A few closing remarks, folks

-Ross Houston-

Hi all,

Sorry I haven't been around lately. I've been working quite a bit on finalizing my trip to London, plus ensuring I have a decent GPA by studying for finals. Contrary to popular belief, I actually do attend classes.

In response to the comment left by the anon. person, Joe pretty much hit the nail on the head. I'm going to be studying abroad in London next semester (I leave in 25 days) so Joe is taking over as Assistant Sports Editor. I have complete confidence in his abilities, and I think he will do an excellent job.

If Conor allows, I will hopefully be posting a couple of times in London as well as writing a few columns about England, the rest of Western Europe and their relationship with regrads to sports. Sport is a lot different in Europe than in America, and hopefully, I will get to open most of your eyes to what else is out there. You know me, I'm Mr. Embedded Reporter.

Personally, I'm really excited about learning how to play Cricket, a sport that is extremely popular throughout most of the world. For some reason, it's never really took off in the States, and I will hopefully learn why.

Finally, I would like to thank some people:

I would like to thank Conor Nicholl for being a great leader of the sports section. You really opened up my and everyone else's eyes to what being passionate about something really is. I appreciate it more than you could know.

I would like to thank Joseph Barker for stepping up and filling the Assistant Sports Editor Position. It's a lot of hardwork, but you'll be fine. Like I already said, you'll do a great job.

I'd like to thank my staff. Each and everyone of you has improved so much over the semester. I'm really grateful that I got the chance to work with you guys.

Finally, I'd like to thank you all, the readers of the Index and the ISA. Without you, all of us would have WAY too much free time! But seriously, receiving your feedback and letters made my job worthwhile. Thank you so much.

Other than that, make sure you keep on reading this site and the Index every Thursday. Look for my columns and my triumphant return in Fall '06.

Until then, cheers!

Time to shift gears...

--Tyler Madsen--

Now that the fall sports season is behind us and there's a lot of snow on the ground, it's time to look ahead to the winter sports seasons that have, in a sense, snuck up on us. It's been hard to focus on the sports that will keep us busy for the next three or four months due to the success of soccer and volleyball this fall. Since I'm covering men's basketball every week, that's what I'll be focusing on here as well.

The Bulldogs are 6-1 after a 69-35 win over unknown Vennard College (Iowa). Despite the fact that the Cougars rivaled the Wisconsin Badgers of the late 1990s in strategy, (man-to-man defense; not shooting until there were less than five seconds on the shot clock), they certainly didn't rival them in the ability factor whatsoever. Last night's game provided a great chance for the freshmen guards (Estridge, Taylor & Kearns) to get some time and show what they can really do.

The really interesting statistic about this team so far is the fact that they have given up more than 60 points in only TWO of the first SEVEN games this season. They've held THREE opponents under 55, and TWO of those opponents haven't been able to top 42. Those are some low numbers on defense.

Teams are only shooting 36% from the field against the 'Dogs, and with Truman sealing the deals by shooting an MIAA-leading 77% from the foul line, things are certainly pointing to a good season for the purple and white if they can keep it up.

This weekend will be a great chance to see how the 'Dogs will stand in the conference this year (at least if they'll be able to hang around up top). #24 Southwest Baptist awaits on their home court, and boy do they have a LOT of weapons.

They've got an Oklahoma State transfer, 7'2" Frans Steyn, underneath averaging almost 13 points/game and about 7 rebounds/game so far. Juan Lopez has started eight of the nine SBU games so far, and gives them an athletic element at 6'6" who could give Andy Calmes and/or Derek Lindsey some fits.

The big key will be if the Bulldogs can contain SBU senior point guard Sheldon Pace. This year, Pace is leading the team with a 13.8 points/game average and also has done a great job at dishing the rock with a 7.4 assists/game average. If Chip Sodemann can just contain Pace and hold him down a little bit and the 'Dogs shoot well from the field, then a win in Bolivar to start the conference season is certainly a possibility.

What's everybody thinking about the team so far this season? Things to be excited about? Things that might worry you a little bit? Sound off and let everyone know!

An atmosphere like none other...

