University Southern California Trojans
No. 16 Women's Volleyball Hosts Oregon, Oregon State
November 08, 1999 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 8, 1999
THE FACTS -- No. 16 USC (16-6, 11-4 Pac-10) split a pair of matches in the Bay Area last weekend. On Friday, November 5, the Trojans defeated California, 3-0 (15-10, 15-3, 15-12) for the 28th time in the series' history. The following night, November 6, the Women of Troy were unable to upset top-ranked Stanford at Maples Pavilion. USC fell in three games, 15-3, 15-11, 15-7. The team returns home this weekend for two matches against Oregon (Nov. 12) and Oregon State (Nov. 13).
DID YOU KNOW? -- The Trojans have finished no lower than fourth place in the Pac-10 in all but one season (1986) since the conferences' inception in 1986. USC has finished in second place twice, third place five times, and fourth place five times. The Women of Troy have now recorded 22 winning seasons, and have only posted two losing records in the program's 24-year history. The program's only Pac-10 losing record also came in 1986.
RANKINGS -- USC remains ranked 16th in the USA Today/AVCA coaches poll this week. UCLA (No. 7), Stanford (No. 2) and Arizona (No. 18) are the only other Pac-10 teams currently ranked.
TROJANS ON TV -- Friday's match against Oregon will be televised by the Fox Sports Network. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. and will air live on the west coast on Fox Sports West. Heather Cox and Jim Watson will do the play-by-play and commentary.
USC NEWS & NOTES -- Oregon has been unable to defeat the Women of Troy in nine seasons... USC owns a 18-match win streak against the Ducks - it is currently the Trojans' most successful opponent series... With an 11-4 conference mark, USC has recorded its ninth-consecutive wining record in the Pac-10 (only Stanford has a longer streak at 14)... With last week's victory, Troy now owns a 16-match win streak against Cal... The Women of Troy rejoined the national ranks this week in team kills (No. 19 - 16.78 kpg) and team assists (No. 20 -15.23 apg)... USC has played 16 of the season's 22 matches on the road.
LAST WEEK -- OH?s Antoinette Polk, Janae Henry, joined MB Jennifer Pahl with nine kills each for USC in a 3-0 defeat (15-3, 15-11, 15-7) at the hands of second-ranked Stanford, Saturday night (November 6) at Maples Pavilion. Stanford rolled to a quick 15-3 victory in game one. However, USC started the second game on fire and led 6-2 before Stanford rolled off five straight points to take its first lead of the game at 7-6. The teams would stay close with the game tied at 11-11 before the Cardinal recorded the last four points of the game to go ahead in the match, 2-0. USC again jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the third game before Stanford scored seven unanswered points to go ahead, 8-5. USC scored the next two points to close the gap to 8-7 but the Cardinal then finished off the Women of Troy with the final seven points of the match. Stanford hit .357 and had 11.0 team blocks, while USC hit just .147 with three team stops.
Freshman setter Tracy Lindquist led USC to a three-game victory (15-10, 15-3, 15-12) over California on Friday, November 5, in Berkeley, Calif. With 31 assists and a match-high .750 attack percentage, Lindquist helped extend the Trojans? seven-match win streak. MB Jennifer Pahl posted 12 kills (.320) and five blocks in the contest, marking her seventh consecutive match in which the 6-foot-0 blocker has hit above .300. OH Janae Henry collected her 13th double-double this season with 11 kills (.200) and 10 digs. As a squad, USC had five aces, including four of which came from DS Julie Mariani in a career-high performance. Despite the victory, the Women of Troy accounted for their lowest team attack percentage (.198) in seven matches. USC still managed to hold the Golden Bears to a devastating .016 attack effort.
TOP PERFORMANCES -- Last week's top performance came from setter Tracy Lindquist who collected 62 total assists in two matches (10.22 apg). She also averaged a .556 attack percentage with six kills off of nine attacks. DS Julie Mariani became the team's sole leader in service aces (28 aces, 0.35 sapg) after recording a personal-best four aces against Cal.
TRIPLE-DOUBLES -- Lauren Killian vs. Washington State, 9/31/99 (10k, 10d, 10b)
DOUBLE-DOUBLES -- 37 to date
30+ KILL PERFORMANCES -- Antoinette Polk vs. Washington State, 9/31/99 (30k)
PAC-10 STATS -- Janae Henry (No. 2 - 3.54 dpg) and Antoinette Polk (No. 4 - 3.38 dpg) were joined by OH Kashi Cormier (No. 10 - 2.82 dpg), among Pac-10 defensive leaders. Polk also ranks sixth in kills (3.78 kpg). Other stat leaders include MB Jennifer Pahl who ranks ninth in attack percentage (.295), DS Julie Mariani who ranks sixth in service ace average (0.35 sapg), and setter Hiedi Munneke who ranks eighth in assists (9.70 apg). As a team, USC ranks among the top three teams in five of seven categories (No. 1 defense, No. 2 assists, No. 3 hitting percentage-kills-win percentage), and leads the conference in dig average (17.46 dpg).
