Finally, Volleyball will host Temple

There's only so many times a match can be rescheduled before it is canceled altogether.

Or so it seems.

Tonight, the Penn volleyball team (1-2) will once again try to take on crosstown rival Temple (6-2) at 7 p.m. at the Palestra.

"The game will definitely happen on Wednesday," Penn coach Kerry Major said last Monday. "I want everyone there to help us get past this game."

The match was originally scheduled for last Tuesday, but was canceled due to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

"We had just come back from Ohio originally," sophomore outside hitter Katie Brandt said of the team's trip to the 2001 Dayton Invitational on Sept. 7-8. "[The rescheduling] is good because it gave us another week to clear our minds of all the Ohio events and plays, and just completely focus on Temple."

Major kept an open line of communication with the Owls Athletic Department and rescheduled the match for last Wednesday. It was to be played on the condition that the University held classes, which it did the day after the attacks.

But the game was postponed -- again.

"Instead of throwing us in the next day after the whole tragedy, I think it has helped us refocus mentally on the volleyball game instead of on our outside lives," Penn middle hitter sophomore Alyssa Parsons said.

After cancelling the team's three-game trip to California, which was supposed to take place last weekend, Major found last Saturday to be the perfect date for the second rescheduling.

But a third postponement was in store for the two teams. Just hours after the rescheduling announcement, the Penn Athletic Department decided to collectively cancel all Penn sporting events through Sunday.

But Major did not give up, and the match will -- in theory -- take place tonight.

"I think we're all trying to put the events behind us," Brandt said. "We're really excited to start playing again, because it was rescheduled once, and then twice, and now third time's a charm, so hopefully it'll work out."

The extra time has helped the Quakers move along with their practices and learn a few more things before their match against the city's toughest competition.

"I guess we're more prepared and further along in our season, but so are they," Major said. "It's just two tough teams meeting each other. I don't know how you could be more prepared.

"We're just going to have to go out there with a lot of heart and guts to beat them."

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