--Tyler Madsen

Let me first begin by giving all the credit in the world to the University of Nebraska-Kearney for their performance last night. The Lopers are a team deserving of the national championship.

As we began to pack up our radio equipment (which didn’t work…thanks KTRM!) following the Bulldogs’ 3-1 loss to #1 Nebraska-Kearney in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Div. II volleyball championships last night, I had a wide array of emotions flowing through me. First I wanted to sympathize with our girls (or I guess the correct term is “women” on the college level). There aren’t many emotional pains greater than when you realize that everything that has been your life for the past four months (of just season time, let alone conditioning) is over. Done.

I then felt frustrated with how the brackets in DII are not “re-seeded” when all the teams come together for the final rounds. Honestly, there is no reason that we should have played UNK last night or that #2 Concordia University-St. Paul should have played #3 Tampa University on the other side of the bracket. Those are semifinal matches (#1 vs. #4; #2 vs. #3) folks, not quarterfinal matchups. Explain to me again why #16 Grand Valley State University gets an unranked Dowling College in the first round?

The main purpose of my article today is to commend the fans of Kearney, Nebraska. As I related to in our pregame radio show (that you didn’t hear…thanks KTRM!), the state of Nebraska cares about their volleyball about as much as the state of Texas cares about their football. After reading Friday Night Lights for the first time this semester, I never thought I’d experience a place quite as unique as Odessa, Texas, the site of Permian High and setting of the book. After my brief stay in Kearney, I believe I’ve found a place that at least can be seen in Odessa’s rearview mirror.

From signs on local businesses to window paint on a lot of cars we passed, this town was extremely excited that their hometown Lopers were hosting the Championships. This was shown even more when 4,412 people paid $10 ($6 if you were a student at UNK) to watch the Truman/UNK match last night, recording the largest crowd in NCAA Division II history. Yeah, I think they like their volleyball a bit.

Prior to our game, Lock Haven and Cal. State-LA squared off in one of the best volleyball matches I have ever observed. That match was everything that NCAA sports stands for – two teams of student athletes giving everything they had in order to try and move on and bring a trophy back to their school’s case. Since the game ran late, most of the UNK faithful had already arrived, and watched a thrilling 5th game that concluded with CSLA coming back from an 8-2 deficit to win 15-13.

After the match, every fan, writer and official in the place stood and applauded. And it wasn’t because they were happy that they were finally done with their match so that their Lopers could play… no, it was because these people know great volleyball and really enjoyed what they had just seen.

So with a crowd of 4,000+, you would expect the atmosphere to just be horrendous for the visiting Bulldogs, wouldn’t you? People joining together to heckle the opposition, try to rattle them through insults? I mean, isn’t this how sporting events go – make fun of the other team? Not in Kearney.

Besides a little ribbing at the start of warm-ups, the fans were otherwise again symbolizing what NCAA sporting events are all about. Their cheering was FOR their Lopers, not AGAINST our Bulldogs. After a long rally in Game 1, the Bulldogs emerged victor of the point, and instead of groans, the Loper fans actually clapped and recognized the effort of the point. Other good plays that also warranted a positive response from the partisan crowd included one of the hardest kills of the night by All-American Sarah Shearman and a great diving dig by freshman libero Whitney Boehler.

Did I wish we didn’t have to face the top team in the nation in the Elite Eight on the road seven-and-a-half hours away from home? Absolutely, but the chance to experience an atmosphere like that only comes around every so often, and I urge you to take advantage of that whenever you can – maybe in Pershing Arena one of these days.

The Matchup We Have All Been Waiting For

By John Scognamiglio

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, it's going to be hard to replicate the earlier matches fans of Division II volleyball have witnessed all day. But for tonight's main course, the NCAA proudly brings to us No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney vs. No. 4 Truman State. A spot in the Final Four is on the line. The UNK Health and Sports Center is nearly filled with fans wearing blue and white or donning white and blue paint. For one of these teams tonight, there is no tomorrow. The previous match between Lock Haven and Cal State-L.A. set an NCAA Division II volleyball record with 3873 in attendance. Trust me sports fans, that record will be short-lived.

