It was just another day in the Mad City for John Cook, even if the former University of Wisconsin volleyball coach had to be corrected and told it was Madtown.

Breakfast at Mickie's Dairy Bar across the street from the UW Field House. A visit to the Field House, where he greeted workers he's known for years. Trading barbs with UW administrators.

Then in the afternoon, he took the walk down that familiar ramp to the UW locker room. Only this time, he was wearing Nebraska red, arguably the most powerful volleyball program in the nation. The Cornhuskers are here to participate in the NCAA tournament regional Friday night at the Field House against Michigan State after the match between California and Iowa State.

"Like hitting the reset button," Cook said of his first visit to Madison in nine years, or since he left as coach of the Badgers to become coach-in-waiting for a season before taking over the Cornhuskers program in 2000.

"We had a little quiz on the bus ride over," senior middle Tracy Stalls recounted. "How many libraries in Madison? Twenty-three."

But then came the correction from Cook's assistant Lizzy Stemke, who as Lizzy Fitzgerald was recruited by Cook to play setter for the Badgers, which she did from 1998 to 2001.

"He kept calling it Mad City," senior right side Sarah Pavan explained, "and Lizzy corrected him and said it was Madtown."

No matter where the Cornhuskers are, their volleyball reputation follows them. Nebraska is the defending national champion and trying to become just the sixth school to win back-to-back titles. The last time it happened was in 2002-03, when USC did it.

This is the Cornhuskers' 14th straight visit to the regionals and a chance at a fourth national title. Ranked second in the nation, they are 29-1 this season with an 87-8 record in games played in those 30 matches. Their only loss came at Texas, the Cornhuskers' first three-game loss in 10 years.

Nebraska volleyball is so consuming that 20 credentials were issued for members of the media. That's more media than what covers UW home matches, let alone road matches.

"Their tradition is duly noted," Michigan State coach Cathy George said.

The Cook coaching tree was on display for three of the four teams that gathered for practice Thursday afternoon at the Field House.

First there is Stemke, whose husband is former UW punter Kevin Stemke. On the Iowa State sideline is coach Christy Johnson, who was hired by Cook for her first college position as an assistant at UW and stayed with Cook's successor, Pete Waite, until taking over the Cyclones three years ago. Chris Bigelow, an assistant for California, was an assistant for Cook at UW.

"It's neat to see coaches so successful who came out of this program," Cook said.

Success is a key word in Cook's resume. The Cornhuskers, who tied with the Longhorns for the Big 12 title this season, have finished first in seven of Cook's eight seasons in Lincoln. His first team at Nebraska in 2000 also won the national championship with a five-game victory over the Badgers.

The players know that sort of track record makes them marked in the world of collegiate volleyball.

"We've had a target on our back all season long. Everyone wants to knock us off," said Pavan, the reigning national player of the year. "So we've dealt with that sort of pressure all year long."

Based on the records, Michigan State is a decided underdog, a role "we feel comfortable playing," senior libero Miken Trogdon said.

The Spartans (21-13) began their run to an NCAA bid with an upset of the Badgers at the Field House Nov. 2. The Spartans have nine victories over teams ranked in the top 50 of the RPI rankings.

"We're ready to take on any challenge," George said. "The biggest thing is to control what we can control, and that's what we do. We 're not playing the shirt, we're playing the team."

A team that appears ready for the challenge.

"We know opponents are going to bring it," Stalls said. "That's the way it is and the way we want it to be."