Women's Volleyball Prepares for Power Bar Invitational
June 21, 1999 | Women's Volleyball
September 2, 1998
THIS WEEK - The USC women's volleyball team travels to the University of San Francisco/Saint Mary's College Power Bar Inviational in San Francisco. The Women of Troy will face San Francisco on Friday (Sept. 4) at 7 p.m. and will play Sam Houston State on Saturday (Sept. 5) at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's College.
SERIES NOTES - USC has never faced San Francisco or Sam Houston State. LAST WEEK - The Women of Troy returned from the NACWAA tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., with a second place finish. On Friday (Aug.28) No. 3 USC defeated No. 7 Wisconsin in the first match, 15-1, 15-7, 15-8, to advance to the final vs. No. 2 Long Beach State. In the final, USC and Long Beach State fought for five games ending with a 49er win, 15-7, 10-15, 15-1, 9-15, 15-12.
RANKINGS - USC is No. 3 in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll. The No. 3 ranking is the Women of Troy's highest since being ranked No. 2 in September of 1985. The Women of Troy took the No. 4 position in the Volleyball Magazine preseason poll. San Francisco and Sam Houston State are not ranked.
PAC-10 PRESEASON POLL - USC is ranked No. 1 in the Pac-10 Preseason Coaches Poll. The Women of Troy earned nine of the 10 first-place votes with defending national champion Stanford picking up the remaining vote. USC becomes the first team other than Stanford or UCLA to hold the spot in the preseason poll. The coaches have chosen correctly in seven of nine previous polls. Following are the results: 1. USC, 2. Stanford, 3. UCLA, 4. Washington, 5. Washington State, 6. Arizona, 7. Oregon State 8. Arizona State, 9. Oregon, 10. California.
NOTES - USC loses only outside hitter Jeanne Vetter from the 1997 team that went 23-6 overall and 13-5 in the Pac-10, good enough for a second place tie behind eventual national champion Stanford. USC has won seven of 10 season openers since Lisa Love has been the head coach. Sophomore outside hitter Janae Henry made her first career start at the NACWAA Tournament against Wisconsin. Senior outside hitter Jennifer Kessy needs 31 digs to move into the USC top five career dig leaders. Senior middle blocker Jasmina Marinkovic needs five blocks to take a top three spot in USC's career total blocks.
COACH LISA LOVE - Her players have known her as one of the nation's best volleyball coaches for more than 16 years. Colleagues know her as one of the top athletic administrators in the country. Equally determined and successful on both fronts, Lisa Love, the 1997 Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year, has perpetuated the tradition of USC women's volleyball while also handling the duties of her position as associate athletic director. She has been USC's women'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 182-88 (.674) record with the Women of Troy and an impressive 381-166 (.697) mark in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach. Love's teams have been nationally ranked in the final Top 20 in 10 of those years and have made nine NCAA regional appearances and 12 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) will be a major player in the Women of Troy's 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 USC's first player to earn back-to-back All-American first team honors since Tracy Clark and Kim Ruddins did it in 1984-85. Marinkovic started the 1998 season with 22 kills, three solo blocks and eight block assists in two matches at the NACWAA tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., earning All-Tournament honors. She needs five blocks to move into the top three on USC's total block career chart. She has been named Pac-10 Player of the Week three times. Marinkovic also earned 1997 KAEPA/AVCA All-District VIII first team honors for the second consecutive year and All-Pac-10 first teams for the third consecutive year.
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. She opened the 1998 season at the NACWAA tournament with 45 kills and 25 digs, good enough for a spot on the All-Tournament team. She has 38 double-doubles in her career. Kessy needs 31 digs to take a top five spot on the USC career dig leaders chart. As a standout junior in 1997, Kessy was named to the KAEPA/AVCA All-District VIII and All-Pac-10 first teams.
JANICE MOUNTS - Janice Mounts, a 1998 senior All-American candidate, enters her third year as USC's 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. Mounts' 2,879 assists place her third on the USC career assist list, 812 short of Christine Brigman's record of 3,691. Her assist per game average (12.36) is second-best all-time, behind Brigman's career mark (12.60). Mounts started off the 1998 season earning All-Tournament honors at the NACWAA Tournament, collecting 111 assists, eight kills, 10 digs and six blocks. As a 1997 junior, Mounts earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention for the second consecutive season.
ALAINA KIPPS - Alaina Kipps, who put together a fabulous junior season, looks to continue her impressive play at middle blocker as a 1998 senior and Women of Troy co-captain. Kipps played in both matches of the NACWAA Tournament to start out the 1998 season and finished with 12 kills and 11 blocks. Kipps earned 1997 GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America second team honors and District Vlll and Pac-10 All-Academic first team honors.
