Volleyball Beats Host Michigan 3-1

Sunday, September 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

at Michigan<BR>(UM/Pepsi Challenge)

Lena Ustymenko had a match-high 26 kills for the Cardinals over Michigan.

September 07, 2003 | Women's Volleyball

Sept. 7, 2003

Box Score

ANN ARBOR -- Sophomore Lena Ustymenko had 26 kills and all-tournament honors as she led the University of Louisville to a 3-1 win over host Michigan at the Michigan Pepsi Challenge.

The Cardinals evened their record to 3-3 with the 30-24, 27-30, 30-27, 30-22 win. Michigan, who despite the loss to the Cardinals won the Challenge after the tiebreaker, evens its record to 3-3 as well.

"We were able to attack them from more than place," said U of L head coach Leonid Yelin. "When they tried to key on one particular player, someone else would step up."

U of L had two other players join Ustymenko in double figures with Bing Sun adding 15 and freshman Ana Yartseva pitching in 10 kills.

In the first game, U of L hit .435 and led for all but the first point. The Cardinals hasd sped out to an 7-2 lead and never looked back. After tying at 18, the Cardinals had a 6-2 run and that was sufficient margin to pull away from a Michigan team that had not lost a single game in the tournament. The Cardinals went on a 5-2 run to finish off the Wolverines 30-24.

In the second game, both teams adjusted to the other but the Cardinals fell short in a game that had 17 ties and nine lead changes. After tying at 18, Michigan made a little three point run that was enough cushion to edge the Cardinals 30-27.

In the third set Michigan overcame a seven point deficit after trailing 19-12, they battled back to tie at 25. Lena Ustymenko had two of her nine kills in the game to put the Wolverines back 30-27. Uof L's improved .217 hitting percentage helped overcome a blocking deficit of two.

The Cardinals staved off an 8-1 run by the Wolverines in the final game. U of L used a 6-2 run of their own to seal the 30-22 win.

U of L hosts the SEC Challenge next Friday and Saturday at the home opener in Cardinal Arena which will feature Alabama and Georgia.

2003 Michigan/Pepsi Challenge All-Tournament TeamMelissa Munsch (Texas A&M)Lena Ustymenko (Louisville)Nikki Wong (Murray State)Laura Jones (Texas A&M)Lisa Gamalski (Michigan)Jennifer Gandolph (Michigan)MVP: Erin Moore (Michigan)