(May 1, 2002)

Minnesota Downs Thunder
USPV Championship Series Even at 1-1

ROCHESTER, MINN., April 30, 2002_The Minnesota Chill defeated the Chicago Thunder 3-2 Tuesday in Match 2 of the best-of-5 U.S. Pro Volleyball (USPV) Championship Series at the Mayo Civic Center Auditorium.

Kristee Porter led Chicago with 20.5 points (16 kills, 3.5 blocks), while Downers Grove native Terri Zemaitis-Boumans added 16.5 points, including a league-record tying 7.5 blocks. Barrington Hills native Kelly Kennedy chipped in 10 points (8 kills).

“Minnesota is a tough team. This is a difficult place to play in,” said Zemaitis-Boumans. “Our goal was to come up here and win one match and we reached that. We are looking forward to coming back home and playing in front of our fans and playing well.”

Minnesota won the match 16-25, 28-26, 23-25, 25-16, 15-11. Minnesota tied the season series with Chicago at 4-4.

The series resumes with Match 3 on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Saint Xavier University’s Shannon Center in Chicago. Chicago is 5-1 this season in matches played at Saint Xavier, with that one loss coming to Minnesota.

USPV Championship (Best-of-5)

Tuesday’s result
Minnesota d. Chicago 3-2 (series tied 1-1)

Thursday’s match
Minnesota at Chicago, 7 p.m. (Saint Xavier University)

Sunday’s match
Minnesota at Chicago, 3 p.m. (if necessary, Saint Xavier University)

Wednesday, May 8 match
Minnesota at Chicago, 7 p.m. (if necessary)

[Source: Mike Miazga, Director Media Relations, USPV, (630) 575-8827]