This has the makings of being the biggest rematch since Rocky vs. Apollo. Never have two teams wanted so badly to prove that last year was no fluke. UNK has the home-court advantage, the 'Dogs have the battle-tested mentality. When the irresitible force meets the immovable object, the outcome is always determined by who brings it more. Two matches today have gone the distance, five games. The first match went four games. If today is any indicator, tonight is going to be an instant classic.

8:40 Start your engines folks

8:51 With a 5-0 run, Kearney takes the lead 14-10, causing Coach Skoch to take his first timeout of the match

9:04 Truman State drops game one by a score of 30-25. The 'Dogs were able to hold off Kearney and following a great rally were down 25-29. There was so much action but it looked like Truman couldn't come back, being down at one point 14-21. With that last little flurry though, some of the momentum may have shifted to the Bulldogs.

9:16 Gudmundson reached double digit kills with to make the score 15-10

9:24 Truman is trying their darndest to claw back into the contest, almost tying the game on seperate occasions, but after four straight Loper points, Skoch calls timeout with the 'Dogs down 20-25.

9:28 Truman calls timeout after clawing to within three points 25-28. It has been a dynamite matchup so far, but the lingering question remains: where is the attack of Sarah Shearman?

9:31 Truman has staved off several game points again and find themselves down by one 28-29 as Kearney takes a timeout. There have been several great volleys during this game. Can Truman pull it out and even the match?

9:32 Question answered as Kearney wins game two 30-28. The Loper faithful breaks out into chants of "Ole, ole ole," as the teams switch sides for what could be the final game?

9:36 Gudmundson leads off game three with her 13th kill of the match.

9:37 Truman has their first lead since way back in early game one with a score of 2-1.

9:44 Kearney takes the lead 12-11 on a Gudmundson kill.

9:46 Gudmundson is a one-woman wrecking crew. Whenever Truman seems to get on a run, she makes a big kill to stop the momentum.

9:50 Kearney has a two point lead at 19-17 as Skoch calls his first timeout of game three. Please, Conor, Adam, Tyler and I don't want to come home tomorrow.

9:51 Kearney is on a seven point run with Gudmundson on the bench.

9:53 Skoch calls his final timeout of the game with the score at 24-18. Please, we really don't want to come home tomorrow.

9:56 Whitney Boehler service ace puts score at 22-25.

9:57 Another Bulldog run snuffed by Gudmundson. Maybe there is something to this player of the year thing.

9:58 Kearney calls a timeout with the score 27-26 Lopers.

10:01 Game point for the Bulldogs with the score 29-28. Let's hope the run can continue for a few more minutes.

10:03 Bonus volleyball as Tiffany Graham saves the 'Dogs tying the score at 30 apiece.

10:04 The Loper crowd grows restless as Sarah Shearman ensures there is a game four of the match. The squad holds on 32-30. Momentum may have shifted after several close calls. It's not unlike Rocky IV when Drago gets cut and the announcer goes, "The Russian is cut, and it's a bad cut." The 'Dogs need to start out strong and keep the Loper crowd in stunned awe and silence.

10:08 Truman starts out game four with a huge 4-0 run, prompting a Loper timeout. Kelsey has abandoned the jump serve and it has proven useful with two service aces in the run.

10:09 Gudmundson's 20th kill stops the early run.

10:15 Truman calls their first timeout as the Lopers have rallied to tie the score at 10 apiece. The Lopers just keep coming in waves, going on their own four point run.

10:17 Kearney takes first lead of game 12-11. Truman answers back tying the score at 12 apiece.

10:21 With several calls going against the Lopers, I'm staring to question, "Do refs get paid by the game?" Anyways, score tied at 18 all.

10:24 21 all in the game. First to nine wins.

10:27 Gudmundson is just playing on a high level of volleyball right now. Skoch takes his final timeout of game four with UNK up 24-26 and Gudmundson serving. My editor, Conor, tells me if we can get one point and make it 25-26, Gudmundson will have to sit.

10:31 Kearney wins 30-27. Great game all around, but a heartbreaker for the Bulldogs.

