Penn State wills itself to a third consecutive Championship.

Tampa - For those of you that saw the 5 set thriller between Penn State and Texas, congratulations you are witnesses to Women's Volleyball history in the making.
Penn State became the first team to win three straight volleyball titles Saturday night, overcoming a two-set deficit to beat Texas in five and extend its record winning streak to 102 straight games.

When Texas won the first two sets it looked like Penn State's incredible run was going to come to an end. After half time Penn State came out strong and was able to adjust their serve receive of Texas and generate their offense more efficiently.

Megan Hodge led the Nittany Lions (38-0) with 21 kills, including the final one that touched off a wild celebration at midcourt.

"They just won three national championships in a row," Penn State coach Russ Rose said. "Not a lot of people have done stuff like that. Our seniors just willed us to the win."

Penn State's 22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13 win helped it stake a claim as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, volleyball team in NCAA history. And maybe one of the best college teams ever.

The winning streak is second in Division I team sports behind the Miami men's tennis program's 137 straight victories from 1957-64.

The Nittany Lions led 22-19 in the first set and were on the brink of going ahead early. Then Texas called timeout, regrouped and rallied for six straight points to put Penn State behind, an unfamiliar position during most of its incredible run.

The Nittany Lions had only lost six sets this season entering the final match, although one of those came in the semifinals against Hawaii, before dropping the first two to Texas.

But Penn State regained its serving prowess and cruised through the next two sets and had only a few miscues in the final set before closing out the Longhorns.

Destinee Hooker had a game-high 34 kills for Texas (an NCAA Record in a finals match), which was trying to claim its first volleyball title since 1988.

Penn State hasn't lost since falling to Stanford in September 2007.

CLUB SEASON:

With the official end to the 2009 Womens Collegiate Season, we officially kick of the USAV Club season in South Florida after the Holidays.

NCAA Championship Match: Penn State vs. Texas

The NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship will be played in Tampa this Saturday at 8:00PM on ESPN2. We highly recommend that you make the time to watch the match with your daughters and focus on key players to see how the best play certain positions.

The Championship match places No.1 Penn State (37-0) vs. No. 2 Texas (29-1). These are clearly the best teams almost boasting perfection with a combined winning record of (66-1). Speaking of perfection, Penn State is on the longest winning streak in women's NCAA sports history at 101 consecutive matches.

Match Preview:

Both of these team are similarly matched with a great combination of size, athleticism, coaching and experience. Most experts are predicting that Penn State will win the match and it's third consecutive Championship. A Penn State victory in four sets is not unrealistic.

I almost sense an upset brewing in that Penn State is going for an unprecedented third consecutive championship and an unprecedented 102 consecutive victory. I'm not sure if they can overcome all that they have to deal with and overcome a talented Texas team. If they do win, please realize that you will be looking at something that might never happen again in women's collegiate sports.

University of Texas:

Senior All-America outside hitter Destinee Hooker has shined in postseason play, hammering out 5.50 kills, collecting 2.19 digs and 1.00 blocks per-set, while hitting .439 in five matches ... Texas is hitting .386 as a team in the tourney and has held opponents to a .169 attack mark ... junior middle blocker Jennifer Doris leads the team at the net with a club-best 17 total blocks ... senior All-America setter/opposite Ashley Engle is averaging 2.00 kills, 7.75 assists and 2.12 digs per-set in five matches.

Penn State University:

Players to keep an eye on: All American (MB)Megan Hodge is a future USA Olympian and the Senior leader and prominent striker on the team. Setter Alisha Glass is the nations leader in assists and is a team leader. TIDBIT: The no. 2 setter in the Nation is FIU's Natalia Valentine. Blair Brown 6'5" is a dominant right side that virtually stopped Hawaii's attach in the semi-finals. Look to see if Brown can slow down Hooker from Texas.

Stats from Penn State vs. Hawaii: Three Nittany Lions posted double-digit kills. Senior Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) led the squad with 12, while juniors Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) and Blair Brown (Purcellville, Va.) had 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Senior setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) dished out 41 helpers and attacked at a team-leading .692 with nine kills on 13 errorless swings.

