Dec. 19, 2002
New Orleans, LA - The third-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team (32-4) will defend its national title after ousting Hawaii 3-0 (30-25, 30-27, 30-24) in Thursday night's first semifinal of the 2002 Division I Volleyball Championship in New Orleans, La in the New Orleans Arena.
The loss was just the second of the season for Hawaii. The other also came against Stanford -- 3-0 on Nov. 10.
Ogonna Nnamani led the Cardinal with 15 kills, while Logan Tom tallied 21 digs.
Stanford took game one, taking an 3-0 lead. Hawaii battled back and twice led by a point early, but the Cardinal took control and led by as many as six at 25-19. The Rainbow Wahine staged a major rally, winning six of the next seven points to close within one at 26-25. Stanford closed out the game on a 4-0 run for a 30-25 win.
Sara McGee, Tom and Nnamani paced the Cardinal with four kills apiece.
After trailing by as many as five points during game two, the Cardinal rallied for a 30-27 win. Nnamani closed out the game with a kill, her team-leading sixth.
The Cardinal took control of a tight game three late, going ahead 28-23 and winning 30-24.
For the match, Stanford was led by sophomore Ogonna Nnamani's 15 kills and five blocks. Senior Logan Tom added 13 kills, two service aces and a match-high 21 digs. Junior middle blocker Sara McGee chipped in 10 kills and five blocks while libero Courtney Schultz had 12 digs.
Hawaii was led by Kim Willoughby's match-high 22 kills and Melissa Villaroman's 17 digs.
Stanford will play the winner of the USC-Florida match played later this evening.