It was a normal October morning in Nebraska a couple of weeks ago, but Tara Mueller was cold.

No, she was colder than that. Mueller was wearing a rather heavy sweatshirt, but she was still freezing.

"I've got another long-sleeved shirt under this," Mueller said.

Mueller, a freshman from Scottsdale, Ariz., isn't used to cool fall weather. That's not the only adjustment Mueller has had to make as a freshman on the Nebraska volleyball team.

"Everything is different," Mueller said. "Classes are different, coaching style, learning all the new things, and obviously the wind. All that stuff is new to me. I'm trying to adjust as much as I can."

That adjustment has been eased by the presence of All-American outside hitters Christina Houghtelling and Jordan Larson.

"Everyone is really a role model for me," Mueller said. "But Jordan and Chris can do everything. They can play defense, they can set, they can hit, they have all the shots. It's just amazing playing with them.

"From the beginning, everything was new. I've just been trying to follow Jordan and Chris and watch what they're doing. They have really helped me out a lot. They have really helped me with defense and hitting different shots."

Mueller hasn't seen a lot of playing time behind Larson and Houghtelling, but Nebraska coach John Cook said she has played well when given the opportunity.

"The times she's been in matches, she has performed very well," Cook said. "She has met the expectations we've had for her. She's playing behind two first-team All-American left sides, so she's getting some great training and has great role models to follow.

"I think in the future it's going to pay big dividends for her as a player and for our program, especially next year."

Cook has seen Mueller's improvement as the season has gone along. He also likes the enthusiasm she brings to the court. Cook calls her "lightning bug" because of that intensity.

"She's not as big as a Houghtelling," Cook said. "She's closer in size to Jordan, but she has a great vertical jump, She's a very quick athlete. I've seen a very good adjustment from her to the college game."

Mueller's versatility is one of her strengths. She has played rightside, outside and even got a surprise start at libero early this season.

Mueller is not likely to see much time at libero the remainder of her career. Outside hitter is where she will make her mark at Nebraska.

"We put her at libero, but the ideal thing is for you to have an outside sitters who can pass or have the skills to be a libero. That's a great combination to have," Cook said. "That's what we're trying to do with our outside hitters so we have players playing all the way around.

"Like Missouri for example or Iowa State, they're subbing their outside hitters out. To me your outside hitters are really the ones who determine if you win or lose matches when it gets tight. They're going to make the big swings. For us passing and playing defense, making great serves. You want great athletes at that position and Tara fits that mold."

Mueller may have all the tools, but there is still that period of adjustment to the college game. The first few practices were tough for her, even with role models like Houghtelling and Larson. The college game is another step up from the high-level club volleyball Mueller played in high school.

When you play for one of the top volleyball teams in the country with some of the best players in the country, practices can be hard.

"It's really hard because our team is at such a high level, the freshmen are trying to live up to that level," Cook said. "When they don't, it really stands out. If they have a bad day, it really stands out, so there's a lot of pressure on those guys."

Mueller said the veteran players helped her through the rough periods.

"It started out kind of rough," Mueller said. "There were practices where I was so lost. I was freaking out because I didn't know what to do. But everyone is so supportive. Everyone knows. They've all been there, and they all help you out with what you need to know and where you need to be.

"I'm so used to high school and club where you can just hit around the block. Basically just play your game. Here it's so strategical. You have to use the block. Everything is so different."

The Huskers have lost a couple of outside hitters in the past few years, including Brooke Bartek who is now starting at Kentucky. That makes Mueller an important player for the future of Husker volleyball.

"We're not real deep at outside hitter, and we're trying to recruit more," Cook said. "(Them) leaving gave us a bit of a hole, so Tara becomes a huge recruit at that position, especially going into next year."