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Lauren Stivrins and Nebraska volleyball go way back.
The All-America middle blocker committed to the Huskers in 2014 when she was a high school junior. She’s been in Lincoln since 2016, playing for the Huskers the past five seasons.
But there is someone in her family who has an even longer history with the program.
Lincoln resident Opal Stivrins, Lauren’s grandmother, has had season tickets for Nebraska matches since the 1990s. She still has those tickets, and for the past few seasons she’s gotten to watch her granddaughter be one of the team’s stars.
Think about how great that must be.
And while going to the matches and seeing Lauren Stivrins smash down kills and play with a mix of fire and joy has been a treat, Stivrins coming to Nebraska also allowed Opal to get to see her more than she did when Lauren was growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“It has been an absolute gift to have her here because most of my grandchildren were close and I was able to attend their activities,” said Opal Stivrins, the 82-year old grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of seven. “And I only got to see Lauren when I would go to Arizona in the winter for a couple of weeks, or when I traveled to one of her club tournaments. So it has really been wonderful.”
Opal’s husband was Kaz Stivrins, and she’s the stepmother to Lauren’s dad, Alex, who grew up in Lincoln. Alex’s mother, Patricia, passed away in 1989. Opal has been part of the family since 1991.
Kaz passed away in 2008 when Lauren was 10. Kaz and Opal spent several weeks in Arizona each winter and would watch Lauren and her siblings in their activities.
Opal Stivrins was hooked on Husker volleyball for many years before Stivrins joined the team. She loved the players, being part of the fan base, and, well, that they won a lot.
So what’s it like when your granddaughter is actually on the team?
“It’s exciting, of course,” Opal Stivrins said. “I think it’s been nice for the whole family to have her here. Her freshman year I know she called me one day and she said, ‘Grandma, I’m really sick. I have mono and they tell me I have to get out of the dorm. Can I come stay at your place?’ So I had her here for a couple of weeks.”
When Lauren was growing up, her family wasn’t always able to travel to Lincoln for every holiday.
Now, the family has gotten some more time together.
“It’s just been nice to have her here,” Opal Stivrins said. “But you also have to stand back and let her have her college, and make her way. And I think the whole family has done that. We’ve been here if she needed us. And when we’ve wanted to see her she’s been very gracious about her time. But she has to have her time, too. And when she’s hungry she’ll call and say, ‘I’d like to come for dinner.’ And that’s great to just have her come and visit and have dinner.”
For Lauren’s first few years in the program, Opal rarely missed a home match. This season, due to an illness, she hasn’t been able to attend every home match, but she has all the digital TV subscriptions she needs to watch.
And Opal made sure she was at the Devaney Sports Center for Lauren’s Senior Day ceremony two weeks ago, sitting in the sixth row behind the Husker bench and wearing a sweatshirt with Lauren’s name and jersey number on it.
Lauren’s sister, Amber, is on the volleyball team at Georgia, and Opal also traveled to watch her play this season.
Lauren Stivrins is one of the Huskers’ all-time greats. She started on a national championship team as a redshirt freshman in 2017. The next season, she helped Nebraska almost win another title when she had 19 kills with a .615 hitting percentage in a national championship match loss against Stanford.
Stivrins has been a first-team All-American twice, and a second-team All-American once.
Opal Stivrins loves seeing Lauren’s enthusiasm — and smile — during the matches.
And since Lauren started playing for the Huskers, Opal has taken on a new identity.
“I have to tell you, before Lauren came here I was known as Opal Stivrins, and now I am Lauren’s grandma,” Opal Stivrins said. “People know. Most of my friends save all of the newspaper clippings for me. And I get a lot of texts and things. When I’m at home for games, I have a couple of friends that are avid volleyball fans, and they’re texting me the whole time.”
Photos: NU volleyball takes on Penn State in final home match
Nebraska’s Madi Kubik (left) and Lauren Stivrins (26) celebrate the Huskers’ come-from-behind win in the second set over Penn State last Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Whitney Lauenstein (13) and Lauren Stivrins (26) celebrate a block in the second set against Penn State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Lauren Stivrins (facing) joins in a group hug with fellow Senior Night teammates Kayla Caffey, Nicklin Hames, Callie Schwarzenbach and Lexi Sun after the Huskers defeated Penn State 3-0 on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Callie Schwarzenbach (25) reaches for her teammates during Senior Night festivities after the Huskers defeated Penn State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Nicklin Hames (1) heads towards her teammates during Senior Night festivities after the Huskers swept Penn State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Kayla Caffey (left) hugs her mother, Nicole Fuller, during Senior Night festivities after a match against Penn State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Lauren Stivrins (26) gets a hug from coach John Cook during the Senior Night festivities after the Huskers defeated Penn State 3-0 on Nov. 19 at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Lauren Stivrins (26) and Lindsay Krause (22) celebrate their block against Penn State in the first set Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Lexi Sun serves a match-winning ace as teammate Lauren Stivrins (26) looks on in the third set against Penn State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Lexi Sun watches a Penn State shot in the third set Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Whitney Lauenstein (left) and Kayla Caffey celebrate a point in the third set against Penn State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Penn State coach Russ Rose (left) talks with Anjelina Starck during the second set Friday against Nebraska at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Whitney Lauenstein and Lauren Stivrins (back) combine for a block for a point in the second set against Penn State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Madi Kubik (left) and Lauren Stivrins (26) celebrate the Huskers’ come-from-behind win in the second set over Penn State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Lauren Stivrins (26) and Madi Kubik (10) defend at the net against Penn State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Lauren Stivrins (left) and Lindsay Krause team up for a block to score a point against Penn State in the first set Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Lauren Stivrins (left) and Lindsay Krause celebrate their block for a point against Penn State in the first set Friday at the Devaney Sports Center .
Nebraska’s Kayla Caffey attacks at the net against Penn State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska’s Madi Kubik (right) attempts a kill against Penn State’s Jonni Parker in the first set Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska volleyball player Lauren Stivrins with her grandma, Opal Stivrins, after Nebraska clinched the Big Ten championship in 2016.
Nebraska’s Lauren Stivrins (26) gets a hug from coach John Cook during the Senior Night festivities after the Huskers defeated Penn State 3-0 on Nov. 19 at the Devaney Sports Center.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner.