Number 1 Southern Cal and defending Champion Stanford will play Florida and Hawaii respectively in the National Semi-Final Rounds of the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Volleyball Tournament. USC (29-1) easily defeated Pepperdine (3-24,30-20, 30-17) in the finals of the West Regional. April Ross led USC with 10 kills and 7 digs. The Junior was named the Regional tournament MVP. USC Middles Katie Olsovsky and Emily Adams also received all-tournament recognition. Adams hit .615 in the Pepperdine match while Olsovsky had nine kills and 4 blocks. USC hit .389 in the match and held Pepperdine to a hitting percentage of just .137
In the East Regional, Florida rallied after losing game one to defeat Washington State 3 games to one (27-30, 20-19,30-25,20-16). Aury Cruz led Florida with 24 kills and 20 digs. The Junior was named the Regional Tournament MVP. Nicole McCray registered 4 solo blocks for Florida. Four Gators tallied double digits in kills and four Florida players also registered double digits in digs.
The University of Hawaii used their big bombers to defeat Nebraska and advanced to the Final Four from the Central Region. Wahine stars Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku chipped in 25 kills apiece in the 3-1 (30-25, 25-30, 30-27, 30-21) victory. With the win Hawaii advances to the final four for the seventh time n school history. Kahumoku was named the Regions MVP. The Hawaii victory snapped Nebraska’s 63 game home court winning streak.
Defending champion Stanford continued their quest for a repeat by defeating twelfth ranked Arizona 3-0 (30-14,30-17,30-25). Stanford superstar Logan Tom again paced her team to victory with 15 kills, 11 digs and 4 blocks. Tom became Stanford's leader in career kills with 1,910 surpassing All-American Kristin Klein (1,909). Tom was named the Regions MVP.
NCAA Tournament Semifinal Round - Dec. 19 - at New Orleans Arena
USC (29-1) vs. Florida (34-2)
Hawai'i (34-1) vs. Stanford (31-4)
Championship Match - Dec. 21 - at New Orleans Arena
Semifinal winners
Championship TV Coverage
Thurs. 12/19 7:30 PM ESPN2
Semi-Final Number 1
Hawaii vs. Stanford
Fri. 12/20 1:30 PM ESPN2
Semi Final Number 2
Florida vs. Southern California
Sat. 12/21 3:30 PM ESPN2
Championship Final
Rebecca Rotello of Washington University in St. Louis
Named 2001 AVCA Division III Player of the Year
Read the story here:
http://www.avca.org/collegiate/DIIIawards/DIIIPOY02.html
Erin Deffenbaugh of Northern Colorado Named 2002 AVCA Division II Player of
the Year
Read the story here
http://www.avca.org/collegiate/DIIawards/DIIPOY02.html
Remember to send your comments to bob@holdingcourt.net
See ya next time for our last issue of the year!!!!!!