Playing in its 3rd Final Four, the Nittany Lions defeated #8 Florida (12/18) 3-0 (15-11, 15-12, 15-13) in the NCAA Semifinals, for its 12th sweep in a row. Carrie Schonveld put down 20 kills, Zemaitis posted 14 kills, 10 digs and four blocks, and Lindsay Anderson recorded a march-best 20 digs.
In the National Finals, Stanford looked like it might run away with the match, as it downed Penn State in the first two set 15-10 and 15-6. But Penn State rallied to take Set 3 by the lopsided score of 15-2, setting the stage for a classic Set 4.
Stanford pulled out to an early 8-4 lead, but Penn State, which had defeated Stanford 2 times earlier in the season, clawed its way back, finally taking the lead at 11-10. Stanford had two chances for match point, but Penn State, led by Zemaitis — who pounded 12 kills in in the set — managed to prevail in the 17-15 nail-biter, forcing the decisive 5th set. The Nittany Lions’s comeback attempt ended there, as Stanford took the set 15-9, for its 3rd national title in 4 years.
In the final match of her stellar career, Zemaitis totaled 25 kills, 25 digs and 5 blocks to earn the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. Lauren Cacciamani, with 20 kills, 4 digs, and 6 total blocks, and Carrie Schonveld, with 20 kills and 22 digs, were also named to the All-Tournament team. Setter Bonnie Bremner totaled 70 assists and 14 digs, and Christie Cochran posted 13 kills and 16 digs.
December 20, 1997
Stanford-Penn State NCAA Championship Press Conference Quotes
Stanford head coach Don Shaw
Opening comments: “First of all I’d like to congratulate Russ (Rose) and the Penn State team. I know how hard it is to play a match like that and end up second. They really fought back and made a match out of it. I fully expected them to do that.”
On Penn State’s comeback: “We came out so flat in game three. That’s the worst position to be in when you have that 10-minute break when you’re up and in control. It’s tough to go back and be as sharp as you were at the end of game two. Game four was a great effort, not only by Penn State, but by us. It was tough that we didn’t pull it off, but you move on.”
On Senior Paula McNamee: “Paula has not had the opportunity until this year to get in there and get a lot of game time. She got a chance to be our starter at the beginning of the year and she’s just developed as the year went on. She’s always been one of our hardest workers and she’s one of our leaders and it’s great to see her go out in a blaze of glory like she did.”
On Senior Lisa Sharpley: “Lisa’s a proven big-game player and I always have confidence with her out there. She pays attention to what’s going on. If we make an adjustment, she is going to find a way to make it work.”
On game four: “When you look at the statistics you see both teams had over 80 attempts in that one game. These two teams have played matches this year where we haven’t that many swings in the match. It was just a classic, I can’t wait to see it.”
On PSU rotation change in game five: “They went four games starting with their sixth rotation instead of their third. Terri (Zamaitis) was playing so well, I think Russ was forced to get her up front for the start of game five. That gave us the matchup I wanted in the first place. She had to go against Folkl a few times, so they had to send Terri in the other direction.”
Senior Kristin Folkl
On what turned the match around after game four: “There never is one defining thing that turns it all around. We got in the huddle and told each other we’ve worked too hard and too long for this. We can’t go out this way. We had the first two games, we can do this. We realized that’s not the volleyball that Stanford plays and that we can play a lot better.”
On her third championship: “This one by far is the best I’ve been in. Hawaii was great, but it was over in three games. This one was a total team effort, it was such a battle and the crowd was so into it, it just made it feel like it was a very special event. Plus as a senior you always want to win your last match and go out on top.”
Senior Paula McNamee
On her ‘storybook’ ending: “This is what I have been looking forward to the last five years. The other championships were nice, but I was on the bench. Being out there when we actually won the point, I didn’t know what to do. I just stood there for a second and absorbed all the excitement all around me. It was absolutely amazing.”
Senior Lisa Sharpley
On winning in her senior year: “This feels so rewarding right now to have won such a battle. As much as we wanted to win in three, looking back, to have won such a great match just feels all the better. To know that both teams were at their best and to still come out on top is a great, great feeling.”
Penn State head coach Russ Rose
Opening comments: “First I’d like to congratulate Stanford on their success in this match. I thought we played hard for a few games but we dug ourselves such an early hole early in the first two games. We were going uphill most of the time. Even when we gained the momentum after winning the third and fourth games there were just a couple on the bench who were really gassed, it looked like, and didn’t have the ability to focus on things they needed to focus on. We just didn’t have the ability to do some of the things we wanted to do.”
On his team’s effort: “I think we played hard. I don’t think we played particularly well. I’m disappointed in the way we played. I’m not disappointed with my team as people and players. You learn lessons and that’s the way it goes. A lot of balls didn’t go our way, but we kept our composure.”
On Stanford: “I think you have to credit Stanford. We were out-hit, we were out-blocked, and we were out-dug — all of these things statistically. I think Stanford played well enough to win today and we didn’t. I think there’s a big difference at the end of the game when we’re tipping and hitting roll shots and Folkl’s taking big swings. To me, that was one of the bigger differences.”
On Terri Zemaitis: “I really admire the way Terri played especially. I thought she kept us in the match almost single-handedly. She provided us with the emotion that we needed, but it was not meant to be.”
Terri Zemaitis
On being named the tournament MVP: “I don’t find consolation in that. I’m just really proud of my team. Hey, we could’ve quit in three, but we didn’t.”
