University of Louisville
vs. Butler<BR>(Indiana Tournament)
Volleyball Storms by Butler 3-1
September 20, 2002 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 20, 2002
BLOOMINGTON, IN -- Outside hitter Bing Sun had 21 kills and four blocks to lead the University of Louisville volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Butler at the Indiana Invitational.
Louisville raises its record to 8-2 with the 30-22, 30-15, 27-30, 30-26 win. Butler drops to 6-8.
"Our blocking was the difference," said Leonid Yelin, U of L head coach, whose team outblocked Butyler 16-6. "They made the best of a bad situation even though they had to be rattled. Can you imagine?"
In the first game, the Bulldogs were still feeling the effects of their harrowing trip from Indianapolis when a tornado forced them from the road and spun their van around and tore off the roof of a nearby barn and showered the vehicle with debris. The match start was delayed 30 minutes to help them regain their composure. However, the Cardinals jumped out to a 17-6 lead and the margin proved too much. Louisville hit .394 wtih Bing Sun connecting for five kills and an ace to lead the Cardinals. Lena Ustymenko had four kills on five attacks for a .800 percentage.
In the second game, the script was much the same with Lousiville taking a 17-7 lead and Butler was unable to close the gap. Louisville kept its hot hitting hand, recording a .319 percentage to Butler's .053. and outblocked the Bulldogs 7-1 in the second set.
In the third game, Butler regained its footing and stayed close, taking its first lead at 18-17 and building a three point lead on a Kali Carter kill to go up 28-25. A miss by Sun took Butler to game point at 29-25. The Cardinals were able to score three times before Carter struck again to post the winning point at 30-28.
"They showed the team they can be in that game and kept coming at us," said Yelin.
In the fourth game, Louisville built a 10-point lead after a six point run to go up 27-17. The Bulldogs battled back with a six point run of their own and pulled within four at 27-23. The Bulldogs held off match point four times but a miss ended their run.
Sun was joined by 15-year-old freshman Lena Ustymenko in double digit kills 2with 16 and three blocks. Junior Anastasia Zaitseva chipped in nine kills and a season-high nine blocks.
Butler was led by Kali Carter's 17 kills.
