John Cook: daughter Lauren will not play this weekend

During his weekly radio program Tuesday, Nebraska coach John Cook made the following statement about the playing status of his daughter, Lauren:

“I have made the decision that Lauren Cook will not play in our matches this weekend against Michigan and Michigan State," John Cook said. "As the legal system continues to progress, we will make further determination on Lauren’s playing status. Lauren is still a member of our program and will continue to train and practice with our team.”

Lauren Cook is the starting setter for the 18-2 Cornhuskers, currently the second-ranked team in the country. (Nebraska was #1 the previous week, before losing to #6 Penn State.)

Lauren Cook is scheduled to be arraigned November 8, facing possible charges of driving with a suspended license and leaving the scene of an accident.

According to numerous reports in the Omaha World-Herald, Lauren Cook was behind the wheel of her parent’s SUV Sunday morning when her car struck two motorcyclists on the side of the road. One of those struck suffered a broken leg.

Reports attributed to the Lincoln, Nebraska Police Department say Lauren Cook left the scene without stopping. Several minutes and several blocks later, she reportedly pulled over to call her mother, and then called police. She was arrested, booked, and soon thereafter made bail.

Nebraska media report that Lauren Cook, 20, was driving with a suspended license. She reportedly has been issued four speeding tickets over the past four years.

Although John Cook held a press conference Monday and spoke during his weekly radio program on Tuesday, he has refused subsequent requests for interviews. A Nebraska media spokesman told the World-Herald that members of the volleyball team "were not being made available to the media this week."

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Lauren Cook has competed three times against the Washington Huskies. During the 2009 season, she was the starting setter for UCLA, and was eventually named national freshman of the year. Washington defeated UCLA twice that season.

John Cook (left) and Jim McLaughlin (purple shirt) after
the 2010 Sweet 16 match in Seattle
[photo by Matt Miller]

At the end of the 2010 season, Nebraska travelled to Seattle to face Washington in a Sweet 16 match. The Huskies won that contest, in dramatic fashion. Lauren Cook, who had transferred from UCLA to Nebraska, was one of two setters in the Cornhuskers’ 6-2 offense.

At the end of that Sweet 16 match, John Cook and Washington coach Jim McLaughlin exchanged harsh words after Cook complained during the post-match handshake about an earlier referee’s call. Two seasons earlier, Nebraska won a gripping five-set Elite 8 match in Seattle. In 2005, Washington swept heavily-favored Nebraska in the national championship match.