UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS • HER 103 • , CALIFORNIA 90089-0601 TELEPHONE: (213) 740-8480 FAX: (213) 740-7584 SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE FOR RELEASE March 6, 2013 TIM TESSALONE, DIRECTOR NO. 3 USC WOMEN’S SAND VOLLEYBALL OPENS 2013 SEASON ON SUNDAY VERSUS NO. 4 FLORIDA STATE, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT IN NEW MERLE NORMAN STADIUM 2012 Olympic silver medalists Ross/Kessy to play exhibition when stadium is dedicated on Thursday

THE FACTS The No. 3-ranked USC women's sand volleyball team (0-0) will begin its second season of play when it open its 2013 season by hosting No. 4 Florida State (0-0) and Loyola Marymount (0-0) this Sunday (March 10) in the first-ever collegiate matches in the new on-campus Merle Norman Stadium. The day will consist of 3 dual matches between the teams, as Florida State (which finished third at the 2012 AVCA National Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships) first will take on Loyola Marymount from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., then USC will face Loyola Marymount from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (there will be a break between noon to 1 p.m.) and finally the Women of Troy will battle Florida State from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Each team dual match will consist of 5 matches between pairs, with each match being rally scoring best-of-3 sets. The Nos. 4 and 5 teams (and, if available, a No. 6 non-scoring team) will play in the first hour, followed by the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 teams in the second hour of each dual match.

MERLE NORMAN STADIUM DEDICATION 2012 London Olympic beach volleyball silver medalists April Ross and Jennifer Kessy will play the first-ever match in USC’s new Merle Norman Stadium, as dedication ceremonies will be held this Thursday (March 7) at 4:30 p.m. for the new on-campus home to the Women of Troy sand volleyball team. Following the dedication hosted by USC athletic director Pat Haden, Ross and Kessy—who were All- American indoor players at USC before forming one of the world’s finest women’s beach duos ever—will play an exhibition alumni match at 5 p.m. The dedication ceremony and alumni match are free and open to the public. To RSVP, go to usc.edu/ESVP and enter Sand.

ON THE INTERNET USC’s home matches will be videocast and audiocast on USCTrojans.com, with former Northeastern player/Winthrop assistant coach Paul Duchesne calling the action.

USC'S NEW MERLE NORMAN STADIUM Merle Norman Stadium is the new on-campus home to the USC women's sand volleyball team. Located on the east side of campus on Figueroa Street across from the , it features 3 courts with sand from the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The palm tree- encircled stadium also has bleachers and a grass berm for spectator seating, a scoreboard and audio system, lighting, restrooms, showers and a storage area.