OPPONENT NOTES -- Oregon (7-16, 1-13) ended a 16-match losing streak last weekend with a 3-1 victory over crosstown rival Oregon State on Friday, November 5. The win was the Ducks first in Pac-10 play this season. Match leaders included MB Laura Norton who posted 10 block assists and one solo block. OH Amy Banducci collected a career-high 21 kills, a match-high for the Ducks this season. She currently leads the squad in kills (217) and kills per game (2.86).
Oregon State's loss to Oregon on Friday night extended the Beavers' seven-match losing streak which began with a USC victory in Corvallis, Ore. on October 15. Despite having defeated the Ducks at home earlier in the season, Oregon State was held to a .090 attack percentage in the loss. OH Angie Shirley led the team with 18 kills and five total blocks in the match. Topping team stats this season is OH Sarah Bjeldanes who has 293 kills (4.31 kpg) and 18 service aces (0.26 sapg).
SERIES RECORDS -- USC owns a 24-6 all time series record and 18-match win streak against Oregon. The last time the teams met (October 18), the Trojans held the Ducks to the least amount of points for a USC opponent this season with a 3-0 (15-3, 15-3, 15-0) victory in Eugene, Ore.
Against Oregon State, USC improved the all-time series record to 20-7 with a 3-1 victory in Corvallis, Ore. on October 15. The last time the Women of Troy fell to the Beavers at home was on September 28, 1990 in a 3-0 defeat. Oregon State won both matches that season, a feat they have only accomplished twice in program history. On the flip side, USC has swept the Beavers in eight seasons.
INJURY UPDATE -- MB Amber Oliver was cleared to start against Cal and Stanford last week. She returned after re-injuring a right ankle sprain on Wednesday, October 27 during practice.
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE COACHES -- Jerritt Elliott is serving as interim head coach this season after being a Trojan assistant during the past four seasons under Lisa Love. Love, the Women of Troy's head coach the past 10 seasons, resigned in March of 1999 to concentrate on her associate athletic duties at USC. Following the 2000 Olympics, U.S. Women's National Team head coach Mick Haley will come aboard. Haley led Texas to two national titles during his tenure as head coach of the Longhorns in the mid-1980s.
COACH JERRITT ELLIOTT -- Interim head coach Jerritt Elliott, who has coaching experience at the high school, club, international and collegiate levels, is in his fifth year as a member of the USC staff. He joined the program in August of 1995 as a volunteer assistant and was promoted to assistant coach in 1996. Each season, the Women of Troy advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals and finished ranked in the national top 15. Elliott was an assistant coach on the 1998 U.S. Junior National team which won the NORCECA gold medal and qualified for the World Championships. He also served as director of the Westside Volleyball Club from 1992-95 (he led them to a fourth-place finish at the Nike Volleyball Festival in 1994) and as an assistant coach for the 1993 Cal State Northridge team that lost to UCLA in the NCAA championship match. His high school coaching stints included three years at Marymount High in Westwood, Calif. and one year at Palisades High in Pacific Palisades, Calif. As a player, he earned All-City second- team honors as an outside hitter at Palisades High where he played alongside former USC standout Kevin Shepard and Olympic gold-medalist Kent Steffes. In his first season as a collegiate head coach, Elliott owns a 16-6 overall record and 11-4 Pac-10 mark.
#1 Tracy Lindquist (S, 5-7, Fr)
A graduate of Ocean View High in Fountain Valley, Calif., Tracy Lindquist was a Fab-50 selectee and a two-time high school All-American. She and partner Chrissie Zartman are the two youngest players ever to receive an AAA beach rating.
1999 Season Stats: 496 assists, 6.36 apg, .322
? Had her best match against Long Beach State (Sept. 15), during which she collected 58 assists.
? In the first three weeks of the season, she has started in six of seven matches.
? Saw playing time against Arizona State and Arizona in the backrow.
? Lindquist assumed the backup setter role at the start of the conference season.
? Made Pac-10 debut at starting setter against Oregon State (Oct. 17) and Oregon (Oct. 18), and averaged 13.43 assists per game.
? Started against both Arizona (Oct. 21) and Arizona State (Oct. 22) and averaged 10.55 apg, while averaging a .333 attack.
? Starting against Cal and Stanford (Nov. 5, 6) she collected 62 total assists (10.22 apg) and averaged a .556 attack percentage (6 k, 9 att).