Concordia St. Paul vs. Tampa: No. 2 vs. No. 3

Conor Nicholl

Jessica Lucia vs. Ericka Womack II.

On Sept. 3, in a 3-2 thriller won by Concordia, both players had terrific showings in a matchup of two of the nation’s best. Lucia had an efficient 18 kills, a .364 hitting percentage and 12 digs, her all-around game overshadowing Womack’s 22 kills and .400 average.

Saturday, with a spot in the Final Four riding on the outcome, would pose as the second test. Act II was just as good, as Tampa won 3-2 (15-11 in the fifth), but this time Womack won the battle of the two First Team All-Americans.

Entering today’s Elite Eight match, Lucia, Concordia’s all-around junior outside hitter, was my pick for National Player of the Year. She led CSP in kills per game (4.98), while averaging 3.24 digs per game and 0.77 blocks per game. The crackerjack hitter isn’t very tall – she stands only 5 foot 7 inches – but like the Bulldogs’ Sarah Shearman, she is very quick laterally and can jump extremely high.

She also is one of the nicest players on the volleyball court, constantly keeping a smile on her face between points. In the Concordia media guide, she said the one thing her coach accuses her of is being too nice in practice.

She hasn’t been especially nice to anyone throughout the year – least of all against Concordia’s 11 ranked opponents. She was just as electric in those matches, helping Concordia compile a 9-2 mark against teams in the Top 25, the second hardest schedule among teams in the Elite Eight.

In 10 of those (one of the matches against Minnesota State-Moorhead had inaccessible statistics), Lucia nearly identical or better numbers than she did throughout the rest of her campaign.

In other words, like all great athletes, she played her best against the top competition in the country.

This included Truman, as she had her only triple-double of the season in the preseason tournament against the then-No.2 ranked Bulldogs. Her numbers against ranked opponents included 4.56 kills, 2.87 digs, 1.08 blocks and a .271 hitting percentage.

These were the all-around best numbers against ranked teams by any player in the national tournament.

“I wish you all could have seen her play the entire season,” Concordia St. Paul head coach Brady Starkey said. “She’s an incredibly dynamic and fun player.”

She also meant more to her team than another player in the nation, evidenced by total points – a compilation of kills, service aces and blocks. Lucia had 27.3 percent of Concordia’ points, while the AVCA National Player of the Year, Kearney’s outside hitter Erin Gudmundson had only 24.8 percent of the Lopers’ points. By contrast, Womack delivered 17.5 of Tampa’s points.

Gudmundson hit for a higher season average than Lucia (.403-.326), but Lucia had nearly three times as many digs as UNK’s six foot senior.

And Lucia delivered against far tougher competition, as UNK only faced three ranked teams.

On the other hand, Womack, the Ichiro Suzuki of the national tournament, consistently maintained an incredible hitting percentage throughout the entire campaign. Her .458 average was third-best in the country, but nearly 30 points better than the Elite Eight’s second-best hitter – Lock Haven’s Yizhi Li.

Womack’s not especially tall (only 5-9), but she has springs for legs and a vicious arm swing. Her arm swing is one of the fastest I have ever seen – and that includes the Bulldogs’ 2004 First Team All-American outside hitter Jessica Sears.

Along with Lucia, she hasn’t slipped a notch against Tampa’s five ranked opponents this year – including Elite Eight participant Lock Haven, one of the best blocking teams in the country – averaging 3.41 kills per game and hitting an astronomical .449.

Womack outplayed her counterpart in the first set, belting four kills and a .500 hitting percentage in the opening frame, while Lucia contributed only two kills and a .000 average. Still, one of Lucia’s kills tied the game at 26 and paved the way for a 30-27 first set victory by the Golden Bears.

Lucia continued an average effort in the second game, garnering just two kills. Womack had two more kills, but was often dug by Concordia’s strong defense. Womack had only six kills and a .333 average (over 100 points below her usual number), but still provided enough offense – with help from sophomore outside hitter Katelen Dixon, that Tampa took the second game 30-23.

In the third frame, Lucia had two critical kills that led to a 30-28 CSP win. The first, at 20-19, gave the Golden Bears a two point lead and helped stop Tampa’s momentum, while the second broke a 23-23 tie.

