University Southern California Trojans
USC
Wisconsin
Women's Volleyball Falls Short In Five-Game Thriller
September 02, 2001 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 2, 2001
IRVINE, Calif. -- In a rematch of the 2000 NCAA Championship semifinal match, the No. 2 USC women's volleyball team walked away with the same outcome -- but this time the Trojans (1-1) did not leave without a fight. USC fell to No. 4 Wisconsin 3-2 (19-30, 30-26, 27-30, 30-26, 15-11) in the final round of the Marriott Showcase in Irvine, Calif., this afternoon.
In what could be a 2001 Final Four preview, the Women of Troy out-hit the Badgers .208 to .198 and posted five aces to UW's 1. Wisconsin edged the Trojans in kills (73 to 70) but finished even in blocks (14) and digs (73).
USC had three players collect double-digit kills, including an outstanding performance by hitter April Ross who contributed a match-high 22 kills, in addition to nine digs and five blocks. Setter Toni Anderson and DS Nicole Davis each led with 15 digs, while blocker Jennifer Pahl posted 10 blocks in the five-game effort. Freshmen Keao Burdine and Alicia Robinson added 17 and 12 kills apiece.
USC trailed 7-4 in game one after committing three errors, but rebounded with a 5-0 run to take a 9-7 lead. The Trojans managed to hold the Badgers to a .156 hitting percentage and benefited from four UW service errors to take the first game 30-19.
Neither team led by more than three points in game two. Down 27-24, USC managed to cut the Wisconsin lead to one (27-26), but a big block and kill by Sheresa Livingston gave the Badgers the win.
In game three, Wisconsin battled back from an early five-point deficit (14-9) before tying the game at 24. The Women of Troy broke a 25-25 tie with a kill by Ross and a Badger blocking error put USC up 27-25 which eventually led to the win.
Leading 2-1 in the match, the Women of Troy missed the opportunity by falling behind quickly. USC trailed by as much as seven points (17-10) but began to battle back. Wisconsin committed five hitting errors as the Trojans brought the score within one (22-21), then continued to match UW point-for-point. With a tie score (26-26), the Badgers held USC and pounded their way to the win, forcing a 15-point match finale.
Game five was decided early as Wisconsin jumped to a 7-2 lead and held on to reach match point 14-7. USC's offense did all it could as it posted four consecutive points before a kill by Livingston gave the Badgers the win.
USC travels to Honolulu, Hawaii, this week for the Aston Imua Challenge, Sept. 6-8, where the Trojans will face Cincinnati, Utah State and No. 5 Hawaii.