#2 Julie Mariani (DS, 5-5, Fr)
Julie Mariani is a defensive specialist from St. Francis High in Los Altos, Calif. As a prep, she earned all-league honors and helped lead her team to two CIF championships.
1999 Season Stats: 2.28 dpg, 0.35 sapg
? Tied a career-high three service aces against California (Oct. 9).
? Again, posted a career-best three service aces against Arizona State (Oct. 22)
? Surpassed her career-high mark with four service aces against Cal (Nov. 5).
#3 Antoinette Polk (OH, 5-10, Jr)
A 1999 junior, starting outside hitter Antoinette Polk is looking to build on two strong seasons with USC. She is the team's most athletic player and its best leaper (at 5-10, she can dunk on a regulation basketball hoop).
1999 Season Stats: 3.78 kpg (.211), 0.14 sapg, 3.38 dpg, 0.49 bpg
? Tied her career-high with 24 kills against Long Beach State (Sept. 4).
? Named USC Athlete of the Week twice this season (Sept. 7 and Sept. 13).
? Earned all-tournament honors at the Wahine Volleyball Challenge after notching 57 kills (4.75 kpg) and 3.9 digs per game in three matches.
? Led the team with 18 digs against Arizona (Sept. 25).
? Set a career record with 30 kills against Washington State (Sept. 31).
? Posted her eighth double-double of the season against Cal (Oct. 9) with 11 kills and 13 digs.
? Led the team with 18 kills against Oregon State (Oct. 17) and 12 kills against Oregon (Oct. 18).
? Despite a struggling attack percentage, posted 17 digs against Arizona (Oct. 21) and 20 kills against Arizona State (Oct. 22).
? Added 17 kills and 13 digs against Washington (Oct. 29).
#7 Heidi Munneke (S, 5-10, Jr)
As a 1999 junior, Heidi Munneke has rotated as USC's starting setter after serving two years as a reserve with the Trojans.
1999 Season Stats: 592 assists, 9.70 apg, .278, 1.75 dpg
? In the first three tournaments of the season, she has appeared in six of seven matches, with one start versus Tennessee (Sept. 11).
? Had three top performances against Hawai'i (48 assists), Nevada (46 assists) and Oral Roberts (42 assists).
? Made her first consecutive start of the season against Arizona State (Sept. 24) and Arizona (Sept. 25).
? Posted a career-high 80 assists against Washington State (Sept. 31), a mark which ranks fifth among USC match records.
? Added five kills without an error against Washington (Oct. 1) for a perfect attack percentage.
? Did not start, but rotated in against Washington (Oct. 29) and Washington State (Oct. 30) and averaged 13.8 apg. Collected five kills off of six attacks (.833) against the Cougars.
#8 Sara Peterson (MB, 6-1, Jr)
As a 1999 walk-on junior, Sara Peterson will is a reserve middle blocker for the Women of Troy.
1999 Season Stats: 0.86 kpg (.500), 0.43 dpg, 0.43 bpg
? Made her 1999 debut against Washington State (Oct. 1) and led the team with a .556 attack percentage and three blocks.
#15 Lauren Killian (OH, 6-1, Fr)
Lauren Killian prepped at Marlborough High School in Los Angeles, Calif., where she earned 1999 Volleyball Magazine Fab-50 honors. Her father, Don, was a member of the 1977 USC national championship volleyball team.
Season Stats: 1.48 kpg (.248), 0.53 dpg, 1.03 bpg
? Made her first start with the Trojans against Arizona State (Sept. 24) and led the team with a .500 attack percentage.
? Posted a team-high nine blocks against Arizona (Sept. 25).
? Recorded an unprecedented triple-double against Washington State (Sept. 31) with 10 kills, 10 blocks and 10 digs.
? Led the team with 7.0 total blocks against Cal (Oct. 8).
? Provided a spark for the team in the fourth and fifth game against Arizona State (Oct. 22) by serving the game-winning point in the fourth, and recording seven kills and two blocks on the night, including two of the final fifth-game points.
? Led the match with six blocks against Washington (Oct. 29).
? Against Stanford (Nov. 6), posted a team-high .400 attack percentage (3k, 5att).
#16 Amber Oliver (MB, 6-5, Jr)
Senior Amber Oliver, a starting 6-5 middle blocker, continues to provide solid performances for USC after recovering from two shoulder surgeries.
1999 Season Stats: 1.95 kpg (.268), 1.23 bpg
? Helped the team to the UNLV Invitational Championship with top performances against both Oral Roberts and UNLV. Led the team in total blocks (12) and attack percentage (.524) throughout the tournament.
