Penn State runs win streak to 102 Email Share Associated Press
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TAMPA, Fla. -- Penn State players scurried for scissors to cut down the nets, ran for volleyballs left behind and moved quickly to secure pieces of banners around the arena.
Everyone wanted a piece of history. They were the only ones who got it.
Penn State became the first team to win three straight volleyball titles Saturday night, overcoming a two-set deficit to beat Texas and extend its record winning streak to 102 straight games.
[+] Enlarge AP Photo/Mike Carlson Penn State celebrates its third straight NCAA title.
Megan Hodge led the Nittany Lions (38-0) with 21 kills, including the final one that touched off a wild celebration at midcourt. Bench players threw towels in the air and streams of tears rolled down some players' cheeks, all huddled together hoisting the title trophy.
"Blacked out," Hodge said. "I was asking everybody after the match what happened on the last play. I don't remember."
Penn State's 22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13 win helped it stake a claim as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, volleyball team in NCAA history. And maybe one of the best college teams ever.
The winning streak is second in Division I team sports behind the Miami men's tennis program's 137 straight victories from 1957-64.
"Not a lot of people have done stuff like that," Penn State coach Russ Rose said. "I got a cigar with my name on it tonight."
The Nittany Lions led 22-19 in the first set and were on the brink of going ahead early. Then Texas called timeout, regrouped and rallied for six straight points to put Penn State behind, an unfamiliar position during most of its incredible run.
"We were playing pretty perfect," Texas' Ashley Engle said. "I think we stunned Penn State a little bit."
The Nittany Lions had only lost six sets this season entering the final match, although one of those came in the semifinals against Hawaii, before dropping the first two to Texas.
They would rally gain.
Penn State regained its serving prowess and cruised through the next two sets and had only a few miscues in the final set before closing out the Longhorns.
There's no telling how long the streak will go. But one thing is for sure.
"That's a lot of pressure on them next year," joked Hodge, an outgoing senior.
Destinee Hooker had a game-high 34 kills for Texas, which was trying to claim its first volleyball title since 1988. She was selected as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
"There was nothing I wanted more than for them to win the championship," Texas coach Jerritt Elliott said. "The ball bounces a funny way sometimes."
The Nittany Lions were just too much.
Penn State hasn't lost since falling to Stanford in September 2007. This one, the Nittany Lions will always remember.
"It was the hardest fight we've had in our lives," Hodge said. "But we're so happy right now."
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
Erasing a two-set deficit, the Penn State University Nittany Lions came from behind in dramatic fashion to win the 2009 NCAA Division 1 women's volleyball championship over the University of Texas Longhorns, held Dec. 19 in Tampa, Florida.
Members of the 2007 Penn State national champion team with U.S. President George W. Bush in 2008.
Down 2-0, Penn State won the next three sets to extend their winning streak to 102 matches and in the process earning their third consecutive volleyball title.

Texas' Destinee Hooker led all players with 34 kills, .316 hitting percentage and collected 17 digs. National volleyball Player of the Year Megan Hodges led the Nittany Lions with 21 kills, 13 digs and 5 blocks.

The set scores were 22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13.

Penn State, the top-ranked team in the country, had a fairly easy route to the title game, beating all but of their opponents in straight sets. In the first and second rounds, they defeated Binghamton and the University of Pennsylvania in straight sets, before sweeping Florida and California in regional action. In the semi finals, they dropped their only set of the playoffs in a 3-1 victory over Hawaii.

No. 2 Texas' route to the championship game was as easy, defeating Texas St. (3-0) and Texas Christian (3-0) in the first two rounds. In regional action, the Longhorns defeated Texas A&M (3-0) and Nebraska (3-1) to reach the semi final, where they swept Minnesota (3-0).

The win was also number 1,001 for Penn State coach Russ Rose.