TROJANS' TITLE RUN HALTED MINNESOTA STOPS USC IN FOUR IN SEMIS MINN. 3, USC 1.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

LONG BEACH - USC's championship streak has been snapped.

Seniors Keao Burdine, Emily Adams and Alicia Robinson were reduced to hugs and tears on the court at Long Beach Arena while Minnesota celebrated a rare volleyball victory over USC on Thursday night.

USC lost its quest to win a third consecutive national championship, a feat that has never happened in NCAA Division I women's volleyball.

Minnesota dominated USC in the NCAA Tournament semifinals with a 30-25, 29-31, 30-26, 30-20 match victory in front of 8,339.

USC's offense was ineffective and Minnesota controlled the match. USC (23-6) had 38 hitting errors and rarely had a lead the entire match.

Haley had no regrets about the Trojans not being able to win a third championship in a row.

``It was a fun ride,'' Haley said. ``Everybody had a good time. I'm sorry we couldn't finish it the way we wanted to.''

Minnesota was too good.

Haley guided USC to the last two championships and also won an NCAA title with Texas in 1988. But his bid to become just the second coach to win four titles was effectively over - for now - when Minnesota rallied from a 20-16 deficit in the third game.

Minnesota won a close third game but USC was never even in the final game. The Golden Gophers took an 18-10 lead and won by 10.

Burdine had 18 kills but also had 16 errors and three other Trojans were in double figures in kills. But the Trojans' hitting percentage was a paltry .132 and Minnesota out-blocked USC 17-5.

``It felt like the games went fast and we didn't have an opportunity to get set up (offensively),'' Burdine said. ``We couldn't do what we wanted to do. We couldn't get in a good rhythm.''

It was obvious. Haley, who usually sits in his chair during matches, was crouched near the court for a while and giving instructions because USC was playing so inconsistent. While the Trojans seemed flustered and bothered, Minnesota was all smiles. And why not? Everything worked.

Minnesota's Trisha Bratford, a Taft High of Woodland Hills product, had 13 kills, including three big ones at the end of the first game. She put the Golden Gophers ahead 28-25 on a cross-court kill and had another for a 29-25 lead.

Bratford, a senior, was a big part of Minnesota's offense as she had at least 10 kills in 27 matches this year. When USC beat Minnesota in five games in an August match, Bratford left with an injury.

After the game was over, she found her dad, Ronnie, and they hugged.

``It was a great experience,'' Bratford said as she signed autographs. ``We knew they'd come out fighting but we knew we could play with anybody.''

Minnesota certainly looked like the team that was defending its national title, not USC.

Erin Martin had a team-high 18 kills for the Gophers. Minnesota dominated the stats - and the final game - but Martin didn't point to blocking or defense for success.

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

USC's Staci Venski, right, hits the ball as two Minnesota players defend during Thursday night's NCAA semifinal match.

Steven Georges/Staff Photographer