South Florida captured the 2002 Healthy Choice C-USA Volleyball Tournament title after defeating Louisville, 3-0 (30-27, 30-24, 30-20) at the DePaul Athletic center. It marked the Bulls third tournament title in school history, after also claiming the 1995 and 1996 crowns.


“It was just a phenomenal match,” said USF head coach Nancy Mueller. “Our goal was to out-block and out-dig them and that is what we did well. Ale (Domingos) set an unbelievable match and Michelle (Collier) stepped up when we needed her. This was a team victory, because every player contributed.”

The Bulls were looking to avenge their regular season loss to Louisville (Nov. 16) and came out strong in the first two games. Both teams rallied back and forth, with South Florida’s only biggest lead at 17-12. The Cards evened the score and then took the lead at 23-22.

South Florida regained the lead at the 27th point to take the game, 30-27. The second game was the same story with both teams staying within one point of each other. South Florida claimed the 2-0 lead, winning game two, 30-24. South Florida went on to capture the final third game with a score of 30-20.

South Florida’s Ale Domingos notched 42 assists and eight digs to earn All-Tournament MVP honors. Michelle Collier led the Bulls with a match-high 24 kills and 13 digs. She also earned all-tournament honors, as well as teammate Shameka Mitchell, who fired off 14 kills for a .333 hitting percentage.

Louisville’s Lena Ustymenko posted 10 kills for a .304 attack percentage, while Bing Sun and Anastasia Zaitseva nabbed eight kills a piece. Sarah Drury also added 11 digs. Stacey Mercer, who led the tournament with 2.17 blocks per game, and Sun were named to the Alll-Tournament team.

The Bulls improve to 29-6 for the year and are only one win away from notching their second 30-plus win season in school history. (USF posted a 34-14 record in 1986).

Louisville falls to 25-5 on the season. Both teams will be awaiting NCAA Tournament selections, which will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. (CST). NCAA first round matches will begin Thursday, Dec. 5.


2002 Healthy Choice C-USA Volleyball Tournament - Match #11
Finals
Monday, November 25
DePaul Athletic Center, Chicago, Ill.

(2) South Florida 30 30 30
(1) Louisville 27 24 20

All- Tournament Team
Stacey Mercer, Louisville
Shameka Mitchell, South Florida
Michelle Collier, South Florida
Bing Sun, Louisville
Bonita Wise, Cincinnati

MVP – Ale Domingos, South Florida