Wednesday, December 15, 1999

NCAA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Penn State is ranked No. 1 and
the other three teams have combined
to win nine of the last 14
national championships

FINAL FOUR TEAM LINEUPS

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

It seems like old times.

Three teams that have combined to win nine of the past 14 NCAA women's volleyball titles will take to the Stan Sheriff Center court during tomorrow's semifinals.

Defending champion Long Beach State (31-3), four-time winner Stanford (30-2) and Pacific (32-2), one of the dominating teams of the 1980s, are all hoping to close the century with one final banner.

Penn State (34-1), so close and yet so far the past two years, is looking for its first trophy after two consecutive runner-up finishes.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE Tomorrow's semifinals: Pacific (32-2) vs. Penn State (34-1), 5 p.m.; Long Beach State (31-3) vs. Stanford (30-2), 7:30 p.m. (approximately). Saturday's final: 5 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center Radio/TV: No live TV or local radio SEATS AVAILABLE TICKETS: Some 200 two-day packages are available at $20 CALL: 944-BOWS

They've all been here before. And, with the exception of 1988, when Texas defeated Hawaii for the title, at least one of this year's final four teams has reached the semifinals of the national tournament.

While the talk this season was about the parity around the country, when push came to shove, the big names of the sport were left standing after their respective regionals.

By Sasha Mitelman, Stanford Daily
Stanford's Kerri Walsh is the second four-
time first team All-American.

It's anyone's guess as to who will be crowned champion Saturday. Can Stanford win its fifth title of the decade? Will Long Beach State become the fifth team to successfully defend its title in spite of this being considered a rebuilding year?

Is senior-ladened Pacific poised to return to prominence? Can Penn State finally break through and become just the fourth non-California team to win it all?

"As I said at the beginning of the season, it's wide-open,'' was Hawaii coach Dave Shoji's view from the stands.

Nebraska coach resigns

Terry Pettit, Nebraska's head coach for 23 years and the fifth-winningest coach in NCAA volleyball history, announced his retirement yesterday. His record of 694-148-11 includes the '95 title.

By Craig Houtz, Centre Daily Times
Penn State's Lauren Cacciamani, Big Ten player of the Year.

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CALIFORNIA DREAMING?

For the first time since 1991, three California teams are in the Final Four. The Golden State has dominated the NCAA Tournament, winning 13 of 18 titles, and nine of the last 10. The only non-California teams to win championships are: Hawaii (1982, '83, '87), Texas ('88) and Nebraska ('95). Only twice has there been a championship match without a California team: 1988, Hawaii vs. Texas, and 1995, Nebraska vs. Texas. Stanford is making its 12th appearance in the final four, the most of any school. The Cardinal are also seeking their fifth NCAA title, and fifth in the 1990s. Long Beach State is seeking to become the fifth repeat champion.

NCAA WOMEN'S DIVISION I CHAMPIONS 1998: Long Beach State 1997: Stanford 1996: Stanford 1995: Nebraska 1994: Stanford 1993: Long Beach State 1992: Stanford 1991: UCLA 1990: UCLA 1989: Long Beach State 1988:Texas 1987: Hawaii 1986: Pacific 1985: Pacific 1984: UCLA 1983: Hawaii 1982: Hawaii 1981: Southern California