Any discussion of the all-time greatest NCAA women’s volleyball teams will have to include the 2008 Penn State Nittany Lions.

Coach Russ Rose watched his team defend its national title by defeating Stanford, 25-20, 26-24, 25-23, in the Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship final December 20 to complete a 38-0 season. A crowd of 14,299 in Omaha’s Qwest Center watched the Nittany Lions join Long Beach State (1998), Nebraska (2000) and Southern California (2003) as the only Division I women’s programs to go unblemished for an entire season.

What weighs heavily in Penn State’s favor in the all-time-best conversation is that this edition of the Lions lost only two sets all season. Both came in an epic semifinal victory (25-17, 25-18, 15-25, 22-25, 15-11) over Nebraska, which was played in front of an NCAA-record crowd of 17,430 December 18.

Before Nebraska took the sets, in what essentially was a home game for the Huskers, Penn State had won an NCAA-record 111 consecutive sets. The last time the Nittany Lions failed to sweep an opponent was against Stanford in the 2007 championship match that Penn State won in thrilling five-set fashion.

“There was certainly pressure placed on this team because of the number of people returning from last year’s championship team,” said Rose, whose team has won 64 straight matches. “Certainly, the match against Nebraska was an incredible match to participate in. From that standpoint, there was relief.”

The Penn State-Nebraska semifinal was so good that even the losing side appreciated it.

“I have never had so much fun coaching a match,” said Nebraska coach John Cook.

In the final, Penn State was led by Megan Hodge, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding player after recording 16 kills and 14 digs.

“We hung in there defensively and gave ourselves a chance for Megan to take big swings at the end,” Rose said.

Hodge was consistent against Stanford and made only two hitting errors in the entire match. Nicole Fawcett contributed 10 kills and 11 digs to help power Penn State.

Stanford, 31-4, also entered the final off an emotional semifinal performance. The Cardinal edged Texas, 20-25, 18-25, 25-15, 25-22, 15-13, to become the first team to rally from two sets down to win in the semifinals of the tournament.

Stanford jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the first set before Penn State revved up its game. The Nittany Lions went on a 13-5 run to take the momentum. Hodge and Christa Harmotto combined on a block to end the first set.

Stanford overcame a 24-22 deficit in the second set. But kills by Hodge and Fawcett gave Penn State a 2-0 lead, despite the Cardinal outhitting and outdigging Penn State in the set.

The Lions kept the momentum early in the third set, but the Cardinal closed to 23-22. But Stanford fell victim to Hodge again on a cross-court kill. And on match point, Fawcett set off a celebration by tipping a kill attempt off Stanford’s block. The decision on whether a Stanford player touched the ball took a few seconds before it was ruled Penn State’s point.

“I was thinking they better call that a touch,” Fawcett said. “It seemed like an eternity, but Megan was already celebrating, so I thought we must have gotten the point. It was good to see everyone rushing to the floor.”

The last time Penn State lost a match was September 15, 2007 when Stanford defeated the Nittany Lions in five sets in New Haven, Connecticut.

So the debate regarding Penn State’s legacy among the all-time great teams in history will be an ongoing conversation.

“Time will tell,” said Stanford coach John Dunning, whose team has been the national runner-up for the third straight season. “Right now, I would say they have a record that continues. It’s an amazing season that they just finished.”

Semifinals

Stanford def. Texas, 20-25, 18-25, 25-15, 25-22, 15-13; Penn St. def. Nebraska, 25-17, 25-18, 15-25, 22-25, 15-11.

Championship

Penn St. def. Stanford, 25-20, 26-24, 25-23.

Stanford                     K         E         TA     Pct.      A         SA       D         TB

Cynthia Barboza         11        10        44        .023     0          0          15        2

Janet Okogbaa                        2          1          10        .100     0          0          0          4

Cassidy Lichtman       0          0          4          .000     36        0          6          4

Alix Klineman             15        6          46        .196     0          0          3          1

Erin Waller                  5          2          17        .176     0          0          3          3         

Foluke Akinradewo    8          2          20        .300     2          0          2          6

Gabi Ailes                   0          0          0          .000     1          0          16        0

Jessica Fishburn          0          0          0          .000     0          0          5          0

Totals                          41        21        141      .142     39        0          54        20

Penn St.                     K         E         TA     Pct.      A         SA       D         TB

Nicole Fawcett            10        9          34        .029     0          1          11        2

Christa Harmotto        8          3          16        .312     1          0          2          6

Alisha Glass                0          0          6          .000     40        1          9          2

Arielle Wilson             1          4          12        .000     0          0          1          4

Blair Brown                9          3          18        .333     1          0          1          5

Megan Hodge             16        2          44        .318     1          1          14        2

Roberta Holehouse     0          0          0          .000     0          1          18        0

Kelsey Ream               0          0          0          .000     0          1          0          0

Alyssa D’Errico          0          0          0          .000     0          0          8          0

Totals                          44        21        130      .177     43        5          64        21