Athletics News

    Sept. 2, 1997

    The Week in Review/Preview

    Sport              Record    Conf. Record    Nat'l Rank     Last Week
Football            0-0           0-0        23rd (AP)      none
Women's Soccer      1-1           0-0        --             def. Iowa State, 5-1
                                                            lost to Nebraska, 2-1
Women's Volleyball  3-0           0-0        10th (AVCA)    first at Goff/MSU Classic
Men's Water Polo    0-0           0-0        2nd (AWPCA)    none

    This Week

    Friday: Women's Soccer, at Pepperdine, 4 p.m.
           Women's Volleyball, vs. Villanova, North Gym, 7 p.m.

    Saturday: Men's Water Polo, vs. Alumni (exhib.), McDonald's Swim Stadium, 1:30 p.m.
             Football, vs. Florida State, L.A. Memorial Coliseum, 5 p.m. (ABC-TV)

    Sunday: Women's Volleyball, vs. Colorado, North Gym, 1 p.m.
            Women's Soccer, vs. UC Santa Barbara, L.A. Memorial Coliseum, 1 p.m.

    Women's Soccer

    USC got the 1997 season off to a good start, despite splitting two matches. On Sunday, the Women of Troy lost at No. 6 Nebraska, 2-1, but battled the talented Cornhuskers to a near-standoff. USC fell behind, 2-0, in the second half, but sophomore midfielder Kim Clark scored on a free kick to cut the lead in half in the 68th minute. Junior goalkeeper Karin Puccinelli was outstanding, making seven saves, including a block of a penalty shot in the 88th minute.

    "We gave them a battle," USC Coach Jim Millinder said. "This is what Division I soccer is all about. Our girls showed great heart and great fight. We could have had the win if we had just finished some opportunities."

    On Friday, USC opened the season with a 5-1 win at Iowa State. Clark led the way with two goals and an assist. Freshman forward Megan Orach, sophomore forward Kaylee Whitfield and junior midfielder Erica De Vitis scored the other goals.

    Women's Volleyball

    The Women of Troy upset No. 6 Michigan State, 15-5, 12-15, 15-4, 15-7, on Saturday night to win the Goff/MSU Classic in East Lansing, Mich. USC had earlier defeated Xavier, 15-4, 15-5, 15-7, and Duke, 15-8, 15-8, 15-11. Junior outside hitter Jennifer Kessy was named Tournament MVP and junior setter Janice Mounts and junior middle blocker Jasmina Marinkovic were named to the All-Tournament team.

    Kessy had a team-high 54 kills (hitting .361) and 32 digs over the three matches while Marinkovic had 41 kills (hitting .481). Mounts had 121 assists and junior middle blocker Alaina Kipps had a team-high 20 blocks.

    "I liked the way we played all tournament," USC Coach Lisa Love said. "We played steady throughout, regardless of the circumstances of the match. We worked through mistakes and played very fast volleyball. We're a young team and still gaining experience. We're headed in the right direction and beginning to see what our potential is."

    Athletes of the Week

    Kim Clark, Women's Soccer
    Clark, a sophomore midfielder, scored three goals and had one assist for seven points in USC's first two games of the season. She's nearly halfway to her 1996 season total of 15 points.

    Jennifer Kessy, Women's Volleyball
    Kessy, a junior outside hitter, was named Tournament MVP after leading the Women of Troy to the championship of the Goff/MSU Classic. She had 54 kills, 32 digs and 10 blocks in the three matches.