Volleyball fans will be in for a treat this weekend as the University of Florida plays host to the Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic on Friday and Saturday in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
The tournament features three-time defending NCAA Champion and top-ranked Penn State, 2009 NCAA runner-up and second-ranked Texas, perennial power and No. 3 Stanford joining host and sixth-ranked Florida for what is sure to be one of the country’s premier volleyball events.
Single-match tickets are $4 for adult general admission seats. Admission is free for children age 17 and under, and free for University of Florida students by presenting their Gator One cards. For ticket information, log on to
www.GatorZone.com/tickets or call (800) 34-GATOR.
NIKE VOLLEYBALL BIG FOUR CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, September 10, 2010
5:30 p.m. ET – Stanford vs. Texas
7:30 p.m. ET – Penn State vs. Florida (Sun Sports Tape-Delay/Live on GatorVision)
Saturday, September 11, 2010
4:30 p.m. ET – Florida vs. Stanford/Texas (Sun Sports)
6:30 p.m. ET – Penn State vs. Stanford/Texas
UNMATCHED TOURNAMENT FIELD
To understand the elite level of this weekend’s tournament field, consider the following facts:
· The four teams participating in this weekend’s tournament have combined for 3,702 wins in the history of their programs. The combined all-time record of the four programs is 3,702-920-18 (.800).
· Penn State holds a nation-leading 108-match win streak. Its last loss came to fellow Big Four Classic participant Stanford on Sept. 15, 2007.
· Participants in this weekend’s tournament have combined for 11 NCAA Championships and 39 NCAA Final Four Appearances.
· Teams in the Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic have won 81 conference championships. Penn State has won 20 total conference titles to lead all teams (13 Big Ten, 7 Atlantic 10), while Florida set an NCAA Division I record for most consecutive conference titles, having claimed 18 Southeastern Conference crowns.
· Six players who earned AVCA All-Americans during the 2009 campaign will compete in the 2010 Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic, including three first-team selections.
RETURNING 2009 AVCA ALL-AMERICANS
Six players who earned AVCA All-America honors during the 2009 season will compete in the Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic, including three first-team selections and two second-team honorees.
First-Team Selections
· Blair Brown, Penn State (6-5, Sr., RS) – 2009 AVCA First-Team All-American, 2008 AVCA Second-Team All-American, 2008, 2009 First-Team All-Big Ten, Two-Time NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team.
· Cassidy Lichtman, Stanford (6-1, Sr., S/OH) – 2009 AVCA First-Team All-American, 2009 First-Team All-Pacific-10 Conference, 10 career triple-doubles.
· Arielle Wilson, Penn State (6-3, Sr., MB) – 2009 AVCA First-Team All-American, 2008 AVCA Second-Team All-American, 2008 and 2009 First-Team All-Big Ten, 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Led the nation in 2009 with a .540 hitting percentage.
Second-Team Selections
· Alix Klineman, Stanford (6-4, Sr., OH) – 2009 AVCA Second-Team All-American, 2008 AVCA First-Team All-American, 2007 AVCA Second-Team All-American, 2007, 2008, and 2009 All-Pacific-10 Conference, 2007 Pacific-10 Freshman of the Year.
· Kelly Murphy, Florida (6-2, Jr., S/RS) – 2009 AVCA Second-Team All-American, 2008 AVCA Third-Team All-American, 2008 AVCA National Freshman of the Year, 2008 SEC Freshman of the Year, 16 career triple-doubles.
Third-Team Selections
· Juliann Faucette, Texas (6-2, Sr., OH) – 2009 AVCA Third-Team All-American, 2007 AVCA First-Team All-America, 2007 AVCA National Freshman of the Year, 2007 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, 2007, 2008, 2009 First-Team All-Big 12.
FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR UNITE
Each team at the Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic features a player who was named her conference’s Freshman of the Year selection her rookie year. Juliann Faucette was the 2007 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Alix Klineman was the 2007 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Kelly Murphy was the 2008 SEC Freshman of the Year and Arielle Wilson was the 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
In addition, two players who have earned AVCA Division I National Freshman of the Year honors are taking the court this weekend. Faucette was the 2007 AVCA National Freshman of the Year, while Murphy was the 2008 AVCA National Freshman of the Year.
TOP COACHES
Three of the most successful active coaches in collegiate volleyball history will be on the sidelines this weekend for the Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic. Penn State’s Russ Rose, Florida’s Mary Wise and Stanford’s John Dunning have each won better than 80 percent of their matches during their coaching careers.
Coach, Current School, (Career Record), Winning Percentage
1. Russ Rose, Penn State, (1,007-159) .864
2. Dave Shoji, Hawaii (1,021-176) .853
3. Mary Wise, Florida (689-130) .841
4. John Dunning, Stanford (704-147) .827
* Records updated through September 5, 2010
TRIPLE THREAT, TIMES TWO
The Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic features two of the nation’s top triple-double threats. Stanford’s Cassidy Lichtman and Florida’s Kelly Murphy, both attacker/setters, each are known for their prowess at accumulating triple-doubles. Murphy has 16 career triple doubles, while Lichtman has 11 career triple doubles. Last season, Lichtman accumulated 10 triple-dips, while Murphy had nine. They each have charted one triple-double so far this season.
