News » ATCHING IBAKA SURGEWizards coach Scott Brooks had a front

Opening weekend left no doubt: NCAA volleyball is back. Hurricanes Jerseys China . Well start off with a very noteworthy upset, and then work our way through other highlights of the first weekend of play.1. Tar Heel triumphThese things just dont happen to Penn State in volleyball. The Nittany Lions very rarely lose at home, and almost never to a non-conference opponent. They also dont let matches get away when theyve all but got a victory nailed down.But thats what makes sports endlessly fascinating, right? Seven-time NCAA champion Penn State was on the verge of closing out North Carolina in four sets Saturday. But trailing 23-18, the Tar Heels rallied for seven consecutive points to take the set. Then they won the fifth set 15-9, and won the Penn State Classic. Talk about a trophy that never expected to take an airplane trip.How unusual was this? It was just the 15th time -- ever -- that a non-conference volleyball opponent has won at Penn States Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions are now 316-15 in non-league matches there, and 580-34 overall.If anyone knew the historical significance, it was Tar Heels coach Joe Sagula, in his 27th year at North Carolina.This is going to be one that we will remember for a long time, Sagula said.The Tar Heels, whove won 12 ACC titles (most recently in 2014), were picked to win the league this year. Theyve consistently been a good program, albeit one with a losing overall record, 13-17, in the NCAA tournament. They had a tough end to last season, losing at home to Creighton in the NCAAs second round.But with four starters and their libero back, they had high hopes this season, and it couldnt have begun any better. North Carolina got 18 kills from sophomore Taylor Leath, who is from the State College, Pennsylvania, area and grew up watching the Nittany Lions. (By the way, shes also one of four players on the Tar Heels roster with the first name of Taylor. They must use nicknames a lot with this squad.).UNC freshman Julia Scoles made a great college debut, winning tournament MVP honors by compiling 30 kills and 33 digs in the Tar Heels three victories in State College. They swept Georgia Southern and West Virginia in their first two matches. North Carolina is now No. 12 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, with Penn State at No. 13.Next up for North Carolina? Just a friendly neighborhood matchup Thursday with archrival Duke (6:30 p.m. ET, Watch ESPN.)The loss will no doubt motivate Penn State, which faces Colorado and Stanford this weekend in the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge in Boulder, Colorado.2. USC goes 0-3Speaking of the Pac-12, traditional conference power Southern Cal had a very rough start. The Trojans, who were tied for seventh with Washington in the preseason poll, lost to Marquette, Santa Clara and UC Irvine at home in the Galen Center. That sent the Trojans plummeting out of the this weeks rankings.USC lost national player of the year Samantha Bricio to graduation, so it was expected there would be some growing pains. But its doubtful anyone figured USC would open like this. The Trojans will try to get on track with another tournament at home this weekend, but the competition is challenging. They take on No. 23 Kentucky, Northern Iowa, and No. 22 Creighton.3. Huskers solidify No. 1In the VERT Challenge in Eugene, Oregon, last weekend, top-ranked Nebraska opened with a 3-1 victory against Florida and a sweep of Texas. Nebraska-Texas was a rematch of last seasons NCAA final and a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2. And it wasnt very close. The Huskers prevailed 25-15, 25-16, 25-21, led by a combined 21 kills from the Rolfzen twins, Kadie and Amber.However, Texas did start with a 3-1 victory against Oregon. The Longhorns lost three key seniors from last year, and they wont have middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu, who is taking the season off to focus on academics. It may take a little while for Texas, now ranked No. 3, to really develop its chemistry.4. Hawaii looking to youngstersHawaii, which fell from No. 6 to No. 15, is still without All-American senior star Nikki Taylor, who is out indefinitely with an elbow injury. The Rainbow Wahine lost their opening matches to visiting Wisconsin and Kansas State, and then trailed Arizona 2-0. But behind sophomore outside hitter McKenna Granatos career-high 33 kills, Hawaii rallied to win 3-2. And perhaps more unusual than North Carolina having four Taylors is Hawaii having two McKennas. The other is freshman defensive specialist McKenna Ross.5. Keep an eye on ... WisconsinThe Badgers moved up to No. 2 in the rankings after three victories in Hawaiis tournament, and the rest of their non-conference schedule is also extremely challenging. Friday, theyll take on San Diego (which beat Stanford last Friday). Then Wisconsin also has matches on the road against North Carolina, Louisville, Texas A&M and Texas before starting the grind of Big Ten play. Nobodys going to question the Badgers strength of schedule, thats for sure. Wholesale Hurricanes Jerseys . