Posted on: Friday, December 19, 2003
USC rolls over Minnesota
| • | It's aloha ball as UH falls to Florida in four games |
Associated Press
DALLAS — Keao Burdine had 13 kills and 10 digs as defending champion Southern Cal defeated Minnesota, 30-27, 30-28, 30-20, yesterday to advance to the finals of the NCAA women's volleyball championships.
Southern Cal (34-0) struggled to win the first two games of the match and had to score the final three points of the second game after Minnesota led most of the way. Burdine scored the game's final point on a spike from the left side. It was one of her six kills in the game.
Southern California will face Florida in tomorrow's championship match. Florida beat Hawai'i, 30-28, 30-28, 23-30, 30-28.
The Women of Troy won the first game despite blowing an early eight-point lead. USC had opened up a 19-11 lead, but the Gophers went on a 12-3 run, scoring seven straight points off the serve of setter Lindsey Taatjes to take a 23-22 lead. USC rallied to score eight of the game's final 13 points and won 30-28 on a kill by April Ross.
The Gophers took a quick 5-0 lead to start game three, but USC went on an 18-4 run to take control of the game and finish off Minnesota.
Ross and Bibiana Candelas each had 11 kills for the Women of Troy. Ross added seven digs and Toni Anderson led USC with 38 assists.
Cassie Busse led all players in the match with 23 kills for Minnesota (26-11) while also registering 12 digs, Erin Martin also added 11 kills for the Gophers.
