2014 NCAA Volleyball Tournament

            This is definitely my favorite time of the year. It’s almost Christmas break, club just started and it’s time for the NCAA Final Four! This year Penn State, Stanford, Texas and BYU will battle for the championship title. Stanford is ranked 1^st, Texas is ranked 2^nd, Penn State is ranked 5^th, and BYU was not ranked in the tournament. So the final four this year was surprising to a lot of people. Stanford is predicted to win but I don’t agree.

            On Thursday Stanford will face Penn State and Texas will face BYU. I think it will end up being Penn State and Texas in the championship game. I watched Stanford play Oregon State Friday night at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Stanford won in 4 sets and it was an incredible game to watch. I also watched Penn State play earlier this season at the University of Iowa. I think these teams are pretty evenly matched but I think Penn State has the advantage. First of all Micha Hancock (senior setter for Penn State) is getting the opportunity to play in her home town, Oklahoma City, for the last time she gets to wear a PSU jersey. I don’t know about you but that would make me want to win more than I ever had before. Penn State also won the National Championship last year, so winning 2 in a row would be pretty sweet. Lastly Penn State is the underdog here so they want to prove themselves and win another National Title.

            The Texas vs. BYU match will be interesting I think. BYU has beat 3 ranked teams already in this tournament. They defeated Arizona (#11), Florida State (#6) and Nebraska (#14). They have definitely proved themselves and what they capable of. I’m assuming Texas did not think they were going to play BYU, so they are probably happy and a little nervous about it. I mean playing an unranked team in the Final Four? That is very unlikely.

            Overall I think Penn State is going to take the title home. Yes, I am obsessed with Micha Hancock and the whole Penn State team but I honestly think that they can do this. I know they can.

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