Contact: Mike Miazga, Director Media Relations, USPV, (630) 575-8827
(office)
USPV First Round Playoff Pairings Set
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., April 8, 2002_ The first round pairings for
the 2002 United States Professional Volleyball (USPV) Playoffs have
been finalized.
The Minnesota Chill, which clinched the regular season title and home
court advantage throughout the playoffs with a win on Sunday, will
open against the
Grand Rapids Force (No. 4 seed) on Thursday, April 18 at the Mayo
Civic Center Auditorium in Rochester, Minn.
In the other first-round pairing, the Chicago Thunder will square off
against
the St. Louis Quest. Both first round series are best-of-3.
While the Minnesota-Grand Rapids schedule is set, home court advantage
in the Chicago-St. Louis series is still in question.
If Chicago defeats St. Louis 3-0 or 3-1 on Friday in Chicago at Saint
Xavier University, Chicago will be the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and
have home court advantage in the series. Chicago is 4-0 against St.
Louis this season. Besides Friday’s matchup, the two teams will
meet Tuesday, April 16 in St. Louis. Regardless of seeding, the
Chicago-St. Louis series will begin on Friday, April 19.
2002 USPV Playoffs
Series A (best-of-3)
Grand Rapids (4) vs. Minnesota (1)
Thursday, April 18: Grand Rapids at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 21: Minnesota at Grand Rapids, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, April 24: Grand Rapids at Minnesota, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Series B (best-of-3)
St. Louis vs. Chicago
Friday, April 19: at higher seed, 7 p.m.
Date TBA: at lower seed, TBA
Wednesday, April 24: at higher seed, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Series A and B winners advance to 2002 USPV Championship (best-of-5)
beginning April 28 at the highest remaining seed.