Wow. That was a tense match! Nebraska was able to do what no other team had been able to do all season long - win a set off of Penn State -
For the first 2 sets it appeared that PSU was going to sail through yet another match - but the Lady Lions came out flat in the 3rd, looking out of sync and committing a series of unforced errors. Nebraska capitalized by serving well and never really letting PSU back into the 3rd - and then they took the 4th as well.
Standford had rallied to win the first semi final, having been down 0-2 - which was the first time that a feat had been accomplished in a semi final game, ever. The announcers were going a little crazy - which I understand, because it suddenly became a competitive match - but it didn't stop me from letting Karch Kiraly know, through the TV screen, that I thought he was "number 1" throughout the broadcast.
PSU came together in the 5th - although not before going 2 points behind at 8-10 - and they won the final set 15-11.
So now they've had some competition - a hostile crowd - lost a set (or 2) - and re-grouped to win.
Coach Rose said that he thought the team was tired - but now they know they can win 3 set matches as well as 5 set matches.
Penn State meets Stanford in the final (for the 2nd year in a row) on Saturday at 8pm (EST) Live, on ESPN2. The PSU/Neb semi-final will reair on the B10 Network Friday (10pm) and Saturday (2pm).
In other news, Coach Russ Rose won his 2nd (in as many years) Coach of the Year Honor.
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Talk about stressful! I was chanting...they don't have to win every set...just 3 to keep my nerves in check
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