Prediction: My fingers are crossed for Penn State, I would really enjoy seeing sports history but part of me says Penn State is facing so much, including a very talented and loose team.

Scenario 1 - If the match goes four or less sets: Penn State Wins

Scenario 2 - If the match goes to five sets: Texas Wins

SEE AN ESPN VIDEO PREVIEW OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

NCAA Final Four in Tampa

Yet another national volleyball event comes to Florida. The NCAA Women's Volleyball Final four and Championship come to Tampa, FL. December 18th and 19th respectfully.

This is a great opportunity to see the best collegiate teams and players in the sport. If your thinking of going to Tampa and seeing the event first hand please CLICK HERE for more Information.

If you are unable to see the matches in person, we highly recommend that you watch the games as a family and go over plays and positioning with your kids (players). What better model to follow than learning from the best.

This year the matches will be televised on ESPN2.

Thursday - December 17th, Match-Ups

Texas vs. Minnesota at 7:00P.M.

Preview: Two similar teams in size but Texas seems to be the more athletic of the two. Expect a strong attack from Texas.

Prediction: Texas wins in four.
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Penn State vs. Hawaii at 9:00P.M. or 1/2 hour after the first match.

Preview: Hawaii is a smaller athletic team much like that of FIU. Penn State has to much of everything, size, athleticism, experience and coaching.

Prediction: Penn State wins in three

Florida State University advances to the ELITE 8

In the State of Florida it is usually the University of Florida that goes the furthest in the NCAA tournament. Is 2009 a sign of things to come as Florida State defeats the University of Kentucky to advance to the ELITE 8.

The University of Florida had a tough time facing 2007 and 2008 NCAA CHampion as Penn State defeated Florida in three sets. Congratulations to the Lady Gators for yet another sweet 16 appearance in the Div I Tournament.

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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - And the dream season continues.

The No. 12 Florida State volleyball defeated No. 13 Kentucky 3-2 (16-25, 26-24, 25-17, 19-25, 17-15) Friday night in the third round of the NCAA Championship at the University of Minnesota's Sports Pavilion.

With the thrilling triumph, the Seminoles (31-2) advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history and will face the winner of Friday night's Minnesota vs. Colorado State match live on ESPNU Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

In the decisive fifth set, the teams switched benches at the eighth point after Stephanie Neville's kill gave FSU an 8-6 lead. Mira Djuric's kill moved the FSU advantage to 11-8 and the Wildcats' (29-5) coaching staff was forced to call a timeout.

The short break worked in UK's favor as the team scored back-to-back points to make it an 11-10 score. But reigning ACC Player of the Year Brianna Barry's key solo block pushed the Seminole lead up to 12-10.

See the video of the teams celebration and post match comments by CLICKING HERE

Two Florida Universities make it to the Sweet 16's of the NCAA Tournament

It is exciting to know that two teams from Florida; Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles have a chance to compete in the Final Four!!

The Sweet 16 of Volleyball is this weekend, December 11th and 12th. Both UF and FSU face tough matches on Friday.


NCAA Southeast Regional: Four of the sixteen teams will be playing in Gainesville Friday at 3:30pm , Baylor vs. California , ranked 9th in the nation. Penn State , ranked #1 in the nation and last years champion, will be competing against The Florida Gators - ranked 16th, at 6pm on Friday in the O’Connell Center.

Florida State the top seed in this bracket and the ACC champion will be playing in Minneapolis , Minnesota , against a talented Kentucky team (SEC Champion) on Friday December 11th.

See a great Video of FSU in Minneapolis on Seminoles.com

Winners of these two games will be competing Saturday, December 12th at 4pm in the Regional finals to participate in the Final Four in Tampa .

You can see The NCAA Volleyball Bracket by clicking here:

Stay tuned to the report to see how our Florida teams do and follow the tournament to see who will be in the Final Four in Tampa.

