Nov. 23, 2002

Box Score

CHICAGO - The Charlotte 49ers volleyball team closed out the 2002 season Saturday, falling to Cincinnati, 3-0 (30-20, 30-25, 30-27), in the quarterfinals of the Healthy Choice Conference USA Tournament. The Bearcats next face South Florida in the semifinals on Sunday.

The 49ers finish the year with 18-15 record, their highest win total and first winning season since 1994. Laura Darnell, a senior and third-team All-Conference USA selection, finished the season with 482 digs, a school record.

Bonita Wise led Cincinnati (21-7) with 13 kills and only one error. She finished the match with a .750 hitting percentage, which ties the league tournament record. Trish Ladusaw also notched 13 kills and added nine digs. Ladusaw now ranks fourth on the NCAA career digs list with 2,015 and only needs 27 to break into the top three.

Abbey Szlanfucht compiled 14 kills for a .333 attack percentage for Charlotte, and was only two digs away from posting a double-double. Courtney Burg, the 49ers' other senior all-conference pick, knocked down 11 kills.

Saturday's match was a family affair for two siblings. UC sophomore Leslie Newell competed against her younger sister, Lisa, who is a Niner starter. Both Newell sisters posted five kills each for their teams.