NCAA Semifinals Preview

NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship
Nebraska versus UCLA Notes * Dec. 14, 2006 * National Semifinals * 6 p.m. CT
Seeds: Nebraska #1; UCLA #4      
Records: Nebraska 31-1; UCLA 33-3

Nebraska was ranked first in the CSTV/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll all season, while UCLA was selected 10th in the preseason national coaches’ poll and currently ranked fourth. The Huskers have played their last 72 matches as the nation’s top-ranked team in the AVCA poll dating back 2004.

Nebraska and UCLA also met at the Qwest Center Omaha in the 2005 regional semifinal with the Huskers prevailing in three sets.

Nebraska, the host university for the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship finals despite being played in Omaha versus Lincoln, Neb., made the 56-mile drive to play in the sold-out Qwest Center Omaha. The event has been sold out for over nine months in anticipation of the championships. The attendance is expected to reach over 16,000 fans and set an NCAA Tournament and regular season record. Nebraska entered the semifinal with a 5-0 record in the Qwest Center.

Only UCLA in 1984 and 1991, along with Pacific in 1986, have won national titles on their home court or area as the host.

Nebraska and UCLA rank second and third in all-time NCAA playoff wins heading into the 2006 NCAA semifinals. Nebraska has 68 victories (68-22), while UCLA has 67 wins (67-22). Stanford leads the pack with 81 playoff victories (81-20).

Nebraska and UCLA both are making their 25th appearance in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship. Nebraska has earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament each of the past 25 season and missed on the inaugural championship in 1981. UCLA’s only time missing the tournament was in 1996

UCLA advanced to the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship semifinals for the first time since 1994 by defeating Hawai’i in three sets in the regional final contested in Honolulu Dec. 9. UCLA had lost five regional finals in the last 11 years before defeating Hawai’i last Saturday.

UCLA entered the national semifinals having not lost a single game in the tournament, the only team to claim the feat in 2006. Nebraska captured the 2005 NCAA title without losing a game (18-0), while Texas accomplished the feat in 1988 (15-0).

UCLA is looking for its 100th NCAA title. The Bruin women’s volleyball team is the fourth team to reach the national semifinals since women’s water polo won UCLA’s 99th title on May 14, 2006.

UCLA Head Coach Andy Banachowski has led the Bruins to the NCAA semifinals 11 times, the most of any coach. The Bruins have won the NCAA national title three times (1984, 1990, 1991) and placed second four times (1981, 1983, 1992, 1994). In addition, he is attempting to win volleyball championships (including AIAW prior to NCAA) in four different decades to become the first women’s volleyball coach to accomplish the feat.

Only UCLA (1984) and Stanford (1997) won both NCAA men’s and women’s volleyball championships in the same calendar year. UCLA is attempting to accomplish the feat a second time as the Bruin men won the NCAA title in May 2006 by defeating Penn State.

UCLA won titles in 1990 and 1991; lost in the NCAA finals in 1992 and 1994 and the semifinals in 1988 and 1989 for the most dominate seven-year streak in NCAA history (only missing the NCAA semifinals in 1993).

Nana Meriwether is the first player in NCAA history to potentially lead the nation in both hitting percentage and blocking during a single season since statistics were compiled nationally.

UCLA has not been defeated 3-0 all season (five games to Stanford, four games to Washington and Stanford).

UCLA’s Nana Meriwether and Nellie Spicer were named AVCA All-America First-Team, along with Katie Carter on third team.

Nebraska advanced to the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship semifinals after rallying from a two-set deficit to defeat Minnesota in the regional final hosted at Gainesville, Fla., on Dec. 9. The victory marked Nebraska’s first-ever NCAA playoff victory after trailing 0-2.

The 2006 season marks the third straight year and the fourth time since 2000 that Nebraska has been given the number-one seed entering the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.

Nebraska has won the NCAA national title twice (1995, 2000), and Cook led the Huskers to their most recent championship. Nebraska is a three-time runnerup (1986, 1989, 2005).

Nebraska reached the national championship match last year, but lost to Washington in three games in San Antonio.

Nebraska is making its 10th NCAA national semifinal (1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006) appearance.

The Huskers are 36-3 against ranked opponents since the start of the 2004 season and 73-11 (.869) under John Cook.

According to research by Rich Kern, Nebraska’s 18-1 record against the other NCAA Tournament qualifiers is the best of any team in the NCAA Tournament field. Florida was second with an 18-2 record against NCAA tournament qualifiers.

Nebraska Head Coach John Cook has had the most successful first seven years ever at a NCAA Division I university with a 218-14 overall record (.940).

Nebraska is making its second consecutive NCAA national semifinals appearance and fourth under Cook since he led the Huskers to the national championship in his first year with the program in 2000.