2013 USC WOMEN’S SAND VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE (0-0)

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME/RESULT March 7 Alumni (exhibition) USC 5 p.m. March 10 Florida State, Loyola Marymount USC 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 14 Grand Canyon, Cal State Bakersfield USC 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 16 Long Beach State, Loyola Marymount, UCLA USC 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 17 Loyola Marymount, UCLA USC 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. March 19 vs. Pacific Moraga, Calif. 3 p.m. March 20 at St. Mary’s Moraga, Calif. 1 p.m. March 22 Nebraska, Hawaii USC 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 26 Pepperdine USC 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 28 at Long Beach State Long Beach, Calif. 1 p.m. April 6 at Pepperdine Malibu, Calif. 10 a.m. April 13 vs. Santa Clara (tentative) Santa Barbara, Calif. TBA April 20 U.S.A.V. Invitational Hermosa Beach, Calif. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 21 U.S.A.V. Invitational Hermosa Beach, Calif. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 27 USA National Beach Team (exhibition) USC 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 3 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships Gulf Shores, Ala. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 4 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships Gulf Shores, Ala. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 5 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships Gulf Shores, Ala. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Home matches (in bold) at USC’s Merle Norman Stadium All times local to match site Schedule subject to change 2013 USC Women’s Sand Volleyball — Page 2 SERIES USC posted a pair of 5-0 home victories over 2013 USC WOMEN’S SAND VOLLEYBALL ROSTER Loyola Marymount in 2012, including in its first-ever women's sand volleyball competi- NO. NAME HGT YR. HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/LAST SCHOOL) 1 Christine Irvin 5-6 Fr. Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Marymount) tion. The Women of Troy fell 4-1 at Florida 2 Erica Muller 5-9 Fr. Irvine, Calif. (Mater Dei) State in the teams' only dual match meeting 3 Bria Russ 5-9 So. Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly) last year. 4 Natasa Siljkovic 6-3 Sr. Uzize, Serbia (School of Economy) 5* Kirby Burnham 6-2 Jr. Newport Beach, Calif. (Newport Harbor) THE PLAYERS 10 Brooke Fournier 5-8 Jr. Redondo Beach, Calif. (South Torrance/Arkansas) In marked contrast to 2012, when only a 11 Eve Ettinger 6-2 So. Santa Barbara, Calif. (Santa Barbara) handful of players on USC's inaugural 12 Katie Fuller 6-2 Sr. Olivenhain, Calif. (La Costa Canyon) women’s sand volleyball team had any 13 Kati Duddridge 5-6 So. Santa Ana, Calif. (Foothill) 15 Alexa Stonish 5-7 So. Stony Brook, NY (Ward Melville/Stetson) appreciable experience with the sand 20* Sam Hirschmann 5-10 Jr. Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Marymount) game, the 2013 Women of Troy have only 2 21 Sydney Seau 5-8 Fr. Del Mar, Calif. (The Bishop’s School) players on its 14-woman roster who came 22 Erin Kaupp 5-10 Sr. San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente) over from the fall’s indoor squad. The 32 Stevi Robinson 5-6 Grad. Hermosa Beach, Calif. (Mira Costa/Pepperdine) majority of this USC sand team has been *Captains training outdoors since September and many of them have accomplished sand Coaches backgrounds. New faces will play a key role Anna Collier - Head Coach (2nd year) Andrew Fuller - Assistant Coach (1st year) on the 2013 Trojan squad. While 6 players Jeff Carlson - Volunteer Assistant Coach (1st year) return from 2012, only 3 of them played the Alice Chandler Hoffmann - Student Manager entire season. Among the newcomers are 3 first-year freshmen, 3 collegiate transfers (including a member of Pepperdine’s 2012 helped Pepperdine to the 2012 AVCA PRONUNCIATIONS national championship sand squad) and 2 Collegiate Sand Volleyball National former Women of Troy indoor players. The Championship after a stellar indoor career where she set the Waves’ career digs record Kirby Burnham (BURN-um) Women of Troy must replace some key Anna Collier (AWN-uh CALL-yur) and was twice the West Coast Conference’s ingredients from its debut squad. Missing Kati Duddridge (KAY-tee DUD-ridge) from 2012 are both players from USC’s No. Defensive Player of the Year. Among her Eve Ettinger (ET-ing-jer) 1 team, Geena Urango and Sara Shaw, other sand stops in 2012 were Brooke Fournier (for-NEER) which went 19-17 overall and made it to the appearances in NORCECA tournaments, Christine Irvin (ERV-in) AVCA pairs quarters. Also gone are half of as well as in the Manhattan Beach and Erin Kaupp (COWP) the Nos. 2 through 5 teams of last spring: Hermosa Beach Opens. Then there's Alexa Erica Muller (MULL-ur) Bria Russ (BREE-uh) Kelly Irvin (she joined with Kirby Burnham Stonish, a 5-7 sophomore who competed on the sand for Stetson last year, winning Sydney Seau (SAY-ow) at the No. 3 and then No. 2 spots to go 22- Natasa Siljkovic (nuh-TAW-shuh SHILL-koh-vitch) the Flight 2 title at the A-Sun Championship. 14 and also advance to the AVCA pairs Alexa Stonish (STOW-nish) quarterfinals), Natalie Hagglund (she She has played in various beach events on teamed with Katie Fuller at No. 2/3 and the East Coast. The third transfer is Brooke posted a 20-12 mark), Kendall Bateman Fournier, a 5-8 junior who was Arkansas’ starting libero in 2010 and is now making AVCA PRE-SEASON POLL (she was 13-8 with Sam Hirschmann and (March 4, 2013) 3-5 with Eve Ettinger at No. 4) and Megan her first foray onto the sand. Two ex-indoor Thornberry (18-13 with Katie Duddridge at Trojans will play on the sand for the first 1. Pepperdine No. 5). Emily Young, who was 0-2 playing time in 2013: 6-3 senior Natasa Siljkovic 2. LBSU with Erin Kaupp, also did not return. Among of Serbia, who was a backup middle blocker 3. USC USC’s 6 returnees, 6-2 junior Burnham is in her just-completed 3-year career, and 5- 4. Florida State one of the most “sand”-experienced players 9 soph Bria Russ, who was used mainly as 5. University of Hawai'i on the current roster. This past summer, a serving specialist in 2011. Joining the 6. UCLA 7. College of Charleston she competed in a pair of NORCECA events, Women of Troy as freshmen is a trio of promising players, including 1 with a strong 8. Florida International University an FIVB junior tourney and the Manhattan 9. Nebraska Beach Open. Fuller, a 6-2 senior, has sand background. Christine Irvin 10. Stanford completed her USC indoor career, where (Marymount High in Los Angeles, Calif.), at she was a 3-year starter who earned All- 5-6, helped her prep indoor team advance American third team acclaim in 2012. to last year’s state finals. She has competed Hirschmann, a 5-10 junior who missed the in many AAU beach tourneys locally. Her last half of 2012 with a broken hand (she sister, Kelly, played for USC on the sand in enters 2013 with an injury in her other 2012 after playing indoors at both USC and hand), and 6-2 sophomore Ettinger Virginia. Her brother plays at Stanford, her previously played on the Women of Troy father played at UCLA and she has uncles indoor team but now are concentrating on who played at USC and UCLA. The other 2 the sand game. Duddridge, a 5-6 frosh made their volleyball marks indoors: sophomore, gained valuable sand time 5-8 Sydney Seau (The Bishop’s School in last spring on USC’s lowest-ranked pairs La Jolla, Calif.), whose late father, Junior, team. Kaupp, a 5-10 senior, saw limited starred in football at USC and the NFL, and action in 2012. USC’s 3 transfers all have 5-9 Erica Muller (Mater Dei High in Santa impressive resumes. There is Stevi Ana, Calif.). Robinson, a 5-6 graduate student who 2013 USC Women’s Volleyball — Page 3 LAST YEAR INDOOR VOLLEYBALL SCHOOL USC went 7-4 in 2012 (including wins over USC has won 6 national crowns in Long Beach State and Hawaii) and sent 2 women’s volleyball. The Women of Troy teams to the pairs portion of the AVCA have made 33 NCAA tournament Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championship, appearances, advancing to the NCAA Final where both duos advanced to the Four 10 times (including 2 of the past 3 quarterfinals. The Women of Troy played seasons). USC’s first 4 national their 2012 home matches at the Annenberg championships in women’s volleyball Community Beach House in Santa Monica. came under coach Chuck Erbe, who dominated the sport during his 12-year USC ALUMS ON THE BEACH USC coaching tenure which began in USC women’s volleyball players have 1976. He coached the 1976, 1977 and shined on the pro beach world circuit, both 1980 AIAW champions and the 1981 NCAA internationally and domestically. titlists. His 1976 team registered the first Top Women of Troy beach stars have perfect season (38-0) in women’s included: volleyball history. Lisa Love succeeded —2012 London Olympic silver Erbe in 1989 and guided USC into the medalists April Ross and Jennifer Kessy NCAAs in 9 of her 10 seasons before (winners of 24 tournaments, including the retiring after the 1998 season. Jerritt Elliott 2009 FIVB World Championship) served as interim head coach in 1999 and —Tracy Lindquist (12-year pro) 2000, guiding the 2000 club to the NCAA —Geena Urango, Jessica Gysin and Final Four. Mick Haley, head coach of the Keao Burdine (young beach stars) 2000 U.S. women’s Olympic team and —Bibiana Candelas (Mexican star won winner of 2 national crowns in the 1980s first-ever Collegiate Nationals Beach while at Texas, took over at USC in 2001. Volleyball Championship in 2006) His 2002 and 2003 teams won the NCAA —Paula Weishoff (an indoor Olympian crown, with the 2003 club going 35-0. USC and Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee) got to the NCAA Final Four in 2004, 2007, —Patti Bright (an indoor Olympian and 2010 and 2011. Trojan women Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee) volleyballers have been named first team —Miki McFadden (an indoor Olympian) All-Americans 40 times. They have earned The USC men also have a strong spots on Olympic rosters 23 times beach tradition, including such pro tourney (including Honda Award winner Debbie winners as Tim Hovland, Adam Johnson, Green, Sue Woodstra, Paula Weishoff, Pat Powers, Steve Timmons, Steve Carolyn Becker, Kim Ruddins and Nicole Obradovich and Ron Lang. Davis). USC's men have won 4 NCAA crowns (1977-80-88-90) and have appeared in 3 of the past NCAA Final Fours.

