(May 23, 2002)

All-USPV Team Announced 
Minnesota Leads Way With Three Selections

OAKBROOK TERRACE IL (May 23, 2002)  The United States Professional Volleyball league (USPV) today announced its 2002 All-USPV team.  The team features seven athletes and was broken down by position (3 hitters, 2 middles, 1 setter and 1 libero).

Lindsey Berg (S), Nicole Branagh (OH) and Addie Mahnken (L), members of the 2002 USPV Champion Minnesota Chill, were anointed to the team, along with Chicago Thunder athletes Terri Zemaitis-Boumans (MB) and Kristee Porter (OH). St. Louis also garnered two selections with Sarah Butler (OH) and league MVP Benishe Roberts.

Here is a brief look at the 2002 All-USPV Team:

Lindsey Berg (Minnesota): Named both the 2002 USPV Outstanding Server and the 2002 USPV Outstanding Setter. Led the league in both aces (2.1 apm, 0.6 apg) and setting assists (743 assists, 11.4 apg). Had at least one ace in 23 of 25 matches this season.

Terri Zemaitis-Boumans (Chicago): MVP of Chicago's semifinal series sweep of St. Louis. Third in the league in blocks (3.1 bpm, 0.7 bpg) and ninth in the USPV in scoring (10.6 ppm, 2.6 ppg). Averaged 13.5 points (3.0 ppg) and 4.2 blocks (0.9 bpg) per match in the playoffs.

Nicole Branagh (Minnesota): Runner-up in the league MVP voting. Named the USPV Championship series MVP. Averaged 16.4 points (4.3 ppg) and 13.4 kills (3.7 kpg) per match during the regular season and 18.4 points (4.2 ppg) and 15.9 kills (3.6 kpg) per match in the playoffs. Ranked third in the regular season in aces (1.3 apm, 0.3 apg).

Sarah Butler (St. Louis): A mark of consistency all year for St. Louis. Fourth in the league in scoring (13.8 ppm, 3.5 ppg) and kills (11.9 kpm, 3.0 kpg). Also averaged 9.8 digs per match (2.5 dpg). Finished the season with 13 straight double-digit kill matches.

Addie Mahnken (Minnesota): Named the 2002 USPV Outstanding Libero. Led the league in digs (12.7 per match, 3.4 per game). Also the league's top rated passer at 2.57 (on a 3.0 scale). Made just 15 errors in 501 passing attempts.

Kristee Porter (Chicago): The 2002 USPV Offensive Player Of The Year. Led the league in scoring (19.2 ppm, 4.7 ppg) and kills (16.1 kills per match, 3.9 kpg). Second in the league in aces (1.3 apm, 0.3 apg), fifth in digs (9.9 dpm, 2.4 dpg) and sixth in blocks (1.8 bpm, 0.4 bpg). USPV Player Of The Month in February. Holder of three individual match records.

Benishe Roberts (St. Louis): The 2002 USPV Most Valuable Player. USPV Player Of The Month for both March and April. Holds the league's single-match scoring record (33 points). Led the league in blocks (4.2 bpm, 1.1 bpg) and hitting percentage (.390). Finished second in scoring (18.8 ppm, 4.8 ppg), third in kills (13.6 kpm, 3.4 kpg), sixth in aces (1.1 apm, 0.3 apg) and seventh in digs (9.4 dpm, 2.4 dpg). Holds three individual match records.

To obtain photos of athletes on the All-USPV team, please contact Mike Miazga, Director Media Relations, USPV, at (630) 575-8827. Interviews with the athletes may also be arranged through the USPV Media Relations office.

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