The NCAA News - News and Features

January 6, 1997

Fresh(man) face

First-year star leads Stanford to I women's volleyball title

Two years ago, a freshman sensation took Stanford to the Division I Women's Volleyball Championship title. It was deja vu all over again for the Cardinal as newcomer Kerri Walsh led a Stanford sweep of Hawaii in the 1996 title match December 21 at Cleveland State.

Stanford (31-2), which won its third title in six years, featured freshman Kristin Folkl in its 1994 championship run. Folkl remains a focal point, but this year's spotlight shone squarely on Walsh, the Cardinal's standout outside hitter who logged 17 kills in 32 attempts in Stanford's 15-7, 15-3, 15-5 triumph over the Rainbows.

Walsh led a Cardinal charge that forced Hawaii into 12 first-game errors and a .102 hitting percentage for the entire match. Folkl added 16 kills for the night and was one of four Cardinal players to hit for more than .340.

Cecelia Goods was the lone Rainbow with double figures in kills with 11. Therese Crawford added nine and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) player-of-the-year Angelica Ljungquist was held to seven in 27 attempts.

The win was Stanford's second over the Rainbows this season. The Cardinal's four-game victory in early November in front of more than 10,000 fans at Hawaii knocked the Rainbows from atop the AVCA top-25 poll.

Walsh and Folkl also were vital in Stanford's 9-15, 15-7, 15-9, 15-8 semifinal victory over defending national champion Nebraska. Walsh's 19 kills in 34 attempts paved the way for the Cardinal's rally. Folkl added 15 kills and Debbie Lambert contributed 11. Nebraska, which finished 30-4, was led by Lisa Reitsma with 22 kills.

Hawaii (35-3) swept Florida -- which replaced the Rainbows as the top-ranked team after Hawaii's regular-season loss to Stanford -- by scores of 15-11, 15-8, 15-9 in the semifinals. Crawford and Ljungquist logged 15 kills apiece as the Rainbows gained the distinction of handing the 37-2 Gators their first (opening day) and last losses of the campaign.

"Because we had played them before, we were able to focus on their style of play," Hawaii's Joselyn Robins said. "Our coaches did a great job of preparing us."

The all-tournament team included Walsh (named the tournament's most outstanding player), Folkl and Stanford setter Lisa Sharpley; Ljungquist and Robyn Ah Mow of Hawaii; and Nebraska's Reitsma.

The announced two-day attendance for the championship finals was 15,218, including 8,009 for the title match. Next year's finals will be held at Washington State.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Hawaii -- 7 -- 3 -- 5

Stanford -- 15 -- 15 -- 15

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Hawaii -- K -- E -- TA -- Pct. -- SA -- DG -- BS

Therese Crawford -- 9 -- 8 -- 29 -- .034 -- 0 -- 6 -- 1

Cecelia Goods -- 11 -- 3 -- 21 -- .381 -- 0 -- 0 -- 2

Kelli Cordray -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- .000 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0

Nalani Yamashita -- 0 -- 0 -- 1 -- .000 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0

Chastity Nobriga -- 4 -- 1 -- 11 -- .273 -- 0 -- 1 -- 0

Angelica Ljungquist -- 7 -- 4 -- 27 -- .111 -- 0 -- 7 -- 0

Aven Lee -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- .000 -- 0 -- 1 -- 0

Robyn Ah Mow -- 1 -- 3 -- 7 -- .000 -- 1 -- 4 -- 0

Joselyn Robins -- 7 -- 7 -- 31 -- .000 -- 1 -- 8 -- 0

Heidi Ilustre -- 0 -- 0 -- 1 -- .000 -- 0 -- 4 -- 0

Totals -- 39 -- 26 -- 128 -- .102 -- 2 -- 39 -- 3

Stanford -- K -- E -- TA -- Pct. -- SA -- DG -- BS

Lisa Sharpley -- 2 -- 1 -- 7 -- .143 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0

Barbara Ifejika -- 6 -- 1 -- 13 -- .385 -- 1 -- 4 -- 0

Eileen Murfee -- 4 -- 3 -- 11 -- .091 -- 0 -- 4 -- 0

Kerri Walsh -- 17 -- 3 -- 32 -- .438 -- 2 -- 8 -- 1

Debbie Lambert -- 10 -- 2 -- 23 -- .348 -- 0 -- 4 -- 0

Jaimi Gregory -- 0 -- 0 -- 2 -- .000 -- 0 -- 8 -- 0

Sarah Neal -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- .000 -- 0 -- 3 -- 0

Kristin Folkl -- 16 -- 3 -- 32 -- .406 -- 0 -- 9 -- 2

Totals -- 55 -- 13 -- 120 -- .350 -- 3 -- 48 -- 3