No. 10 Women of Troy Head to Florida
June 21, 1999 | Women's Volleyball
December 8, 1998
THIS WEEK - The No. 10 USC women's volleyball team (24-5 overall, 16-2 in the Pac-10, in second place) will travel to Gainesville, Florida to play in the NCAA East Region semifinal against the Florida Gators (33-2) on Thursday (12/10) at approximately 7 p.m. EST. Hawaii (31-2) will face Arkansas (29-5) at 5 p.m. EST. The winners from the two matches will play on Friday (12/11) at 7 p.m. EST.
SERIES NOTES - The Women of Troy have not faced Florida or Arkansas and are 14-16 in the all-time series with Hawaii.
LAST WEEK - The USC women's volleyball team, led by senior outside hitter Jennifer Kessy's 21 kills and 16 digs and senior setter Janice Mounts' 54 assists and 18 digs, defeated Texas A&M, 15-8, 8-15, 15-5, 15-5, in a second-round NCAA Tournament East Region match at the Lyon Center in front of 659 (12/5). The USC women's volleyball team, led by Kessy's 17 kills, defeated Maryland-Baltimore County, 15-3, 15-5, 15-10, in a first-round NCAA Tournament match in front of 633 at the Lyon Center (12/4). In addition to Kessy's performance, USC got 13 kills and four blocks from senior middle blocker Jasmina Marinkovic and 15 digs from sophomore outside hitter Antoinette Polk. Mounts added 31 assists in two games and senior outside hitter Sara Stephen added 11 digs.
RANKINGS - USC is No. 10 in the latest USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll. Florida is No. 4, Hawaii is No. 6 and Arkansas is No. 13.
NOTES - The Women of Troy have won 20 of their last 22 matches. USC has suffered four of their five losses on the road to Top 10 teams (No. 2 Long Beach State, No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 9 Stanford and No. 10 Pacific). Senior setter Janice Mounts now boasts a 13.22 assist per game average, USC's best all-time. USC is making its eighth consecutive trip to the NCAAs and 16th overall. The Women of Troy finished conference play with their best ever Pac-10 mark at 16-2, their 24 wins is their most since going 26-9 in 1985.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS - Senior outside hitter Jennifer Kessy is first on USC's career kill chart , with her 1,785 career kills. She took over the top spot on the attack list after the first and second rounds of NCAA Tournament play, collecting 4,205 attacks in her career. She is fourth on the dig list with 1,255 and holds the USC all-time record for attacks in a match after collecting 92 against Wisconsin (9/12). Senior middle blocker Jasmina Marinkovic is first on the USC career charts in total blocks and block assists and is second in solo blocks. Marinkovic is also third on the USC career kill chart and is seventh on the attack list. Senior setter Janice Mounts is USC's all-time career assists leader, breaking Christine Brigman's record set in 1989. She has 4,205 career assists.
COACH LISA LOVE - Her players have known her as one of the nations best volleyball coaches for more than 16 years. Colleagues know her as one of the top athletic administrators in the country. Equally successful on both fronts, Lisa Love, the 1997 Pacific-10 Co-Coach of the Year, has perpetuated the tradition of USC womens volleyball while also handling the duties of her position as associate athletic director. She has been The Women of Troy's volleyball head coach since 1989 and was named to her administrative post in June of 1991. She will also complete a two-year stint as the President of the American Volleyball Coaches Association when her term concludes in December. Love has posted an outstanding 205-92 (.690) record with the Women of Troy and an impressive 404-170 (.704) mark in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach. This season Love earned both her 200th win at USC and her 400th career win. Her teams have been nationally ranked in the final Top 20 in 11 of those years, have made 10 NCAA regional appearances and 13 NCAA trips overall. Love came to USC in 1989 from Texas-Arlington, where she built the volleyball program into a national contender. She was awarded the highest collegiate volleyball coaching honor when she was named the 1988 AVCA National Coach of the Year for leading UTA to its fifth Southland Conference championship and a Top 10 national ranking.
