It’s game day (match day?), and it truly is historic — the first match for Nebraska as a member of the Big Ten. Based on a non-scientific survey of  Nebraska fans and Penn State fans, we think Nebraska is the favorite to heavy-favorite for this match, though there is a groundswell of opinion that believes the Penn State fans are sandbagging and this match is a toss-up.  

Our logical brain picks Nebraska — the Huskers are a talented team with a great coach, playing at home in front of a wildly enthusiastic crowd, and even though both teams have issues to resolve, it seems to our logical brain that Nebraska has fewer of them.  Admittedly, this conclusion may be more a reflection of our greater (much greater) exposure to the trials and tribulations of this year’s Penn State team, than to any careful analysis of how Nebraska has fared this season (in this case, we opted for “why be burdened by the facts?”).  Nonetheless, if we had to pick a winner, we’d reluctantly pick Nebraska.  

Our irrationally exhuberant brain, on the other hand, holds out hope for Penn State.  That part of the brain is a fan, and loses all sense of perspective at times like this.  So, Go Nittany Lions!

We do think this will be a great match, and both teams will learn alot about themselves.  We’re looking forward to it. 

Below are the NCAA stats for both teams, their rosters, and a video press conference from John Cook: 

Penn State 

Updated as of 8-24-2011

Number	Name	Position	Year/ Class	Height	HS (Club)	State
1	Scott, Ariel	OH	2/So.	6-4	Immaculate Heart Academy (Team Complete Athlete)	NJ
2	Kabbes, Katie	OH	4/Sr.	6-4	Cardinal Gibbons (Triangle Volleyball)	NC
4	Gonzalez, Dominique	DS	1/Fr.	5-6	Sandra Day O'Connor/ (Alamo Volleyball)	TX
5	Carpenter, Kristin	L/DS/S	3/Jr.	5-6	Hanover (Richmond Volleyball Club)	VA
6	Martin, Maddie	OH	2/So.	6-2	H.B. Plant (Tampa Bay Juniors)	FL
7	Grant, Nia	OH	1/Fr.	6-2	Howland (Cleveland Renaissance Volleyball Club)	OH
8	Denny, Erica	MH	Fr. (RS)	6-5	Grandview (Front Range Volleyball Club)	CO
10	Racibarskas, Marika	S	3/Jr.	6-0	Chatham (Team Complete Athlete)	NJ
11	Dorton, Darcy	OH	2/So. (RS)	6-2	Delta (Munciana)	IN
12	Hancock, Micha	S	1/Fr.	5-11	Edmond Memorial (Oklahoma Peak Performance)	OK
13	Shifflett , Megan	DS/S	4/Sr.	5-6	Langley VA Elite	VA
14	Whitney, Aiyana	OH	1/Fr.	6-5	Northern Valley Regional (Downstate Juniors)	NJ
15	Harding, Maggie	DS	1/Fr. (RS)	5-6	State College Area	PA
16	Slay, Katie	MH	2/So.	6-6	Wakefield (Triangle Volleyball Club)	NC
18	McClendon, Deja	OH	2/So.	6-1	Dupont Manual Magnet (KIVA)	KY
23	Longo, Ali	DS	2/So.	5-6	Chatfield (Juggernaut Volleyball)	CO
33	Fuller, Lacey	DS	1/Fr.	5-6	Torrey Pines (Coast Volleyball)	CA

Nebraska

 

Click on arrows to sort by chosen column. No.   Name   Pos.   Ht.   Yr.   Hometown (Prev School) 1 Dykstra, Lara L 5-10 Fr. Redondo Beach, Calif. (Redondo Union) 2 Cook, Lauren S 5-8 Jr. Lincoln, Neb. (UCLA) (Pius X) 3 Root, Brigette S 5-11 Sr. Grand Island, Neb. (Grand Island) 4 Winkelmann, Shelby DS 5-9 Fr. Rhineland, Mo. (Hermann) 5 Hubl, Paige DS 5-6 Jr. Lincoln, Neb. (Southeast) 6 Wilberger, Jordan MB 6-1 Sr. Scottsbluff, Neb. (Scottsbluff) 7 Mancuso, Gina OH 6-1 Jr. Omaha, Neb. (Papillion-LaVista) 8 Delano, Brooke MB 6-4 Sr. Bellevue, Neb. (Bellevue West) 9 Hall, Cecilia MB 6-3 Fr. Linkoping, Sweden (Allebergsgymnasiet) 10 Ostrander, Alicia OH 6-3 Fr. Gordon, Neb. (Gordon-Rushville) 12 Broekhuis, Morgan RS 6-5 So. Colorado Springs, Colo. (Colorado Springs Christian) 16 McNeal, Allison MB 6-3 Jr. Schulenburg, Texas (Schulenburg) 17 Thramer, Hayley MB 6-2 So. Ewing, Neb. (Ewing) 43 Simpson, Taylor OH 6-3 Fr. Colorado Springs, Colo. (Doherty) 44 Werth, Hannah OH 6-1 Jr. Springfield, Ill. (Glenwood)