Cards Advance To C-USA Volleyball Semifinals
July 25, 2000 | Women's Volleyball
November 19, 1999
TAMPA, Fla. - Kelly McClain's 16 kills, 21 digs and two service aces pushed second-seeded Louisville past Tulane, 3-0 Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Championship. Winners of 14 of their last 16 matches, the Cardinals (17-10) will face third-seeded Houston in Saturday's 1 p.m. semifinal. This is the third time in four years that the Cougars and Louisville have squared off in the semifinals of the Conference USA Championship. Tulane, which qualified for the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over UNC Charlotte on Thursday, closes its season at 13-17.
The Green Wave struggled offensively in the opening game, as its .087 hitting percentage (20-14-69) led to a 16-14 Cardinal win. Louisville then held off Tulane in the second and third games, 15-13 and 15-11. Second Team All-Conference USA selection Kim Sentmore led the way for Tulane with 23 kills, 18 digs and two blocks.
"Kim is unbelievable. When she's on, she's on," first-year head coach Betsy Ferrer said. "We try to get her the ball as much as possible, because even the best teams haven't been to stop her. For example, she had 23 kills against Stanford (on Sept. 6)."
Although he was pleased with the win, Louisville coach Leonid Yelin knows his team will need a much better performance against Houston on Saturday.
"This was definitely not our best match of the year," he said. "But it's done, and now it is time to focus on Houston."
Other statistical leaders included the Green Wave's Lindsay Bennett (13 kills and 12 digs) and Louisville's Sonja Percan (14 kills and 13 digs).
