DePaul Claims C-USA Volleyball Championship
11/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 18, 2001
HOUSTON, Texas - It was only fitting that the championship match of the 2001 Healthy Choice Conference USA Volleyball Tournament would be the only contest to go five games. And in the end, DePaul would continue its ride with a 3-2 victory over No. 2 Louisville on Sunday at Hofheinz Pavilion.
The Blue Demons concluded their regular season with a 24-8 overall record and earned the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. During its four straight wins in the tournament, DePaul knocked off the No. 1 seed Cincinnati and No. 2 Cardinals on the way to the first C-USA volleyball championship in school history.
Katie Engel came off the bench to lead DePaul with 26 kills and added 17 digs. Stephanie Bishop, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, added 19 kills and a team-best 19 digs, while Tournament MVP Kara Jakusz dished out 74 assists with nine digs.
Lara Marks ripped 17 kills and Melissa Nordine chipped in with 10 kills. Melissa Murphy added 16 digs in the winning effort.
The Blue Demons jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, only to see Louisville, the 2000 C-USA Tournament champion, rally and take the next two games. Game five went back and forth before DePaul took a 15-12 win in the decisive game.
Anastasia Zaitseva was also named to the All-Tournament Team after blasting a match-best 28 kills. Sonja Percan came off the bench to tally 21 kills, while Lesley Drury added 12 digs and 16 assists.
Stacey Mercer set a new C-USA Tournament single-match record with 13 total blocks and registered 11 kills, while Jing Ding recorded 63 assists and a team-best 17 digs.
Jakusz and Bishop were joined on the All-Tournament Team by Cincinnati's Bonita Wise, Louisville's Anastasia Zaitsev and Mehgan Devine of Marquette.
SUNDAY RESULTS
(5) DePaul 3, (2) Louisville 2
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP Kara Jakusz, DePaul, Stephanie Bishop, DePaul, Anastasia Zaitseva, Louisville, Mehgan Devine, Marquette, Bonita Wise, Cincinnati