Overall, though, Lucia was held in check, as Tampa took the fourth set 30-27. Lucia had another two kills in that frame, the first down the right line at 21-13 and the second from the middle top of the net that spilt the Tampa defense that pulled the Golden Bears within one at 26-25. She wasn’t committing a lot of errors, but the Spartans kept digging her attacks.

“The first time we saw her, we didn’t know what we doing,” Tampa head coach Chris Catanach said. “All we had was a lot of film that we broke down rotation-by-rotation for our players.

“I don’t make a lot of in-match rotations, because I am not a smart coach,” he said laughing, “but this time, [we were prepared]. We wanted our left sides to start at the pin [at the edge of the net] and then move in. Lucia’s a very outside-in hitter who moves well laterally across the line. We didn’t want her hitting the ball at an open net.”

Womack provided metronomic consistency in those two sets, including two early kills in the fourth frame that helped the Spartans build a 20-12 lead.

In the fifth set, both players enjoyed one kill, but it was Womack’s that helped turn the tide.

The teams switched sides with Concordia leading 8-6 and her attack on the very next point brought the deciding match to within one. They would never be further from the lead after that, taking an 11-10 advantage and holding on for a 15-11 victory.

Overall, Lucia had her poorest offensive output of the year against a ranked team, only garnering 10 kills and hitting .056, but contributing a strong defensive effort with 15 digs.

“I thought we could manage her, but I never thought it was going to be like this,” Catanch said.

Cailin Terhaar, Concordia’s First Team All-American setter, said Lucia’s offense wasn’t her fault.

“We have a lot of different options on offense, and sometimes not everyone is clicking,” she said. “It was Jessica’s fault tonight that we lost. The defense just played poorly.”

Starkey echoed similar sentiments.

“She just wasn’t clicking tonight,” he said.

She did finish second on the team with 15 digs. Womack, though, tied for second on the Tampa squad with 13 kills and hit .333 – the best hitting percentage by any player in the first two Elite Eight matches.

And her team one of the six teams left in the hunt for the billing as the best team in the country.

Volleyball Quarterfinal Updates

--Tyler Madsen

We'll be posting updates from the four quarterfinal matches here throughout the day. Remember to listen to tonight's broadcast on ktrm.truman.edu or 88.7 FM if you're in Kirksville.

#16 Grand Valley State vs. Dowling (N.Y)
Grand Valley State 3-1 (-21, 27-30, -24, -25)
(No in-game descriptions available)

Though Dowling had three players record double-digit kills and actually put down more kills as a team than the victorious Lakers, the Golden Lions were only able to hit .064 against GVSU, notching 39 errors.

GVSU kept Dowling in each game by hitting only .125 of their own, but the two-headed attack of Megan Helsen and Tracy Kirk helped propel the Golden Lions to the win.

A notable statistic to keep in mind is that the two teams combined for 23 service errors (12 for GVSU, 11 for Dowling), something that could come back to haunt the Lakers in their Final Four matchup against the winner of the other semifinal.

#2 Concordia-St. Paul vs. #3 Tampa
Tampa 3-2 (27-30, -23, 28-30, -27, -11)

In one of the extremely anticipated quarterfinal matches, two of the top four teams in the nation squared off for the right to take on #16 Grand Valley State (Mich.) in the Final Four tomorrow evening. The University of Tampa and Concordia University-St. Paul were familiar with each other, having faced off on September 3, with CSP emerging the victor, 3-2.

CSP led 16-14 in Game 1 when junior outside hitter Stephanie Rivera served six straight points, giving the Spartans a 20-16 lead. However, CSP rallied right back, scoring four straight, before Tampa could stop the bleeding at 21 apiece. A Tampa timeout at 26-28 could not keep CSP from finishing off the Spartans, winning 30-27.

CSP jumped out to a 6-2 lead in Game 2, but Tampa was able to crawl back and knot the match at 10. The Spartans were able to get ahead by four, but a miscommunication on the Tampa side of the net allowed CSP to get a side-out and rattle off four points to tie the game at 22. As quickly as those points came, those points left as Tampa scored eight of the next nine to win 30-23.

