played in a two-setter rotation and Ally Batenhorst was a starter before she was injured.

The sophomore class can lead more during its second season, both with how it plays and how it helps the five new players on the team.

Weve been here and we have experience so we know how things go, so were going to be held to a little bit of a higher standard, she said.

Krause ranks third on the team kills with 83 kills, behind Madi Kubik (140) and Lauenstein (131).

Krause was good Friday during a three-set win at Rutgers. She had five kills on just 11 attempts without a hitting error for a season-best .455 hitting percentage.

During one of Nebraskas best wins of the season in a three-set victory at No. 13 Kentucky, Krause had three kills down the stretch when Nebraska won the first set 27-25. When Nebraska beat Creighton she had a career-high 16 kills.

I feel like Ive been doing well on the left side, and I feel like its something that as long as I continue to stay aggressive and keep my good mindset on that side that I can be really effective on that side, Krause said.

Nebraska's Bekka Allick (5) and Michigan State's Julia Bishop battle for the ball on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska head coach John Cook waves to the crowd after his 800th career win after defeating Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska head coach John Cook waves to the crowd after his 800th career winon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska head coach John Cook (left) shakes hands with athletic director Trev Alberts after Alberts presented a commemorative belt buckle to Cook to commemorate his 800th career winon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Lindsay Krause scores a kill against Michigan State's Emma Monks (left) and Maradith O'Gormanon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Kenzie Knuckles celebrates a point against Michigan State in the first set, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Kenzie Knuckles passes the ball against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Lindsay Krause hits the ball against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Maggie Mendelson hits the ball against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Maggie Mendelson hits the ball against Michigan State's Aliyah Moore on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Madi Kubik (left) scores a kill against Michigan State's Julia Bishop (center) and Nil Okur in the first set, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts (right) embraces head coach John Cook after the Huskers defeated Michigan State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center, marking Cook's 800th career win.

Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (8), Madi Kubik (10) and others celebrate a point against Michigan State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Anni Evans (center) and others celebrate a point against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska head coach John Cook talks with his team during the Huskers' match against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Kaitlyn Hord (top) scores a kill against Michigan State's Emma Monks in the second setFriday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Kaitlyn Hord (top) scores a kill against Michigan State's Emma Monks in the second seton Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Madi Kubik hits the ball against Michigan State's Emma Monks (left) and Maradith O'Gorman in the second seton Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Lindsay Krause (left) battles for the ball with Michigan State's Julia Bishop in the second seton Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska fans cheer for the team during the match against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Kaitlyn Hord (left) celebrates her kill in front of Michigan State's Julia Bishopon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez throws a commemorative game ball to the crowd during player introductions before the match against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner.

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How Lindsay Krause stays motivated to keep NU volleyball among the nation's best - Lincoln Journal Star