Dec. 21, 2002

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NEW ORLEANS -- It's taken just two years for famed volleyball coach Mick Haley to lead USC to a national championship.

Katie Olsovsky had 16 kills as top-seeded USC defeated Stanford 3-1 Saturday in the third meeting between the schools this season. It is USC's second title since winning the inaugural NCAA championship in 1981.

Haley, who won two national titles at Texas in 17 seasons and coached the 2000 U.S. volleyball team at the Sydney Olympics, has helped turn around the USC program when he officially took over in 2001. With the title, he also became just the second coach (Stanford's John Dunning was the first) in NCAA history to win a championship at two universities.

University of Southern California coach Mick Haley is all smiles as he heads for the championship trophy after defeating Stanford, 3-1.

"What a wonderful effort by this whole team," Haley said. "This is truly a team."

Olsovsky led a balanced attack as Keao Burdine and April Ross each had 15 kills and Emily Adams had 12 for USC, which won 30-27, 23-30, 30-24, 30-26. Burdine also had a match-high 15 digs. She was named MVP after the game.

"Everybody contributed and we played so well," Olsovsky said.

Oganna Nnamani led defending champion Stanford (33-5) with 19 kills. Logan Tom had 16 and Sara McGee added 11.

"They're a great team with great defenders," Tom said. "I was up and down. Sometimes I made plays, but there were some stretches when I didn't."

The teams met twice during the Pac-10 season, with each winning a five-game match on the other's court. It was the fifth all Pac-10 final since 1992.

USC (31-1) took control of the match midway through the third game on an 8-2 run to take an 18-9 lead. The Cardinal closed the gap to 24-21, but USC won three straight points to keep control. After a Stanford point, USC scored the last two.

In the fourth game, USC scored the first four points and took a 9-3 lead.

Stanford got to 23-22, but USC scored three straight points. After two kills by Logan, USC scored four of the final six points, ending it on Olsovsky's kill.

USC won the first game with Ross and Burdine each getting 6 kills.

Stanford evened the match at 1-1 in the second game with Nnamani's 9 kills.

"They are very difficult to defend," Stanford coach John Dunning said. "They have so much depth, and their system really works for the talent they have."

NCAA Championship MVP
Keao Burdine, USC

NCAA All-Tournament Team
April Ross, USC
Katie Olsovsky, USC
Logan Tom, Stanford
Ogonna Nnamani, Stanford
Kim Willoughby, Hawai'i