JASMINA MARINKOVIC - One of the most exciting players in the country, senior All-American middle blocker Jasmina Marinkovic (pronounced Yaz-MEE-nah Ma-RINK-o-VITCH) is a major player in the Women of Troys 1998 campaign. Known to her friends as Jasna, Marinkovic is an excellent leaper and one of the most athletic middle blockers in the country. She is looking to become USCs first player to earn back-to-back All-American first team honors since Tracy Clark and Kim Ruddins did it in 1984-85. Marinkovic was named to the All-Pac-10 team for the 1998 season. She is second in team kills (472) and first in team blocks (128). Marinkovic had 13 kills and four blocks in the NCAA first round match against UMBC (12/4) and had 17 kills and eight blocks in the second round of the Tournament against Texas A&M (12/5). She had 28 kills against Houston (11/27) and a season-high 29 kills and 11 digs against Pacific (11/28). Marinkovic posted 23 kills, seven digs and four blocks in the USC upset of No. 4 Stanford. She collected a match-high 21 kills against Washington (11/13) and had 19 kills against Washington State (11/15). Marinkovic posted 19 kills and five blocks against Arizona (11/6) and 14 kills and four blocks against Arizona State (11/8). She added 18 kills and four blocks in the victory over UCLA (10/30). She posted 21 kills and seven blocks against Washington (10/18). Marinkovic posted 15 kills and hit a match-high .609 against UCLA (10/2). Marinkovic had 24 kills and seven blocks against Stanford (9/18). She is first on USC's all-time career block assist and total block charts and is second on the solo block chart. She is has moved into third on USC's career kill chart and is seventh on the attack chart. Marinkovic was named Pac-10 Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 12. She has received the honor four times in her career.She has earned All-Tournament honors in all four tournaments the Women of Troy have played in this season (NACWAA, San Francisco/Saint Mary's College, Wisconsin and the Banker's Classic).
JENNIFER KESSY - An All-American candidate as a 1998 senior, Jennifer Kessy is one of the top outside hitters in the country and one of the most feared attackers in the Pac-10. Kessy was named to the All-Pac-10 team for the 1998 season. She has earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors, for the weeks of Nov. 23 and Oct. 4. This is the fifth such honor of her career and the most a Women of Troy player has ever received. Kessy is currently the team leader in kills (540) and digs (320). Kessy collected 17 kills and seven digs against UMBC (12/4) and 21 kills and 16 digs against Texas A&M (12/5). She posted 29 kills and 21 digs against Pacific (11/28). She had eight kills and seven digs in the match against California (11/20) and 23 kills and 15 digs in USC's win over Stanford (11/22). Kessy had 21 kills against UCLA (10/30). Kessy posted 22 kills and nine digs against Oregon (10/22) and 11 kills and seven digs against (10/25). She had 26 kills and 13 digs against Washington State (10/16). Against Washington (10/18), Kessy led USC with 28 kills and 14 digs. Against Arizona State (10/9), Kessy had match highs in kills (18) and digs (17). She added 19 kills and seven digs against Arizona (10/11). Kessy collected 27 kills and 15 digs, helping lead USC to their fourth consecutive win over UCLA (10/2). She posted 14 kills and five blocks against Pepperdine (9/30). She collected 17 kills and nine digs against Oregon State (9/25) and 18 kills and nine digs Oregon (9/27). Kessy had 16 kills and 13 digs during the California match (9/20). She has 49 double-doubles in her career. Kessy holds the all-time USC record for attacks in a match with 92, vs. Wisconsin (9/12). This is also the most attacks by a Pac-10 player this season. She is now first on the USC career kill chart, recording 1,785 career kills and on the attack chart with 4,205. She is fourth on the dig chart, collecting 1,255. She has been named to the All-Tournament team at all four tournaments the team has played in this season (NACWAA, San Francisco/Saint Mary's College, Wisconsin and Banker's Classic).
JANICE MOUNTS - Janice Mounts, a 1998 senior All-American candidate, is in her third year as USCs starting setter. A savvy veteran with loads of court experience, Mounts, a Women of Troy co-captain, is one of the top floor leaders in the nation. She has been named to the All-Pac-10 team for the 1998 season. Mounts became USC's all-time career assist leader, after posting 47 assists in the match against Arizona (11/6), breaking Christine Brigmans record of 3,691. Her assist per game average (13.22) is best all-time. She posted 31 assists and three blocks in the match against UMBC (12/4) and had 54 assists and 18 digs against Texas A&M (12/5). Mounts had a career-high 85 assists against Pacific (11/28). She had 76 assists, along with six kills and eight digs in the victory over Stanford (11/22). Mounts collected 58 assists and four blocks in the victory over Washington (11/13) and 54 assists and 11 digs against Washington State (11/15). Mounts collected 76 assists and a season-high five blocks against Washington State (10/16). In the match against Washington (10/18), Mounts added 62 assists and a season-high 18 digs. She posted 58 assists in USC's victory over UCLA (10/2). She had 92 assists in the two matches against Oregon State (9/25) and Oregon (9/27). Mounts posted 59 assists, 14 digs and four blocks during California match (9/18) and 69 assists, eight digs and two blocks against Stanford (9/20). Against Wisconsin (9/12), Mounts had 70 assists. She has earned All-Tournament honors at three tournaments the squad has competed in this season (NACWAA, San Francisco/Saint Mary's College and Wisconsin). In the NACWAA Tournament, Mounts collected 111 assists, 10 digs and six blocks, including 61 assists, six digs and two blocks during the Long Beach State match (8/29).
ANTOINETTE POLK - A 1998 sophomore, outside hitter Antoinette Polk is building on a promising freshman season in which she established herself as one of the top up-and-comers in the Pac-10. She is possibly the most athletic player and best leaper on the team (at 5-10, she can dunk on a regulation basketball hoop). She is second on the team in digs (263) and third in kills (250). She had five kills and 15 digs against UMBC (12/4) and four kills and 10 digs against Texas A&M (12/5). Polk had 21 kills and 11 digs against Pacific (11/28). She posted 10 kills and 11 digs in the win over Washington (11/13) and 13 kills and 14 digs against Washington State (11/15). Polk had 15 digs in the match against Arizona (11/6) and seven kills and six digs against Arizona State (11/8). She posted 16 kills and 12 digs in USC's win over UCLA (10/30). She collected a career-high 24 kills and 13 digs against Washington State (10/16) and had 11 kills and 11 digs against Washington (10/18). Against Arizona (10/11), Polk collected eight kills and 15 digs. She had 12 kills and 13 digs against UCLA, her first double-double of the season. Polk had 21 kills and added nine digs during the match against California (9/20). Starting as a redshirt freshman in 1997, Polk was named 1997 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (USCs second such honor. The first was Jasmina Marinkovic in 1995).
JANAE HENRY - Sophomore Janae Henry has taken over a starting outside hitter position after playing in 19 matches in the 1997 season. Henry had eight kills and eight digs in the NCAA first round match against UMBC (12/4) and had 12 kills and 11 digs against Texas A&M (12/5). She had 10 kills and nine digs against Houston (11/27) and 14 kills and 22 digs against Pacific (11/28). Henry collected a match-high 11 kills and nine digs against California (11/20) and a season-high 17 kills and 12 digs against Stanford (11/22). Henry had nine kills and 11 digs against Arizona (11/6) and posted nine kills and eight digs against Arizona State (11/8). She added 12 kills and a career high 20 digs against UCLA (10/30). Henry posted six kills and 12 digs against Oregon (10/22) and eight kills and four digs against Oregon State (10/25). She had 15 kills and nine digs in USC's effort against Stanford (9/18). She had her first career start against Wisconsin (8/28) at the NACWAA Tournament to start off the 1998 season. Henry was the 1996 Volleyball Magazine "Player of the Year."
SARA STEPHEN - One of the quickest members of the Women of Troy and perhaps its hardest hitter, 1998 senior outside hitter Sara Stephen is a multi-dimensional player who provides key defense in the back row. A quick player with great leaping abilities, her versatility gives Coach Love many options. Stephen collected 11 digs against UMBC (12/4) and seven digs against Texas A&M (12/5). She had 10 digs in the match against Houston (11/27) and nine digs against Pacific (11/28). Stephen had 12 digs against Washington (11/13) and six digs against Washington State (11/15). She posted 11 digs in the match against UCLA (10/30). Stephen collected seven digs against Washington State (10/16) and 10 digs against Washington (10/18). She contributed 14 digs in the USC victory over Arizona (10/11). She played in both matches at the Wisconsin Tournament, collecting 14 digs and three aces.
KASHI CORMIER - Sophomore Kashi Cormier is a solid contributor at outside hitter this season. Cormier had four kills and 10 digs against Texas A&M (12/5). She collected five kills and 10 digs against Houston (11/27) and seven kills and 12 digs against Pacific (11/28). She had three kills and three digs in the match against UCLA (10/30). Cormier had six kills and 14 digs against Washington State (10/16). She posted three kills and six digs against Washington (10/18). Cormier had a career-best 20 digs against Wisconsin (8/28) and had four block assists. She has had two double-doubles this season (11 kills and 16 digs vs. Wisconsin on 8/28 and 11 kills and 12 digs vs. Long Beach State on 10/29) at the NACWAA Tournament. In 1997, Cormier was named a Pac-10 All-Freshman honorable mention selection.
JENNIFER PAHL - One of two freshmen on the roster, Jennifer Pahl is vying for time at middle blocker in the absence of Alaina Kipps. Pahl was named to the 1998 Pac-10 All-Freshman team. She posted four kills and three blocks against UMBC (12/4) and seven kills and four blocks against Texas A&M (12/5). Pahl had five kills against Houston (11/27) and four kills against Pacific (11/28). She had nine kills against Washington (11/13) and seven kills against Washington State (11/15). Pahl contributed 10 kills in the match against UCLA (10/30). She posted five kills and three blocks against Oregon (10/22) and six kills and three blocks against Oregon State (10/25). Pahl posted eight kills against Washington State (10/16). She had six kills, four digs and two blocks in the match against Arizona State (10/9) and six kills and three blocks against Arizona (10/11). She had eight kills and a career-high six blocks in USC's win over UCLA (10/2). She had four kills and seven digs against Pepperdine (9/30). Adding to the USC win over California (8/20), Pahl contributed nine kills and three blocks. She had a career high 10 kills in the match against Stanford (9/18). As a prep senior in 1997, Pahl was named to Volleyball Magazine's "Fab 50" and was the CIF Division V-AA Co-Player of the year.
SHANNON REDFERN - Walk-on sophomore Shannon Redfern is vying for time at outside hitter for the 1998 season. Redfern had a career-tying 10 kills and three digs against Arizona State (10/9) and a career-high 12 digs in the match against Arizona (10/11). She had her first career-start at the outside hitter position against Oregon State (8/25) and posted career highs in kills (10) and blocks (five) while adding a season-high three aces and seven digs. Against Arizona in 1997, Redfern had a USC season-high seven aces, one short of tying USC's three-game match record.
AMBER OLIVER - Sophomore middle blocker Amber Oliver has returned to play after redshirting last season to rehabilitate a shoulder injury. Oliver is a welcome returner at middle blocker and is looking to return to the form that made her a force at the net as a blocker and a quick attacker in 1996. Oliver had four kills against Houston (11/27) and five kills against Pacific (11/28). She had seven kills against California (11/20) and had four kills and five blocks against Stanford (11/22). Oliver posted three kills and three blocks against Arizona (11/6) and tied her season-high seven kills against Arizona State (11/8).
HEIDI MUNNEKE - Heidi Munneke is an instinctive setter with an exceptional touch. Munneke had her first career start against UCLA (10/30), contributing 61 assists, 10 kills and five digs (all career highs). Munneke had 16 assists against UMBC (12/4). She played in both matches at the Banker's Classic Tournament, recording 13 assists against Houston and eight kills against Pacific (11/28). Against Oregon State (10/25), Munneke had two kills, six assists and three digs. At the San Francisco/Saint Mary's Tournament, Munneke had 23 assists and four aces.
