The Penn State women’s volleyball team racked up their record setting 102nd straight win and third straight national championship with an absolutely thrilling 5 set win over Texas in the title game on Saturday night. I also heard a rumor that they gained a new young fan from Montclair NJ.
Their championship match was one of the most compelling sporting events that I have ever watched. The girls started slow and dropped the first two sets of the match, marking the first time in the 100+ win streak that they had ever fallen behind 0-2. But they fought they way back, eventually winning the fifth set 15-13 in a set that had both teams trading points back and forth. I’ve heard from a bunch of people who just turned the game on for the novelty of the championship but were overwhelmed with the athleticism of the participants. They’re real believers now.
The match has become an instant ESPN classic and was already rebroadcast three times yesterday. It will also be shown again on Saturday at 10 pm EST Saturday (9 pm CST). It’s worth a view even though you know who won.
It’s hard to appreciate how tall and good these athletes are. I shared this photo with Gary yesterday. It shows PSU coach (and Fremd High grad) Russ Rose with his four first team All-Americans, from left to right Ariel Wilson, Megan Hodge, Coach Rose, Blair Brown, and Alisha Glass, at their All American Awards banquet Friday night. Russ is my size but he looks like a shrimp in this photo. The girls heights in order are: 6’3″, 6’3″, 6’5″, 6’0″.
So does Gary know the coach?
No – but I heard that Charlotte watched the match Saturday night and really got into it.
Also watched in live Saturday night. It was really a great match. To be honest the best palyer on the court that night was the girl from Texas.
Charlotte was totally into it. We all were. In fact, Lex and I had watched the semifinal the night before (replayed).
BTW Lar, I love the change to the Random Images plugin. Far better, been wanting that function from Day 1.
Steve – She clearly was the best offensive player on the court but I think her defense hurt Texas. She was a weak link in the backcourt but they couldn’t take her out because her back line attacks were so strong. But she struggled digging and returning balls from back there, the match point being a perfect example. Hodge scored the match winner on a kill that should have been returned but Hooker just missed it.