Southern California repeated as national champions at the Division I Women's Volleyball Championship December 20 with a 3-1 victory over Florida at Reunion Arena in Dallas. Southern California won, 25-30, 30-27, 30-19, 30-26.

The Women of Troy became the first repeat champion to go undefeated and extended their NCAA-record 47-match winning streak. Southern California finished its season 35-0 and won the school's third overall title.

It becomes the first team to repeat as champion since Stanford won back-to-back titles in 1996 and 1997. It's the 16th Division I women's volleyball title for a member institution from the state of California. Only seven NCAA titles have gone to teams from outside the state.

"This is one of the most special times of my life," Southern California coach Mick Haley said. "To watch a group of individuals put it on paper in January, sit down and go through all the trials and tribulations and all the things that happen to you once you've won one and try to defend it. The bigger lesson was learned because they stuck together and gave to each other."

Keao Burdine led the team with 23 kills and 17 digs and won her second consecutive tournament most-outstanding-player award. April Ross and Bibiana Candelas each had 14 kills and Emily Adams added 10 kills and five blocks, while Toni Anderson dished out 56 assists.

"The only thing I told them was they would appreciate this 100,000 times more 10 years from now," Haley said he told his players about their repeat championship. "I told them to go out and use the lessons learned with their family, with their jobs and with their friends. I think that's real valuable."

The Gators finished their season at 37-2 and had their 36-match winning streak snapped. The Gators only losses of the season were to Southern California in the opening match of the season on August 23 and the final match of the season in the championships.

Florida head coach Mary Wise is the first female coach to lead her squad to the Division I championship match. The Gators reached the championships for the first time after finishing third on six previous occasions.

"Congratulations to USC. They're one terrific team and well coached with a ton of talent," Wise said after the Gators' loss. "I thought our effort was great, our size wasn't. There wasn't much we could do about that, but I'd like to think that we made for a high-level volleyball match. Our team showed a whole lot of fight out there in battling a great team."

Aury Cruz led Florida with 18 kills and 18 digs. Jane Collymore had 15 kills and Jacque Robinson added 14. Sherri Williams charted 10 kills and nine blocks, while Michelle Chatman added six kills for the Gators.

"I'm going to especially remember this year," said Cruz. "I think it was one of our best seasons that we ever had. Getting to the final is one of the greatest things you could ever feel and will always remember for your last year."

To get to the championship, Southern California defeated Minnesota, 30-27, 30-28, 30-20, and Florida defeated Hawaii, 30-28, 30-28, 23-30, 30-28.

Named to the all-tournament team were Cassie Busse of Minnesota, Collymore and Cruz of Florida, and Burdine, Candelas and Ross of Southern California. P CLASS=Subhed-75ptUnivbld> Semifinals

Southern California def. Minnesota, 30-27, 30-28, 30-20; Florida def. Hawaii, 30-28, 30-28, 23-30, 30-28.

Championship