Lena Ustymenko

Class:
Junior
High School:
Kiev Secondary School No. 187
Hometown:
Kiev, Ukraine

2004 -- Lena was named AVCA All-Midwest Region, C-USA Tournament MVP and All-C-USA First Team. She spent the summer with the Ukraine National Team and was slated to play in the World Championship Qualifier in Ankara, Turkey in August. She led the Cardinals in kills with 442 and attacks with 1082. She hit .287 and had a team high 48 service aces. She was second on the team in digs with 256 and had 57 total blocks. She had double digit kills in 26 matches with a season high 28 against Tennessee. She had four aces versus South Florida and 13 digs against Houston. Ustymenko picked a good time to get her season-high/career high in service aces with six against Illinois in the first round of the NCAAs. She had 18 kills on 40 swings to hit .350 against Missouri to vault U of L into the Sweet Sixteen. She was a two-time Conference USA Player of the Week and All-Raider Classic team selection. Just 18 and a senior, she is actually younger than the incoming U of L freshman class.

2003 -- Named AVCA All-Midwest Region, C-USA Tournament MVP and All-C-USA First Team. Had 38 kills in three matches at C-USA Tournament. One of U of L's most formidable offensive weapons. She had team-high 16 kills against Notre Dame. She earned Player of the Week honors twice and has 25 matches in double digit kills. Led the team in attacks with 1039. She had a season high of 26 versus Michigan and has had 20 or more in five matches. Notched eight double/doubles. Hit .542 (15-2-24) versus Wake Forest. Had six total blocks against Tulane and Memphis. Began U of L as a 15-year-old frosh. Member of the Ukraine Under-20 National Team.

2002 -- When Sonja Percan was injured early in the season, then-15-year-old freshman Lena Ustymenko stepped in for her and gained invaluable experience at outside hitter. She earned C-USA All- Freshman Team honors. During the regular season, she won All-Indiana Tournament honors.She had four double/double games and had a season high 19 kills against Cincinnati and four aces against Colorado State. She played all summer for the U-20 Ukrainian National Team. She missed matches in the middle of the season after breaking her wrist. She had 316 kills and 30 aces for the Cardinals.

High School -- A gifted student, Lena finished high school at the age of 15. She was a member of the Ukraine Junior National team. Playing for a U-18 team at the age of 15, her team, the Ukraine Youth Sports Club advanced from pool play and qualified for the European World Championship. She was a member of the All-Tournament team in the Moscow Invitational in 2000 and Moscow Invitational MVP in 2000. In 2002, she played in the World Cup. She has played outside hitter, middle blocker and setter. Her club was the Ukrainian National Champions in 1998 and 2002.

Personal --She is the daughter of Gregorie and Natalia Ustymenko. Born Oct. 11, 1986. Major is finance.

Honors2004 Preseason All-League2004 All-C-USA 1st Team2004 C-USA Tournament MVP2004 AVCA All-Midwest Region2004 Member of Ukrainian National Team2004 C-USA Player of the Week2003 All-C-USA 1st Team2003 C-USA Player of the Week (2)2003 C-USA All-Tournament2003 C-USA Tournament MVP2003 All-Midwest Region2002 All-Freshman Team2002 All-Indiana Tournament2002 Member U-20 Ukrainian National TeamFavoritesHobbies: Reading, TV, video gamesMovie: Remember the Titans, Identity, Love & BasketballFood: ChineseClass: MathMusical Group: DMX, Juvenile, R. KellyVolleyball Player: Natalia Ustymenko , Evgenia Artamonova  of the Russian National TeamTV Shows: Real World, Making the BandHer advice to youngsters: Hard work is the key to success