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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

This Rematch Looks Matchless Penn State, Stanford Play For Title

Christy Cochran wasn’t about to give up a smidgen of her team’s game plan.

When the Penn State outside hitter was asked how the top-seeded Nittany Lions were going to contain Stanford outside hitters Kerri Walsh and Kristin Folkl, Cochran quipped, “That’s a secret. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

Tomorrow is now today, the last day of the 1997 NCAA Division I volleyball season and the day the national champion will be crowned at the Arena.

Today’s match is another rematch in a rivalry that started in late August. That’s when the Nittany Lions (34-1) beat the Cardinal 15-8, 15-13, 15-9 at Stanford. Two weeks later, at a Connecticut tournament, they did it again, 14-16, 15-6, 15-12, 15-7, handing Stanford (32-2) the second of its only two losses.

However, today there won’t be a mental asterisk next to the outcome. Both early season matches merit one.

The scorecard reads:

Match 1, Stanford’s Kerri Walsh did not play while recuperating from off-season shoulder surgery. Setter Lisa Sharpley was ineffective as a result of off-season knee surgery.

Match 2, Walsh and Sharpley only play in Game 1, the game Stanford wins.

“That was so far in the past,” Stanford coach Don Shaw said. “I just feel like we’ve progressed; we’ve practiced, we’ve trained and we’ve played a very, very difficult schedule. We’re a better team now than we were then.”

The schedule included the usual two trips through the Pacific-10 Conference followed by tournament wins over Oklahoma, Colorado, UC Santa Barbara and No. 2-seed Long Beach. The third-seeded Cardinal bring a 27-match winning streak into the final and are aiming for their third title in four years.

Penn State is looking for its first trophy after advancing to the Final Four twice in the ‘90s. The Nittany Lions are riding a 13-match winning streak.

Penn State coach Russ Rose welcomes the challenge of playing Stanford for the third time this season.

“Playing a team like Stanford with the success it has had over the last five years is good,” he said. “These are two teams without some of the same normal animosities that might exist toward each other’s teams. I really like Stanford’s team and Stanford’s coach.”

Rose undoubtedly also must admire Stanford’s players, beginning with its biggest threats in outside hitters Folkl and Walsh. Walsh’s 10 kills and Folkl’s leadership and timely kills in the fourth game sealed the win for the Cardinal over Long Beach State. The other players - particularly Sarah Clark and Paula McNamee - kept them in the match.

“Good teams don’t depend on one or two people,” Rose said. “The best teams seem to find fillers.”

While Stanford is best known for its outside attack, Penn State’s gets its most credit in the middle with Terri Zemaitis and Lauren Cacciamani. But much like the Cardinal, the Nittany Lions come at their opponents from all sides.

“I don’t think they’re doing things too differently than they were early in the year,” Shaw said. “There’s not a whole lot of hocuspocus out there. Against some teams you can cheat a little bit more. With these guys, you have to play them pretty straight up.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 color photos

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: STANFORD vs. PENN STATE Setter Stanford Penn State Lisa Sharpley Bonnie Bremner Sharpley’s been here three times before, so the edge goes to the Palo Alto pro.

Middle Stanford Penn State Blocker Barbara Ifejika Terri Zemaitis The Spokesman-Review’s Thursday and Friday sports covergirl from back East hasn’t been jinxed.

Middle Stanford Penn State Blocker Paula McNamee Lauren Cacciamani The entire middle position belongs to the Nittany Lions.

Outside Stanford Penn State hitter Kristin Folkl Carrie Schonveld Schonveld was super against the Gators (17 kills), but we’ll stick with Folkl.

Outside Stanford Penn State hitter Jaimi Gregory Christy Cochran Cochran’s been a key in PSU’s success.

Rt.-side Stanford Penn State hitter Kerri Walsh Lindsay Anderson We wish you all the best Lindsay.

The following fields overflowed: KEYWORD = NCAA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

This sidebar appeared with the story: STANFORD vs. PENN STATE Setter Stanford Penn State Lisa Sharpley Bonnie Bremner Sharpley’s been here three times before, so the edge goes to the Palo Alto pro.

Middle Stanford Penn State Blocker Barbara Ifejika Terri Zemaitis The Spokesman-Review’s Thursday and Friday sports covergirl from back East hasn’t been jinxed.

Middle Stanford Penn State Blocker Paula McNamee Lauren Cacciamani The entire middle position belongs to the Nittany Lions.

Outside Stanford Penn State hitter Kristin Folkl Carrie Schonveld Schonveld was super against the Gators (17 kills), but we’ll stick with Folkl.

Outside Stanford Penn State hitter Jaimi Gregory Christy Cochran Cochran’s been a key in PSU’s success.

Rt.-side Stanford Penn State hitter Kerri Walsh Lindsay Anderson We wish you all the best Lindsay.

The following fields overflowed: KEYWORD = NCAA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP