University Southern California Trojans
USC
Rhode Island
Volleyball Opens Met-Rx Invitational With 3-0 Win
September 06, 2000 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 6, 2000
Los Angeles, Calif. -- The fourth-ranked USC women's volleyball team (3-0) captured its third victory of the season to open the home schedule and the 2000 USC Met-Rx Invitational at North Gym in front of 350. USC held Rhode Island (0-5) to a .044 attack percentage in route to a 3-0 (15-5, 15-7, 16-14) win.
In a match which lasted slightly longer than an hour, the Trojans dominated on both sides of the net hitting .287 for the match and collecting 13.5 total blocks - a season high.
Following a 15-5 victory in the first game, USC strengthened its offense in the second, allowing the Rams to convert only seven of 27 attempts. The Trojans collected 13 kills off of 21 attacks for a .524 attack percentage.
In the final game Rhode Island found its spark and began to cut away at the Women of Troy's lead. Down by four points (9-13), the Rams stopped USC's momentum with a kill by outside hitter Amy Kauppila, then forced four consecutive Trojan errors (two reception errors, two attack errors) to take a 14-13 lead. USC quickly regained composure to tally the final three points and force an attack error to seal the victory.
USC senior Jennifer Pahl led the Trojans with seven blocks and nine kills (.353). Freshman Katie Olsovsky also showed strength at the net, collecting five blocks and posting five kills off of eight attacks (.500). Rhode Island was led by middle blocker Cheri Melson who added seven kills, eight digs and a .222 attack percentage.
The remaining schedule for the tournament is as follows:
Thursday, Sept. 7
10 a.m. - UC Irvine vs. Texas San-Antonio
4 p.m. - Rhode Island vs. UC Irvine
6:30 p.m. - USC vs. Texas-San Antonio
Friday, Sept. 8
10 a.m. - Pepperdine vs. UC Irvine
12 p.m. - Temple vs. Texas-San Antonio
4 p.m. - Rhode Island vs. Pepperdine
7 p.m. - USC vs. Temple
- GO SC -