CONFERENCE CHALLENGE
The four major volleyball conferences – the Big Ten, the Big 12, the SEC and the Pac-10 – are represented at this weekend’s tournament. The Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic features the nearly-perennial winner of each league. Penn State has won 13 Big Ten titles since 1992, but also claimed seven Atlantic-10 league crowns. Florida set an NCAA Division I record in 2008 by winning 18 consecutive Southeastern Conference titles from 1991-08. Stanford has won 16 Pacific-10 Conference championships, while Texas has claimed 17 league crowns (four in the Big 12 and 13 in the Southwest Conference) all-time.
School (Number of Conference Championships)
1. Penn State (20)
2. Florida (18)
3. Texas (17)
4. Stanford (16)
ALWAYS IN THE MIX
The four teams in the Nike Volleyball Big Four Classic are always in the mix when it comes to NCAA Championships. The squads have teamed up for 11 NCAA Championships, 39 NCAA Final Four appearances and 61 NCAA Regional Final showings.
Team (Final Four Appearances / Regional Final Appearances)
Florida (7 Final Fours / 12 Regional Finals)
Penn State (8 Final Fours / 13 Regional Finals)
Stanford (18 Final Fours / 21 Regional Finals)
Texas (6 Final Fours / 15 Regional Finals)
TEAM CAPSULES
No. 1 Penn State
Location: University Park, Pa.
Nickname: Nittany Lions
2010 Record: 6-0
Head Coach: Russ Rose
Key Players: Fatima Balza (Sr., MB, 1.69 bps, 1.15 kps), Blair Brown (Sr., RS, 3.56kps, .345 hit %, 2.00 dps, 1.06 bps), Alyssa D’Errico (Sr., L, 5.89 dps, 1.22 saps), Arielle Wilson (Sr., MB, 2.67 kps, .472 hit %, 1.22 bps)
2009 Record: 38-0
2009 Big Ten Finish: 20-0 (Conference Champions)
2009 NCAA Finish: NCAA Champions
2010 Schedule and Results:
Aug. 27, at North Carolina, W, 3-0
Aug. 28, vs. Villanova, W, 3-0
Aug. 28, vs. Campbell, W, 3-0
Sept. 3, Seton Hall, W, 3-0
Sept. 4, Colgate, W, 3-0
Sept. 4, Virginia Commonwealth, W, 3-0
No. 2 Texas
Location: Austin, Texas
Nickname: Longhorns
2010 Record: 5-1
Head Coach: Jerritt Elliott
Key Players: Rachel Adams (Jr., MB, 2.21 kps, .439 hit %, 1.00 bps), Jennifer Doris (Sr., MB, 1.05 pgs, 1.16 kps, .388 hit %), Juliann Faucette (Sr., OH, 3.50 kps, .292 hit %, 1.80 dps, 0.45 bps), Sha’Dare McNeal (So., UT, 2.55 kps, .392 hit %, 2.15 dps, 0.80 bps), Sydney Yogi (Jr., L, 3.36 dps)
2009 Record: 29-2
2009 Big 12 Finish: 19-1 (Conference Champions)
2009 NCAA Finish: NCAA Runner-Up
2010 Schedule and Results:
Aug. 27, TCU, W, 3-0
Aug. 28, McNeese State, W, 3-0
Aug. 28, Houston, W, 3-0
Sept. 2, Florida A&M, W, 3-0
Sept. 3, No. 5 Illinois, L, 0-3
Sept. 4, Long Beach State, W, 3-2
No. 3 Stanford
Location: Palo Alto, Calif.
Nickname: Cardinal
2010 Record: 5-0
Head Coach: John Dunning
Key Players: Gabi Ailes (Sr., L, 3.54 dps, 1.31 aps), Alix Klineman (Sr., OH, 4.77 kps, .378 hit %, 2.77 dps), Cassidy Lichtman (Sr., S/OH, 3.62 kps, 5.54 aps, 2.77 dps, 1.15 bps), Carly Wopat (Fr., MB, 2.46 kps, .566 hit %, 1.23 bps).
2009 Record: 23-8
2009 Pac-10 Finish: 14-4 (Conference Champions)
2009 NCAA Finish: NCAA Regional Semifinal
2010 Schedule and Results:
Aug. 27, vs. Tulane, W, 3-0
Aug. 28, vs. Pepperdine, W, 3-1
Aug. 29, at New Mexico, W, 3-0
Sept. 2, UC-Irvine, W, 3-0
Sept. 4, Marquette, W, 3-1
No. 6 Florida
Location: Gainesville, Fla.
Nickname: Gators
2010 Record: 5-0
Head Coach: Mary Wise
Key Players: Lauren Bledsoe (Sr., MB, 1.67 kps, .393 hit %, 1.28 bps), Kristy Jaeckel (Jr., OH, 2.32 kps, 1.95 dps, 0.47 bps), Kelly Murphy (Jr., RS/S, 2.58 kps, .356 hit %, 5.63 aps, 1.84 dps, 0.53 bps), Callie Rivers (Sr., OH, 2.33 kps, 0.50 saps, 2.28 dps, 0.61 bps), Tangerine Wiggs (So., RS, 1.68 kps, 1.16 bps).
2009 Record: 25-6
2009 SEC Finish: 16-4 (T-3rd)
2009 NCAA Finish: NCAA Regional Semifinal
2010 Schedule and Results:
Aug. 28, vs. No. 9 Iowa State, W, 3-1
Aug. 29, vs. No. 2 Nebraska, W, 3-2
Sept. 3, Albany, W, 3-0
Sept. 3, Bowling Green, W, 3-0
Sept. 4, No. 15 Colorado State, W, 3-1
For all of the latest information on Florida volleyball, please log on to
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www.twitter.com/GatorZoneVB and Coach Mary Wise on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/GatorMary.