? Collected a career-high 13 kills (.458) and six blocks assists against the Rebels. Tied a career mark with six total blocks in each tournament match.
? Suffered a sprained ankle on Sept. 22 during practice and is listed as day-to-day.
? Made her first appearance since injury in three games against Arizona (Oct. 21) and added four kills (.333). Made first start against Arizona State (Oct. 22) and led the match with six blocks.
#21 Kashi Cormier (OH, 6-0, Jr)
A talented and versatile athlete, 1999 junior Kashi Cormier starts at the outside or opposite hitters position.
1999 Season Stats: 2.95 kpg (.235), 2.82 dpg, 0.72 bpg
? Collected a career-high 20 kills against Hawai'i (Sept. 10), while adding 14 digs.
? Honored as an all-tournament selection at the Wahine Volleyball Challenge.
? After struggling in the first three conference matches, had an excellent showing against Washington (Oct. 1) with 10 kills, six digs and a .444 attack percentage.
? Had her best performance of the season against Stanford with a career-high .625 attack percentage and no errors off of 10 kills.
? Topped her previous career-best performance with an .380 average and 3.7 kills and 2.4 digs per game average against UCLA (Oct. 13), Oregon State (Oct. 15) and Oregon (Oct. 16). Posted a personal-best .786 attack percentage against Oregon with 11 kills and no errors.
? Had a career-high 23 kills (.474) against Washington (Oct. 29) and added 12 digs.
#22 Janae Henry (OH, 6-0, Jr)
Junior Janae Henry is a starting outside hitter for the 1999 Trojans. A talented player with a solid all-around game, she continues to be a major contributor to the USC offense.
1999 Season Stats: 3.47 kpg (.209), 0.30 sapg, 3.54 dpg, 0.40 bpg
? Recorded a career-high 24 digs against Nevada (Sept. 9).
? Played one of her best matches against Tennessee (Sept. 11), collecting 14 kills and 15 digs, while hitting .433.
? Topped her previous performance with a 21-kill effort (.436) against Oral Roberts (Sept. 17). She also added 15 digs and two aces in the match.
? Named UNLV Invitational MVP after averaging 4.3 kills and 4.0 digs per game.
? Posted a career-best three aces against Arizona State (Sept. 24), and a team-leading 18 kills against Arizona (Sept. 25).
? Added 20 kills and 16 digs against Washington State (Sept. 31).
? Led the team with 13 kills and 10 digs against Washington (Oct. 1).
? Posted her ninth double-double of the season against Cal (Oct. 9) with 12 kills and 12 digs.
? Led the team against the Bruins (Oct. 13) with 11 kills and 16 digs.
? Posted a match-high 16 digs against UCLA (Oct. 13).
? Named USC Athlete of the Week after recording a top performance against Arizona (Oct. 21) with 13 kills off of 30 attacks (.400) and 15 digs. Tallied 20 digs against Arizona State (Oct. 22).
? Had 16 digs against Washington (Oct. 29), then followed the performance with 18 kills against Washington State (Oct. 30).
#26 Jennifer Pahl (MB, 6-1, So)
An explosive and dynamic player, sophomore Jennifer Pahl is a starting middle blocker for the Women of Troy.
1999 Season Stats: 3.38 kpg (.295), 0.30 sapg, 2.04 dpg, 1.09 bpg
? Honored as a UNLV Invitational all-tournament selection after leading the team in blocks (12 TB/1.7 bpg) and service aces (4).
? Set four personal career records in the tournament including, a personal best three blocks solos versus Oral Roberts (Sept. 17), and six block assists, seven total blocks and three aces against UNLV (Sept. 18).
? Tied two career records with 10 kills and seven digs against UNLV.
? Named USC Athlete of the Week after accounting for a career-high 18 kills and six blocks against Arizona State (Sept. 24), and leading the team with a .469 attack percentage against Arizona (Sept. 25).
? Had a personal record-breaking performance against Washington State (Sept. 31) 19 kills and 15 total blocks. The block record ranks sixth among USC all-time records.
? Led the team with 10 kills against Stanford (Oct. 8), and a .353 attack percentage against Cal (Oct. 9).
? Averaged 1.2 blocks per game against UCLA (Oct.13), Oregon State (Oct. 15) and Oregon (Oct. 16), including a team-high 7.0 stops against the Beavers.
? USC's most consistent performer, she averaged a .365 attack percentage and 2.56 kills per game against Arizona (Oct. 21) and Arizona State (Oct. 22).
? A reliable athlete, she averaged a .346 attack percentage against Washington (Oct. 29) and Washington State (Oct. 30) with 27 total kills.
? Led the squad with 21 kills and 21 digs against Cal and Stanford (Nov. 5, 6).