SPECIAL THANKS TO GUEST WRITER CRISTY MACHADO WHO TOOK THE TIME TO HIGHLIGHT THE TWO FLORIDA UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE STILL COMPETING IN THE NCAA DIV I TOURNAMENT.

Help us keep Sand Volleyball in the NCAA...

Every Vote Counts

Sand Volleyball has been approved as a college sport, but in January there will be another vote held to OVERRIDE this approval. Beach Volleyball has come so far, help us, as we support it becoming a NCAA sport. Here's a chance to make a difference and support a sport that we all love. In addition it opens more opportunities for scholarships for Volleyball players.

We need your support and your vote and it will only take 30 seconds of your time.
If you have already voted, don't worry, you can vote again AND forward to every volleyball enthusiast you know so they can vote as well.

Help us keep Sand Volleyball in the NCAA...


TO VOTE - CLICK HERE.

Middle School Playoffs: Miami Dade

On Wednesday Dec 3rd, the Middle School Divisional Playoffs got underway at Tamiami Park on the outside hard courts. The top eight teams that had survived the earlier round of the playoffs would all converge at one location to determine a South Dade and a North Dade Champion.

Eight Varsity teams and six Junior Varsity teams had made it this far but only one Champion from the North and South would have their season extended for one more match for both Varsity and JV.

It might not have been the best day to play volleyball outside due to the high winds and threat of rain but you could tell by looking at all the young ladies present that they were all very excited to be at this playoff event sharing the court with 14teams.

Besides the fact that the matches were outside, it was similar to a USAV club event in that the girls were able to observe other matches. For those who do play club, they were able to see many friends on opposing teams. In all, the day's action will hopefully be something every player remembers regardless of who won or lost.


Of course there were winners with Palmetto d Carver for the South Championship and Filer d. Miami Springs in the North Championship.



Arvida's JV captured the South's Championship, Coached by Jerry and Joy Beverly.


Next Week both the North and South Champions will meet at the Miami Springs high school gym to determine both the Miami Dade County Champions for varsity and JV. We wish the best of luck to the teams that will advance to the county championship match.

Top 10 Middle School Varsity Teams for Miami Dade County:

1) Palmetto/Filer
2) Filer/Palmetto
3) Carver
4) Miami Springs
5) Rockway
6) Glades
7) Palm Springs
8) Country Club
9) Mas Canosa
10) Hialeah

Below are a few pictures of the days action. (Click on any Image to enlarge it).

The FIU Golden Panthers outlasted UM in a Five set Thriller

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The FIU volleyball team notched its second NCAA Tournament victory in school history on Thursday evening as the Panthers defeated cross-town rival Miami, 3-2 (25-16, 20-25, 22-25, 27-25, 15-11), in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.

With the win, the Panthers improve to 32-3 on the season and advance to the NCAA Tournament Second Round where they will face winner of tonight's match between No. 14 Florida and College of Charleston. The second round match is set for Friday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. and can be viewed for free at www.gatorvision.tv. Live stats will be available at www.gatorzone.com.

FIU ran out to an early 5-0 lead in the first set but Miami fought back to tie the score at 13-13. A Hurricane net violation made it 14-13 in favor of the Panthers before senior Isadora Rangel tallied a kill on a pass from junior Natalia Valentin to give FIU a 15-13 lead.

Following a media timeout, FIU recorded a kill and gained a point on a Miami attack error to increase the Panthers' advantage to 17-13. The Hurricanes called a timeout of their own and tallied a pair of points out of the break before senior Olga Vergun slammed home a kill from the right side to put the score at 18-15. FIU then recorded a block to take a 19-15 lead and a Miami attack error made it 20-15.

Another Hurricane attack error put FIU on top by six at 21-15 to force a Miami timeout and, out of the break, the Panthers recorded three straight points to put themselves in set-point position at 24-15. The Hurricanes managed one more point but Rangel registered a kill from the left side to give FIU a 15-16 first-set win.