The Golden Bears jumped out to an early lead again in Game 3, and once again, Tampa bounced back to tie the match at 12. The teams traded points before CSP finally regained a two-point lead at 25-23 on a kill by senior setter Cailin Terhaar. A service error by junior outside hitter Jessica Lucia gave Tampa the serve back at 24-26. CSP led 29-25, and three straight points by the Spartans made it close before a Monica McNamara kill polished off the game, 30-28.

Game 4 started out exactly the opposite of the previous games, as Tampa took the early 11-4 lead. The Spartans were able to develop a 23-15 lead at one point, but the Golden Bears were quick to remind Tampa that no lead is safe in the Elite 8, rattling off twelve of the next sixteen points to tie the game at 27-27. Two straight Tampa points put the Spartans at game point, and a Kayla Mora service ace sent the exciting match to a deciding Game 5.

The final game began nothing like the previous four, with neither team getting much of an advantage in the race to 15. CSP led 8-6 at the side switch, but a kill and ace by the Spartans tied the score at eight. The teams exchanged points until Tampa jumped ahead 12-10, prompting CSP coach Brady Starkey to use his final timeout. Match point for the Spartans rolled around at 14-11, and a kill by junior outside hitter Tarah Marinelli sealed the deal for Tampa, 15-11.

Tampa will take on GVSU tomorrow night at 5:00 in the first national semifinal.

Five Things to Watch: Nebraska-Kearney Edition

By John Scognamiglio

This is probably the best matchup of the first round, all apologies to Concordia-St. Paul and Tampa. Without further ado, here are a list of five things to watch for during tonight's match.

1) Homecourt advantage: The Lopers have a 65-game winning streak at home on the line as they welcome the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight. Last year, the 'Dogs dispatched the Lopers on a neutral site, however, this year, the Lopers have the home crowd, and all told, may in fact sell out the site tonight. The key for Truman is to take the crowd out early, either by winning the first set or going on an extended run early. Truman needs to keep battling the elements of home crowd and not worry about trying to duplicate last year's match.

2) Erin Gudmundson: The national player of the year will be playing in her final matches at home starting tonight, and hopefully ending tonight as well. Tonight's match also features two All-Americans for the Bulldogs in Kelsey Wackerman and Sarah Shearman. It's important to limit Gudmundson when she is in play. Yet, she only plays three rotations at a time, so it is also a key for the Bulldogs to go keep pressuring the Lopers when the POY is out.

3) The senior middle hitters: This is the third Elite Eight trip for Micaela Walter, Megan Remley, and Tiffany Graham, and in their previous two trips, they have knocked off the number one seed in the quarterfinals and semifinals. It is important that whoever starts, probably Micaela, has to establish herself as the middle to beat in this game, which will be difficult considering the matchup against Gudmunson. Micaela is one of those players that can put another team on tilt due to her roles as an offensive threat and a great blocker at the net. Tiffany needs to continue her great postseason run from last year. Megan just needs to be Megan and limit her mistakes on the serve.

4) How do the freshman stack up?: Three freshmen have the potential of starting tonight. Whitney Boehler has performed admirably as the team's libero bringing a great defensive mindset to the 'Dogs. Eli Medina has always been a double threat combination so far, with her defense and offense leading the freshmen class. The mystery is Melissa Keck. Having missed most of the season due to shoulder problems, Melissa has come off the bench recently to provide a great spark on offense, earning 12 kills in the South Central Regional Final against Central Missouri. All three of these freshmen have the potential of being a key component to what could be a great stretch run.

5) Staying cool and poised: Truman has been here before, another Elite Eight trip, another number one seed to hopefully knock off. They have a rookie head coach who has the possibility of winning coach of the year in NCAA Division II. However, there is equal pressure between both teams. Kearney has the pressure of being the number one team in the country, as they were last year in the matchup against Truman. They are playing on their homecourt, so the Loper faithful will be out in force. The Bulldogs have been playing at a high level of volleyball following the second loss to North Alabama. They seem to understand that what they need to do to win is to keep pushing and not letting up. There is no doubt that it's going to get rowdy tonight in Kearney, Nebraska, but the Bulldogs have the poise and attitude to rise above the crowd and the history to just play the match. If the Bulldogs can stay cool and focused on the court tonight, there is no doubt that tomorrow night the Bulldogs will be playing in the Final Four.