Nebraska has reached the 30-win plateau for the third straight season and the 18th time in school history.

Nebraska junior right side/opposite hitter Sarah Pavan was turned in duo major honors this season. She was selected AVCA All-America First Team for the third time in her career, while also pulling in ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year for volleyball with a 4.00 grade point average in biological sciences.

Nebraska’s Sarah Pavan and Jordan Larson were selected AVCA All-America First Team this year, while Tracy Stalls was tabbed second team and Rachel Holloway third team.

This year marks the second time in three years that the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship semifinals has comprised of three Pacific 10 Conference schools out of the four teams. In 2004, Southern California, Stanford and Washington represented the Pac-10, while Minnesota represented the Big Ten. This year, Nebraska is the only non-Pac-10 team as UCLA, Washington and Stanford complete the field.

The Pac-10 has won the last five NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships. Washington won in 2005, Stanford in 2001 and 2004, and Southern California in 2002 and 2003.

 

NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship
Stanford versus Washington Notes * Dec. 14, 2006 * National Semifinals * 8:30 p.m. CT
Seeds: Stanford #2; Washington #6       
Records: Stanford 29-3; Washington 29-4

Stanford is the second seed in the tournament ranked second in the latest CSTV/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll. Washington, the tournament’s sixth seed, is ranked third in the latest national poll.

Washington and Stanford split in the regular season, both winning in three games on their home court. The Huskies won 30-21, 30-28, 30-25 on Sept. 22 in Seattle, while the Cardinal won 30-27, 30-15, 31-29 at Palo Alto, Calif. All-time, Stanford leads the series 40-8.

Stanford ranks first in all-time NCAA playoff wins heading into the 2006 NCAA semifinals. The Cardinal has won 81 NCAA tournament matches (81-20). Nebraska (68) and UCLA (67) are second and third in playoff victories, respectively. Washington has 24 playoff victories.

Stanford is one of three schools to have earned spots in all 26 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships. Penn State and UC Santa Barbara are the other two schools.

Stanford has won six NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship titles, while finishing second five times. The Cardinal is 49-2 in the NCAA playoffs when winning the first game. Stanford is 29-1 in 2006 when winning game one.

Stanford placed Foluke Akinradewo and Cynthia Barboza on the AVCA All-America First Team, in addition to Bryn Kehoe on the second team and Kristin Richards on the third team.

Stanford is familiar with Omaha and the Qwest Center. The Cardinal played in the 2005 AVCA Showcase at the Qwest Center Omaha. Stanford defeated Penn State in the opening round before losing to Nebraska in the championship match in front of 10,576 fans on Aug. 27.

Stanford Head Coach John Dunning has won national titles with Pacific (1985, 1986) and Stanford (2001, 2004). Only Southern California’s Mick Haley has won titles with two teams (Texas in 1988 and USC in 2002 and 2003). Dunning has led the Cardinal to the national semifinals in four of the past six years. He ranks third in coaching appearance in the NCAA semifinals with eight (four each at Stanford and Pacific).

Washington placed Christal Morrison and Courtney Thompson on the AVCA All-America First Team, in addition to Alesha Deesing on second team and Jessica Swarbrick on third team.

Washington has reached the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship semifinal round for the third consecutive year. The Huskies have earned berths to the NCAA tournament in each of the last five seasons and 11 times overall. Washington defeated Nebraska in three games last year capture the 2005 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, its first-ever championship in the event.

Washington setter Courtney Thompson enters the semifinal match with Stanford ranked third in all-time assists with 6,531 and trailing Penn State’s Michelle Jaworski (1987-90) by 65 assists and UAB’s Tammy Robertson (1989-92) by 129 assists. Thompson also was selected as ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team this year.

Washington Head Coach Jim McLaughlin is the first volleyball coach to lead a women’s and men’s program to NCAA titles. He won national titles with the Huskies last year and the Southern California men’s team in 1990.

Washington has three semifinal appearances. The Huskies won the national title in 2005 after finishing third in 2004.

Stevie Mussie led Washington in kills in both regional wins over Ohio State and Penn State on Dec. 8 and 9, respectively.

Washington’s Courtney Thompson captured the Honda Broderick Award as the best NCAA volleyball player as voted by schools.

This year marks the second time in three years that the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship semifinal round has comprised of three Pacific 10 Conference schools out of the four teams. In 2004, Southern California, Stanford and Washington represented the Pac-10, while Minnesota represented the Big Ten. This year, Nebraska is the only non-Pac-10 team as UCLA, Washington and Stanford complete the field. Three Pac-10 teams also competed in the 1985 national semifinals. The Pac-10 has been represented in the NCAA semifinals in 24 of the 26 years.

The Pac-10 has won the last five NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships. Washington won in 2005, Stanford in 2001 and 2004, and Southern California in 2002 and 2003.