Trojans Use Balance to Make Round of 16

The USC women’s team, with 21 kills and 16 digs from Jennifer Kessy, and 54 assists from Janice Mounts, outlasted Texas A&M;, 15-8, 8-15, 15-5, 15-5, in a second-round NCAA East Region match Saturday night before 659 at the Lyon Center.

The Trojans (24-5) will travel to Florida for a semifinal match against the Gators.

“We had to be very intent and deliberate throughout the match to come out with the win,” USC Coach Lisa Love said. “We are very excited to go to the Sweet 16.”

It is the fifth consecutive year the Trojans have gone this far.

Against the Aggies (21-9), USC dominated from a defensive standpoint. Senior middle blocker Jasmina Marinkovic was one reason. She had 18 blocks to go with 17 kills.

*

UCLA had to go four sets in its first-round match, but didn’t have too much trouble disposing of Virginia, 15-7, 15-6, 14-16, 15-5, at UC Santa Barbara.

The Bruins (16-11) were powered by freshman outside hitter Kristee Porter, who had 30 kills. Virginia (26-8) could only muster a hitting percentage of .110 in its first NCAA tournament.

*

Jenny Maastricht had 23 kills to lead Wisconsin (29-4) to a 15-10, 15-10, 18-16 victory over San Diego in a second-round NCAA match before 2,583 at Madison, Wis.

Petia Yanchulova had 31 kills and Katie Lindquist 69 assists for San Diego (24-6).

*

The third-ranked Biola women lost to top-ranked Columbia of Missouri, 15-2, 15-5, 15-6, in the NAIA semifinals at Kankakee, Ill.

The Eagles (27-6) were dominated by the Cougars (44-0) in a match that lasted only 49 minutes.

Biola was led by seniors Debbee Fulton and Darcie Frazier, and junior Sara Roberts, who had four kills apiece.

*

Central College (37-2) earned its first NCAA Division III women’s national championship with a 15-10, 12-15, 15-6, 8-15, 15-13 victory over UC San Diego (26-5) at Huntington, Pa.