Third and Fourth Options Will Lead to Final Four Berth

Conor Nicholl

Against Washburn University in the final of the MIAA Conference tournament on Nov. 12, the Bulldogs enjoyed five players with double figure kills against one of the best defenses in the country.

Junior outside hitter Sarah Shearman (20 kills), senior middle hitter Micaela Walter (18), freshman outside hitter Eli Medina (13), senior middle hitter Tiffany Graham (10) and junior MIAA regular season MVP and setter/right side hitter Kelsey Wackerman (10) formed argubly the deepest offense in the country.

Add in freshman Melissa Keck - 12 kills against Central Missouri State University in the South Central Regional Final - and the 'Dogs have tons of power.

Kearney doesn't. Sure, the Lopers have two All-Americans, but six players can't reach double figures. And that's the key tonight -- it's a wash between the All-Americans on both sides -- Shearman,Wackerman and Walter (Honorable Mention All-American) will equal the duo of Erins -- National Player of the Year Erin Gudmundson and Second Teamer Erin Brosz, so the third and fourth options are critical.

That's going to win tonight's match. It's similar to the World Series. Whoever pitches the best in critical Games Three and Four usually wins the Series -- Exhibit A are the White Sox only two months ago.

Add that's the key tonight. When the two teams have struggled this season, it's been because they haven't recieved support from their other options. For UNK, it's Kelli Bunger and Ashley Solt, while for the purple and white, it's Medina, Keck and Graham.

Whoever wins that battle will reach the Final Four.

Another possible momentum shift is the play of Erin Gudmundson. Or more specifically, the non-play of Gudmundson. The National POY plays middle hitter, which means she is only on the court for three rotations. Then, another middle plays and Gundmundson sits for three. That's critical.

Who will win the points when the Lopers are without their best player? Shearman and Wackerman, the 'Dogs top talents, will play the entire game. The purple and white has to take advantage of their opportunities when the talent shifts in their favor.

Day One Thoughts from Wintery Kearney, Nebraska

By John Scognamiglio

In preparing for my first ever trip to a national sports tournament, I spent Tuesday night doing laundry and getting packed. I arrived at Pershing Arena around quarter after seven in the morning and did my daily Sudoku, which will have to wait until I get home to hopefully get Thursday and Friday's editions. The drive to Kearney, Nebraska was very short for me and a few of my car-mates. I slept a good majority of the way down, along with Conor and Adam, waking up only once to get my customary liter of Coca-Cola and waking up for lunch outside of Lincoln. Lunch was eaten in a truckstop diner, yet another first for me in my life.

When we arrived to the luxurious Ramada Inn of Kearney, Conor, Tyler and myself got ready to go the first press conference of the tourney. We arrived in the middle of Concordia's press conference and stayed through till the end, hearing Truman State and Nebraska-Kearney's conferences. I spent most of the press conference writing down thoughts that I would later read on Conor's blog entry.

After the press conference, while Conor, Adam and Tyler traipsed through the snow across the way to Subway, I entered myself in the Texas Hold Em tournament that was held at the Ramada Inn. After surviving several close calls, I found myself at my own Elite Eight in the final table. After a debilitating first hand loss in which I dealt myself what would be the winning flush on the turn, my hopes of winning were dashed when my opponent sent me down the river with a full house. I played solidly from there on out and ended in third place out of 45 plus entrants. During the tourney, the other players quickly gathered that I was here for the volleyball and I told them that I was a student reporter covering Truman State. They didn't treat me with ribbing, as they are hardened Loper fans and I am an ardent Bulldog fanatic. They respected me and told me that this evening would be nothing like I have ever experienced in watching volleyball. Thus, should the Bulldogs lose, the kind-heartedness of the Kearney townsfolk have caused me to root for them second, behind the Bulldogs.