from USA Today



09/18/97- Updated 10:57 AM ET

Penn State seeks measure of revenge 

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The top-ranked Penn State women's
volleyball team will have an extra incentive Friday when it plays in the
Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge at Madison, Wis. Friday's match against
No. 5 Nebraska will give Penn State a chance to make amends for last
year's excruciating 3-2 loss to the Huskers in the NCAA regional finals
in Lincoln, Neb. Two victories against defending national champion
Stanford have boosted the team's confidence as well as its ranking. It
also helps make up for a disappointing end to the 1996 season. In
Friday's second match, No. 14 Wisconsin will play host to No. 12
Texas. 



Ball State program notches 500th win 

AKRON, Ohio - Lindsay Follin and Jennie Cook combined for 16
kills in game two to lead Ball State to a 12-15, 16-14, 15-8, 15-6
victory over Akron in the Mid-American Conference opener for both
teams Wednesday night. The win also marked the 500th win in team
history (500-329-2). The university began recording wins and losses in
volleyball in 1972. "I've been part of Ball State volleyball since 1979,"
says BSU coach Randy Litchfield. "The one main reason I'm here is
I'm proud of the place and the volleyball we play here. The fact that I
was the coach of the team that recorded this win is very special." The
win improved BSU to 5-5 overall and 1-0 in the MAC. 



Former Olympians reunite as coaches 

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - When Notre Dame plays host to the
Tournament of Champions this weekend, four of the best volleyball
players in the world will be reunited. Those players won't be in uniform
- they're the coaches from Cal, New Mexico, Texas A&M and Notre
Dame. Debbie (Landreth) Brown (Notre Dame), Laurie (Flachmeier)
Corbelli (Texas A&M), Laurel Brassey Iversen (New Mexico) and
Sue Woodstra (Cal) were part of one of the best Olympic volleyball
teams ever assembled, a team that would have contended for a medal
at the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow. The Olympic boycott denied
them the chance to compete, but the experience helped prepare them
for a career in coaching. 



Pepperdine does it again, upsets UCSB 

MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine defeated a top-10 opponent for the
third time in five days with a 13-15, 15-6, 15-6, 15-11 win over No.
7 UC Santa Barbara Tuesday night. Senior outside hitter Nicole
Sanderson had 19 kills to lead a balanced attack which saw five
players put down at least 15 kills for the Waves. Pepperdine (10-0) hit
.302 as a team, while holding UCSB (9-1) to a .162 percentage.
Sophomore outside hitter Roberta Gehlke and freshman middle
blocker Heather Bown lead the Gauchos with 14 kills apiece. The win
was the first for Pepperdine over UCSB since 1990, snapping an
nine-match losing streak. 



Making Waves in the poll 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Pepperdine used upset wins over
Pacific and Hawaii to climb into the USA TODAY/AVCA TOP 25
for the first time this season, landing at No. 19. The Waves were also
responsible for dropping the Tigers three spots to No. 11 and the
Rainbow Wahine five spots to No. 18. Through the first three
weekends of the season, six of the top 10 teams remain undefeated,
while four others are in the top 25. Penn State, Florida and Long
Beach State held on to the top three positions.