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. ORLANDO, Fla. -- A starter throughout much of his career, Jeff Green is adjusting to the role coming off the bench in his first season with the Orlando Magic.But there have been nights so far this season when it has all seemed so natural for the versatile veteran. Green certainly appeared in his element Saturday night as he knocked down several big shots as part of a second-unit that helped the Magic overcome a 12-point third-quarter deficit to come away with an 88-86 win over the Washington Wizards at home.Green led his team with 18 points off the bench as the Magic improved to .500 with its third straight win after starting the season 0-3.My job is to just go play basketball, said Green, who scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter. It doesnt matter if I come off the bench, start, play five minutes, play 30 minutes. My job is the same. I just have to be aggressive with the minutes I play.Im just finding my rhythm and thats what its all about.Green, who is playing behind Aaron Gordon at the small forward spot, led the second unit which provided energy in both the first and second halves to pull the Magic out of double-digit deficits. The bench, which also includes Bismack Biyombo, D.J. Augustin and Mario Hezonja was so impressive that Frank Vogel left them in the game down the critical stretch as the Wizards threatened.Biyombo was huge in the paint on the defensive end, coming up with 12 rebounds and three big block shots to energize the team. Hezonja, a second-year swingman, finally broke out of his slump, by scoring eight of his nine points in the fourth quarter on clutch baskets.Thats what we need from the second unit, come in with a lot energy, scoring mentality and just be more aggressive, said Evan Fournier, who finished with 13 points.Vogel admitted that second-unit gave the team a much-needed lift.We road some of those guys out the rest of the game because of their first-quarter energy and obviously they got going late into the third and into thhe fourth, said Vogel, whose team has won back-to-back games at home. Carolina Hurricanes Shirts. So credit those guys for turning the game around.The Wizards (1-4), who were playing without point guard John Wall, struggled to come up with shots down the stretch even though Markieff Morris came close to knocking down a game-winning 3-point shot at the buzzer. Morris led the team with 18 points while Bradley Beal added 15.A few missed defensive assignments, said Wizards coach Scott Brooks. They hit some 3s. They got some breaks.TIP-INS:Wizards: As expected, Wall did not play in Saturday nights game against Magic. He is not playing in back-to-back night games while still recovering from offseason surgery on both knees. Rookie Tomas Satoransky started in his place and veteran Trey Burke served as the backup.Magic: Orlando had lost 12 straight games to the Washington Wizards entering Saturday nights game. ... The Magic entered Saturday night averaging 13.2 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks second in the NBA. ... The Magic debuted their new dark grey uniforms.WATCHING IBAKA SURGEWizards coach Scott Brooks had a front seat view of Serge Ibakas transition from Spain to the NBA when the Seattle Supersonics (Oklahoma City Thunder) drafted him in 2009 and Brooks was the head coach. Ibaka was a talented player but didnt speak English initially so explaining what he wanted from Ibaka was a challenge for Brooks.My first (go-around) with him was very interesting, Brooks said. We didnt know how to communicate. Even on the basketball court the first couple of months it was very difficult but I give Serge a lot of credit. He came and took English lessons and really challenged himself to pick up the language.UP NEXTWizards: Washington returns home to face the Houston Rockets on Monday.Magic: Orlando plays at the Chicago Bulls on Monday at the United Center. ' ' '