QUICK FACTS Location Los Angeles, CA 90089 Founded 1880 Enrollment 38,000 (17,500 undergrad) Size 235 Acres President C.L. Max Nikias Colors Cardinal and Gold Nickname Trojans/Women of Troy THE BASICS Fight Song “” --USC is among 30 schools fielding a women’s sand volleyball team in 2013 as the Mascot VII sport begins its second season as an NCAA "emerging sport." Affiliation NCAA Division I --The sport has 10 years to get at least 40 schools to sponsor sand volleyball for Website USCTrojans.com two consecutive years and thereby become established as an NCAA “championship Athletic Director Pat Haden sport,” otherwise the NCAA will conduct a reclassification review of the sport. Campus Facility Merle Norman Stadium --NCAA sand volleyball competition is similar to collegiate tennis. Each team Head Coach Anna Collier (USC, 1977) Record At USC 7-4, Second Year competition is called a dual and will consist of five matches of pairs. The winning Assistant Coach Andrew Fuller team needs to win at least three of the five matches. The separate matches will be Vol. Asst. Coach Jeff Carlson best-of-three set competitions, with rally scoring to 21 points in the first two sets and Sand VB SID Tim Tessalone, Jeremy Wu to 15 in the third. Teams must win by at least two points. Many competitions also will SID Phone w 213-740-8480, feature a pairs championship through bracket play. TT c 213-725-3572 --Players switch sides of the court every seven points in a 21-point set and every JW c 213-379-3977 five points in a 15-point set. SID Email [email protected] --Coaches may communicate with players only during timeouts and between sets. [email protected] --Player must wear a two-piece uniform (i.e. shorts or briefs and a top), or a one- USC Indoor Volleyball Program: piece, not the traditional bikini worn in pro beach events. All-Time Record 911-307-4 (.747) since '76 --Scholarships are awarded on an equivalency basis, with the ceiling on the number Nat'l. Champs. 6 (1976-77-80-81-2002-03) of allowable scholarships growing in coming years. Players with indoor volleyball NCAA/AIAW Apps. 33 scholarships can participate in sand volleyball, but players receiving sand volleyball Conf. Champs. 7 aid cannot compete indoor.