Volleyball: Women's
Prematch notes and predictions
LOUISVILLE — Tonight could mark a first for the Big Ten conference.
Never before have two Big Ten teams met in the national championship game. It could potentially happen if Michigan (27-11, 11-9 Big Ten) can get past Texas (27-4) tonight in the first national semifinal match at 7 p.m., assuming that No. 1 Penn State takes care of business against a stingy Oregon team.
The Nittany Lions (33-2, 19-1 Big Ten) will play the Ducks (29-4) in the second national semifinal match slated to begin at 9 p.m. and will look to advance to their fifth national championship match in the past six seasons. During that span the Lions have won the national title every time they made it this far.
It’s safe to say that not a lot of people had Michigan advancing in their brackets to make it to the national semifinals, but the Wolverines are here and more than deserve the opportunity. En route to the Final Four, the Wolverines beat Tennessee, No. 9 Louisville, Michigan State, and No. 2 Stanford.
Also, the Wolverines are playing in familiar territory if you will because they had to play in Louisville in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. After knocking out the Cardinals in the second round in what was definitely a road match for them, I think that it’s safe to say that they won’t be bothered by the Texas faithful that has made the trip up from Austin.
In the second national semifinal match of the evening, the Lions will look to continue their 12-match win streak and inch that much closer to the program’s sixth national title. They will do so in junior outside hitter Deja McClendon’s hometown of Louisville.
The Lions will look to send out seniors Marika Racibarskas and Kristin Carpenter on top, the same way that the duo entered the program. Both setters already have two national championships to their names coming from the 2009 and 2010 seasons. One more would only be fitting and would allow the tandem to leave Penn State on a high note, as three-time national champions.
OUR THOUGHTS FOR TONIGHT
Matt Bufano - Michigan wins 3-2. Penn State wins 3-1. That would set up the first time two Big Ten teams would meet in the national championship match.
Aaron Dunlevy - Texas wins 3-1. Penn State wins 3-2. This would set up a rematch from earlier this season, of which the Lions swept the Lornhorns 3-0 in Rec Hall.