USPV Championship Result; Match 1
Mike Miazga, Director of Media Relations USPV
Contact: Mike Miazga, Director Media Relations, USPV, (847) 344-6554
(cell)
Thunder Opens Finals With 3-1 Win
Wins Three Straight Games To Take Opener
ROCHESTER, MINN., April 28, 2002_ The Chicago Thunder defeated the
Minnesota Chill 3-1 Sunday at the Mayo Civic Center Auditorium to take
a 1-0 lead in the best-of-5 U.S. Pro Volleyball (USPV) Championship.
Chicago is the only team to defeat Minnesota on its home surface this
season. The Thunder is 3-1 at Rochester, while the rest of the USPV is
0-8.
“We prepare really well here,” said Thunder middle blocker
and Barrington Hills native Kelly Kennedy, who fueled a balanced
Chicago attack with 8.5 points and 3.5 blocks.
“We enjoy playing here. We always know that Minnesota will come
out and give us a great match. We just had to keep playing our game.
We came out strong after that first game. We wanted to give them our
best game.”
After a rough 25-14 first game, Chicago roared back to win the
remaining three games 25-22, 25-23 and 25-18.
USPV scoring champion Kristee Porter led Chicago, a winner in four of
its last five matches, with 11.5 points, 12 digs, 8 kills and 3.5
blocks. Porter was held to a season-tying low for points (11.5).
Makare Wilson added 10.5 points (8 kills), while Downers Grove South
native Terri Zemaitis-Boumans had 10 points and 5 blocks.
Match 2 in the series is Tuesday at Rochester. The series shifts to
Chicago on Thursday for Match 3 at Saint Xavier University’s
Shannon Center (7 p.m.)
USPV Championship
Best-of-5
Sunday’s result
Chicago d. Minnesota 3-1 (Chicago leads series 1-0)
Tuesday’s match
Chicago at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Thursday’s match
Minnesota at Chicago, 7 p.m. (Saint Xavier University)
Sunday, May 5 match
Minnesota at Chicago, 3 p.m. (Saint Xavier University, if necessary)
Wednesday, May 8 match
Chicago at Minnesota, 7 p.m. (if necessary)