Penn State Defeats NU in NACWAA Consolation Final

Lincoln -- No. 1 Penn State handed the third-ranked Nebraska volleyball team a 11-15, 15-12, 15-8, 16-14 defeat Saturday in the 1999 State Farm/NACWAA Volleyball Consolation Final at the NU Coliseum. The loss marked the first time in school history that the Huskers have opened their season with a 0-2 record. It also marked the first time in 19 years that Nebraska has lost two straight matches in the Coliseum.

The Lions last defeated Nebraska at home on Dec. 17, 1998 in a four-game match. The Huskers lead their all-time series with Penn State 9-5, but the Lions have won the last three contests.

"It's always nice to beat Nebraska," Penn State Coach Russ Rose said. "Our players feel good about beating them three times in a row. If you can beat Nebraska at Nebraska, that's a very good thing."

Penn State could not have done it without senior middle blocker Lauren Cacciamani, Rose said. Cacciamani hit .444 and hammered 29 kills, a NACWAA individual record for kills in a four-game match. Senior outside hitter Carrie Schonveld added 17 kills.

Huskers right side hitter Nancy Meendering matched Cacciamani's feat with 29 kills of her own. Meendering also led Nebraska in digs with 17. Six other Huskers posted double figures in kills, including reserve outside hitter Kim Behrends (12).

Despite the loss, the Huskers remained optimistic about their performance. Behrends said NU played much better than it did Friday night in a first-round, five-game loss to No. 8 Pacific.

"We improved from last night, and we can only get better from here," said Behrends, who also recorded 15 digs.

After taking a 6-2 lead in the fourth game, the Huskers appeared ready to avenge their third-game loss. But from that point in the game, Penn State outscored NU 8-5. PSU then tied the game at 11 when Cacciamani and freshman middle hitter Mishka Levi blocked Husker middle blocker Jenny Kropp's kill attempt.

The two teams battled back and forth, as junior outside hitter Kim Behrends posted three kills from NU and Cacciamani recorded three for the Lions. After 18 possession changes, Cacciamani tied the game at 14 with her 29th kill of the match. Penn State secured the fourth-game and match victories when back-to-back attacks by Greichaly Cepero and Behrends sailed long.

"It was a really good, very strong volleyball match," NU Coach Terry Pettit said. "The major difference was organization. It was a pretty high level of play for us at the end. There are things we'll get better in. I think that down the road, we'll be a very good team."

Nebraska jumped to a quick start in the first game with the help of a strong performance by Meendering. The Hull, Iowa, native notched three block assists, eight kills -- including the Huskers' last three of the game -- and a .429 hitting percentage. Defensively, Nebraska held PSU to a .096 hitting percentage, posting 14 blocks to Penn State's six.

The second game started much like the first. Nebraska took a 7-3 lead and held its advantage until the Lions tied the game at 11 when a Behrends attack sailed long. PSU claimed its first lead of the game when a tip by Bremner fell between two NU players in the front row. After six possession changes, Bremner served the Lions' last three points of the game, notching an ace serve for the game winner.

Penn State regained control in the third game, defeating NU 15-8 on the strength of eight kills from Cacciamani.