ALAINA KIPPS - Alaina Kipps, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the Indiana match, has undergone season-ending surgery. Kipps was the team block leader in 1997 and is currently a Women of Troy co-captain. Kipps earned 1997 GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America second team and District Vlll and Pac-10 All-Academic first team honors.
WALK-ONS - Cynthia Corpuz, a sophomore defensive specialist, adds speed and quickness in the back row. She collected a career-high 15 digs against Wisconsin (9/12). Corpuz had her first career starts at the San Francisco/Saint Mary's Tournament, playing in all six games. Corpuz has appeared in 40 of USC's 49 games this year. Christine Bohle, a sophomore outside hitter, serves the Women of Troy mainly as a back-row specialist and situational server as she did in the 1997 season. Bohle had eight digs against Stanford (11/22). Shesaw time in two games at the San Francisco/Saint Mary's College Tournament, collecting five kills. A competitive player who can provide a spark off the bench will be sophomore defensive specialist and a reserve setter Ashlyn Dyer, a first-year player. Sophomore middle blocker Sara Peterson is again a solid contributor, adding depth to the blocking ranks. Freshman Emily Dalbeck is redshirting this season. Dalbeck earned CIF Division 3-A first team honors in her senior year at La Canada (Calif.) High.
Florida - No. 4 Florida (33-2) is led by junior outside hitter Jenny Manz, who is first in team kills (547) and is second in digs (336), senior middle blocker Jeni Jones leads the team in blocks with 146 and senior outside hitter Jenni Keene, who is second on the team in kills with 414. Head coach Mary Wise has a 236-25 record at Florida.
Hawaii - No. 6 Hawaii (31-2) is led by junior middle blocker Heather Bown, who is first in team kills (535) and first in blocks (192) and junior outside hitter Heidi Ilustre, who is second in kills (378) and first in digs (298). Head Coach Dave Shoji has a 649-132-1 record while at Hawaii.
arkansas - No. 13 Arkansas (29-5) is led by senior middle blocker Kim Storey, who is first in team kills (496) and second in blocks (140), senior middle blocker Jessica Field, who is second in kills (418) and first in blocks (214) and sophomore Yarleen Santiago, who is first in digs (383). Head coach Chris Pole is in his 5th season with the Ladybacks.
USC IN THE PAC-10 - USC leads the Pac-10 in kills (18.42), assists (16.83), digs (16.92) and is second in hitting percentage (.289). Senior setter Janice Mounts leads the Pac-10 in assists with 15.13 per game. Senior outside hitter Jennifer Kessy is second in the Pac-10 in kills with 5.35 per game. Her 92 attacks at Wisconsin (9/12) is not only a school record but the most in the Pac-10 this year. USC has three players in the top 10 in the Pac-10 in hitting percentage (Marinkovic, Pahl and Kessy)
VOLLEYBALL HALL OF FAME - Assistant volleyball coach and former USC All-American Paula Weishoff was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame on Oct. 19. Weishoff, a three-time Olympian, won a silver medal in 1984 and a bronze in 1992 and also played on the 1996 team in Atlanta. In 1980, she played under Coach Chuck Erbe, leading USC to a 46-4 record and the AIAW national championship. She joins two other Women of Troy in the Volleyball Hall of Fame: Patti Bright and Debbie Green.
TOUGH SCHEDULE - USC faces one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Including possible tournament match-ups, USC could face up to 10 schools ranked in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Preseason Top 25: Stanford, Long Beach State, Washington State, Washington, UCLA, Pepperdine, Wisconsin, Pacific, Arkansas and Notre Dame. USC will also face three teams that received votes in the preseason poll: Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State and possibly Houston in the Banker's Classic.
PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Senior outside hitter Jennifer Kessy earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors for the week of Nov. 23, this is second time this season she has earned the honor, the first was the week of Oct. 4. This is the fifth weekly honor in her career and USC's 22nd Player of the Week honor all-time. Only three other Pac-10 players have won the honor more than five times. Senior middle blocker Jasmina Marinkovic was honored for the week of Oct. 12.
