Volleyball Swept By No. 6 Pacific
July 25, 2000 | Women's Volleyball
September 3, 1999
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Tracy Chambers had 12 kills and seven blocks to lead No. 6 Pacific to a three-game sweep over Louisville in the opening round of the Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational.
No. 26 Louisville lost its opener to post a 0-1 record. Pacific remains undefeated at 3-0 with the 15-8, 15-6, 15-1 win.
"Pacific played like a Final Four contender, which they have a legitimate shot at this year," said U of L coach Leonid Yelin. "That is a tough opponent to open against, they are too good."
In the first game, Louisville stayed close to the Tigers, tying it at three, powered by a pair of service aces by Lesley Drury. Pacific reeled off four straight points, two of which were kills by Elsa Stegemann, to go up 7-3. Despite four new starters in the lineup, the Cardinals took advantage of a pair of Pacific hitting errors and a solo block by Sherry Hurley to tie at seven. However, Pacific, a team which has already beaten No. 3 Nebraska and No. 8 Florida, was able to outscore the Cardinals 8-1 down the stretch.
Louisville committed seven service errors and hit just .105 in the opening stretch. Freshman Stacey Mercer hit a perfect four for four to lead the Cardinals.
The Cardinals spotted Pacific a 7-1 lead in the second game, a deficit they could not overcome. U of L was closest at 10-5 but managed just one more point. In that set, Louisville hitting improved marginally to .195 led by Kelly McClain's five kills. The Tigers hit .342 with four kills by Tracy Chambers.
"I thought we played well in the first two games, especially considering all the new starters and three freshmen in the game most of the time," said Yelin.
Game three saw Pacific overcome the Cardinals, allowing them just one point to win 15-1.
The Cardinals were led by freshman Sonja Percan's 11 kills. U of L hit .095 for the match to the Tigers' .316. Pacific's Bronson had nine kills and two aces.