Up 1-0 for the match, the Panthers didn't let up, making numerous hustle plays and converting on long rallies to take a 15-12 lead. The Hurricanes then went on an 8-0 run to put the score at 20-15 before a kill from freshman Jovana Bjelica ended the run. Miami retaliated with a point to put the score at 21-16 and senior Ines Medved recorded a kill from the left side to bring FIU within four, but Miami tallied two straight points to put the score at 23-17.

Senior Yarimar Rosa would then tally a kill but Miami countered with a kill of its own to get to set-point at 24-18. Rosa struck again from the left side and a Hurricane attack error made the score 24-20, but Miami was able to register its final point to take the set, 25-20, and tie the match at 1-1.

Miami ran out to a 15-10 lead in the third set but FIU clawed back to within three at 15-12 before a Hurricane kill put the deficit back to four at 16-12. A Miami service error put the score at 16-13 but the Hurricanes got the next point to go ahead by four once again. Rosa slammed home a kill from the left side to make it 17-14 but a Panther service error put the score at 18-14 before Medved scored on a tip to bring FIU within three again at 18-15.

The teams traded points and with Miami on top at 19-16, the Hurricanes were called for a pair of violations as FIU got within one at 19-18. Miami took a 20-18 lead on a kill before Vergun slammed home a hard kill from the right side to make it 20-19 and the teams then traded scores once more to make the score 21-20. Rosa then knotted the score at 21-21 with a kill from the left side.

Following a Miami timeout, the Hurricanes went ahead by two at 23-21 but a kill by sophomore Andrea Lakovic brought the Panthers within one at 23-22. A Miami kill put the Hurricanes in set-point position and they managed one more point to take the set, 25-22, and go ahead 2-1 for the match.

The fourth set saw both squads battle back and forth and the score was tied at 18-18 before FIU took a 19-18 lead. Following a Miami timeout, the Hurricanes tallied three points to go ahead, 21-19 and force an FIU timeout.

The Panthers came out of the break and knotted the score at 21-21 before Lakovic scored on a tip to give FIU a 22-21 lead. A Hurricane attack error put the Panthers on top by two at 23-21 but Miami was able to retaliate and tie the score at 23-23 before going ahead by one at 24-23. FIU tied the score at 24-24 but Miami went ahead on a kill at 25-24. Rosa then scored twice from the left side to put FIU in set-point position at 26-25 and then combined with sophomore Sabrina Gonzalez for a block to give the Panthers at 27-25 set-win.

With the match tied at 2-2, the final set saw both teams come out strong. FIU took a 9-7 lead before Valentin connected with Bjelica on the left side for a kill to make it 10-7. Miami then recorded two points to come within one at 10-9 and force an FIU timeout.

Out of the break, the teams traded points to make the score 11-10 in favor of the Panthers. A Hurricane violation gave FIU a point and a kill by Rosa put the Panthers ahead by three at 13-10. Miami registered a kill to come within two at 13-11 before Rosa struck again from the right side to put FIU in match-point position at 14-11. Rosa's third straight kill closed out the match to give FIU a 15-11 set-win and a 3-2 match victory.

For the complete story Visit FIU.com or CLICK HERE.

You can also Visit the Gator Zone by CLICKING HERE

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Preview of FIU vs UF

FIU will now play UF in a game that I personally have been anticipating ever since I had the pleasure of traveling to Gainesville, FL. this year. Many people in Miami have thought that FIU has the talent to defeat the mighty Lady Gators. Hopefully FIU can rise to the occasion and correct errors that allowed today's match to be much closer than it should have been.

The Florida Gators

You can count on two facts:

1) The O'Connell Center will be filled to capacity with fans that expect FIU to become that days "Gator Bait".



2) Coach Mary Wise will have her team focused on shutting down FIU's Strength's






The FIU Golden Panthers



Coach Danijela Tomic will have the team prepared to defeat the UF team both emotionally and technically. The "X" factor will be the players ability to stay loose while raising their games to the highest levels because UF will most certainly try to control Yarimar Rosa's hitting. Defenders must react quicker on tips and improve their spacing because there were to many holes against UM tonight.

We will post the link to tmrw's 7:00PM match.