Berg sets torrid pace in volleyball

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lindsey Berg is the only player from Hawai'i in the brand new United States Professional Volleyball league and "she is tearing up the league," USPV spokesman Mike Miazga says.

Berg, the second-shortest (5 feet 8) and youngest (21) setter in the four-team league, leads the six-week-old USPV in assists and aces and has been chosen Player of the Week.

"She is phenomenal," Miazga said. "She has the fastest jump serve in the league, clocked at 57 mph on a radar gun."

In her Player of the Week performance Feb. 21, Berg had 56 assists and 10 digs for the Minnesota Chill in a 3-1 victory over the Grand Rapids Force. She has had five of the league's seven 50-plus assist matches, including a league record 59 Sunday against the Chicago Thunder.

"It's been one great surprise after another," Berg said. "It's so much fun playing with so many players who are so good. I'm just going along with it and enjoying it."

Berg leads the USPV in five statistical categories after 10 matches, including 18 aces, 42.4 assists per match and 12.9 assists per game.

"The hardest thing was going straight from college (she graduated from Minnesota in December) to here, but I couldn't pass up this opportunity," she said.

Berg was a three-time All-Big Ten and Midwest Region selection for Minnesota, where she was three-time captain and graduated in 3 1/2 years with a 3.5 grade-point average.

The 1998 Punahou School graduate was an Advertiser all-state volleyball selection three times and state co-Player of the Year in 1996.

USPV contracts do not permit players to reveal how much they are paid, Berg said, "but nobody has to have another job to make ends meet. You definitely can live fine on this salary."

League spokesman Miazga said players are paid between $22,000 and $28,000 for six-month contracts.

Berg plans to come home in May after the season ends and said, "I will encourage everyone I see to try out. It's been a great experience so far, getting to play a game that you love. I couldn't have made a better choice."

QUICK HITS: Minnesota leads the league with a 7-3 record in a 36-match season. ... The other teams in the league are the Grand Rapids Force, Chicago Thunder and the St. Louis Quest. ... USPV officials say its average attendance of 1,638 (2,625 is the most) in small gyms (4,000 is the largest) has been encouraging and the league will expand to 10 teams next season. The new franchises will be announced within 60 days. . . . Among setters trailing Lindsey Berg in league statistics are U.S. National Team member Kelly Campbell of St. Louis and four-time All-American Bonnie Bremner of Penn State. ... Berg has served at least one ace in her last six matches and nine of her 10. ... The league's web site is www.uspv.com. ... Berg finished third in assists and third in service aces in Big Ten history for Minnesota.