University Southern California Trojans
No. 3 USC Opens Season with Win
June 21, 1999 | Women's Volleyball
August 28, 1998
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The USC women's volleyball team, ranked No. 3 in the preseason, began the quest for its first Final Four since 1985 with a resounding 15-1, 15-7, 15-8 win over No. 7 Wisconsin in the opening round of the NACWAA State Farm Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday (Aug. 28).
The Women of Troy, who are enjoying their highest ranking since being ranked No. 2 in September of 1985, were led by senior outside hitter Jennifer Kessy's match-high 21 kills and four blocks and sophomore outside hitter Kashi Cormier's double-double of 11 kills and a career-high 16 digs.
USC will play No. 2 Long Beach State in the tournament finale on Saturday night. The 49ers beat host New Mexico.
USC outblocked the bigger Wisconsin, 15-2, and had eight services aces without giving one up to the Badgers. USC hit .326 on the night compared to the Badgers' .182.
The Women of Troy outhit Wisconsin .450 to a minus .067 in the first game, giving up the first point of the match to the Badgers before scoring 15 consecutive of their own.
The match was a bit closer in the second and third games, but at no time did Wisconsin seriously challenge to take either game.
Senior setter Janice Mounts posted 50 assists and also had five kills in 10 attempts without an error. Senior All-American middle blocker Jasmina Marinkovic opened the 1998 campaign modestly with eight kills and five blocks, including three solo. Fellow senior middle blocker Alaina Kipps had eight kills and a match-high six blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Janae Henry, starting her first collegiate match, had eight kills and a career-high 13 digs. Wisconsin was led by Kate Fitzgerald's 19 kills.
USC's win avenged a season-opening loss to Wisconsin in 1996. Coach Lisa Love is now 7-3 in season openers at USC.
