University of Louisville
<B>ARIZONA<BR>(LABOR DAY INV.)</B>
Volleyball Upsets #6 Arizona 3-0
August 31, 2002 | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 31, 2002
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Tournament Most Valuable Player, Sonja Percan, had 18 kills and five service aces to lead the University of Louisville to a three-game upset sweep of No. 6-ranked Arizona at the Louisville Labor Day Invitational at Cardinal Arena.
The Cardinas, ranked No .29, put the Wildcats away 30-19, 30-27 and 30-28 to improve its season record to 3-0. Arizona falls to 2-1.
"Team, team, team effort, that is what it was. I can't even begin to individually mention every person and what they did in the effort that made this win possible," said Leonid Yelin.
Louisville hit a blistered .433 in he first game wit h17 kills on 30 attacks and only four errors.
"A win in the first game against a gifted opponent can sometimes be attributed to adrenalin," said Yelin. "So I was cautiously optimistic at best."
Arizona showed why it is was a Final Four team in 2001 when it hit .321 in the second game with 15 kills on 28 attacks and six errors, and kept the Cardinals at bay. It took a .375 hitting effort by U of L to turn the tides before the intermission.
"Everyone helped. The upperclassmen were leading the way and the underclassmen followed in their footsteps.
Junior Anastasia Zaitseva who is more known for her hitting, led the team in blocks with five. Sophomore Bing Sun added 10 kills and seven digs. Senior Stacey Mercer, known for her blocking, hit .700 with seven kills on just 10 attacks.
Arizona had three players in double digit kills with Shannon Torregrosa and Kim Glass each recording 14 and Lisa Rutledge adding in 11.
"It was almost as if we had seven players on the court because our fans were such a part of this win," said Leonid Yelin.
Texas-Arlington's Amber Pack, American's Karla Kucerkova, Arizona's Lisa Rutledge and Laura Gardner joined Louisville's Benny Flynn, Jennifer Craven were named to the All-Tournament team with Sonja Percan earning MVP honors.