ANTOINETTE POLK - A 1998 sophomore, outside hitter Antoinette Polk is looking to build 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). Starting as a redshirt freshman in 1997, Polk was named 1997 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (USC's second such honor. The first was Jasmina Marinkovic in 1995). Polk finished third on the team in kills (244) and digs (241).
SARA STEPHEN - One of the quickest members of the Women of Troy and perhaps its hardest hitter, 1998 senior Sara Stephen is a multi-dimensional player who will vie for time at outside hitter. A quick player with great leaping abilities, her versatility gives Coach Lisa Love many options. She played in four games at the NACWAA Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., collecting 10 digs to start off the 1998 season. In 1997, Stephen finished tied for third on the team with 19 aces and fourth in digs with 163.
KASHI CORMIER - Sophomore outside hitter Kashi Cormier started much of the 1997 season and was named a 1997 Pac-10 All-Freshman honorable mention selection. Cormier had a career-best 16 digs in her first match of the 1998 season against Wisconsin and had two double-doubles (11 kills, 16 digs vs. Wisconsin and 11 kills and 12 digs vs. Long Beach State) at the NACWAA Tournament. She finished the 1997 season with 127 kills, 114 digs and 50 blocks.
JANAE HENRY - Sophomore outside hitter Janae Henry has a solid all-around game. Henry had her first career start against Wisconsin at the NACWAA Tournament to start off the 1998 season. In the Long Beach State match, Henry tallied her first double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs. Henry was the 1996 Volleyball Magazine "Player of the Year." In 1997, she finished with 25 kills, 54 digs, four aces and seven blocks.
AMBER OLIVER - Sophomore middle blocker Amber Oliver is returning to play after redshirting last season while rehabilitating 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. At the NACWAA Tournament, Oliver played in one game.
HEIDI MUNNEKE - An instinctive setter with an exceptional touch, sophomore setter Heidi Munneke will compete for time behind starter Janice Mounts. She played in 14 matches (22 games) in 1997, coming in as a reserve setter and to serve in key situations. Munneke recorded 83 assists on the year with three aces and seven digs.
JENNIFER PAHL - One of two freshmen on the roster, middle blocker Jennifer Pahl will contribute depth and speed to the middle and challenge for playing time at the net. Pahl made her first appearance for USC against Long Beach State. 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.
WALK-ONS - The Women of Troy feature a talented cast of six walk-ons that provide Coach Love with key depth. Among the group are five sophomores and one freshman. Sophomore outside hitter Shannon Redfern started in both matches of the NACWAA Tournament. Redfern played in all eight games and collected 15 digs. She finished the 1997 season with 78 digs and 13 kills and her 19 aces tied her for third best on the team. Against Arizona, Redfern had a USC season-high seven aces, one short of tying USC's three-game match record. Cynthia Corpuz, sophomore defensive specialist, will add speed and quickness in the back row. Corpuz started out the 1998 season against Long Beach State at the NACWAA Tournament playing in four games and collecting five digs. Christine Bohle, a sophomore outside hitter, will serve the Women of Troy mainly as a back-row specialist and situational server as she did in the 1997 season. Bohle saw time in seven matches (12 games), finishing the season with 12 digs, two aces and one attack. 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 expected to be a solid contributor, adding depth to the blocking ranks. Freshman Emily Dalbeck will be a valuable back-up at outside hitter and as a defensive specialist. Dalbeck earned CIF Division 3-A first team honors in her senior year at La Canada (Calif.) High.
TOUGH SCHEDULE - As usual, USC faces one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Including possible tournament match-ups, the Women of Troy 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 could possibly see Houston in the Banker's Classic.
SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco will have a new look in 1998. New head coach David Noble has brought in seven newcomers to add to the six returning players. The team returns five starters from last season, including senior outside hitter Jamie Schopflin, who has led the team in kills and digs for each of the past two seasons.
SAM HOUSTON STATE - Sam Houston State looks to return to top form after a rough 1997 season. The LadyKats return nine members of last year's team and add three new recruits. Head coach Brenda Gray enters the season with a career record of 387-174.
VOLLEYBALL HALL OF FAME - Assistant volleyball coach and former USC All-American Paula Weishoff will be 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 the Women of Troy to a 46-4 record and the AIAW national championship.
Preseason Rankings
1. Penn State (29)
2. Long Beach State (17)
3. USC (5)
4. Stanford
5. Nebraska (1)
6. Florida
7. Wisconsin
8. BYU
9. Texas (1)
10. UC Santa Barbara
11. Pacific
12. Colorado
13. Ohio State
14. Hawai'i
15. Arkansas
16. Notre Dame
17. Michigan State
18. UCLA
19. Texas A&M
20. Loyola Marymount
21. San Diego
22. Washington State
23. Washington
24. Florida State
25. Pepperdine
