July 28, 2008

LOS ANGELES -- The NCAA has granted USC outside hitter Jessica Gysin (Los Gatos/St. Francis HS) a sixth year of eligibility, giving the current team co-captain two more seasons to play for the Women of Troy. As a redshirt junior now, the 2008 squad will not have a senior on its roster for the first time since 1999.

Gysin was a key player during USC's postseason run last year as the Women of Troy made their fourth NCAA Final Four appearance in the past six years. She was second on the team overall with 327 kills (3.00 kpg) and recorded eight double-doubles during the season. She had 219 digs on the year (2.01 dpg) and 54 blocks (0.50 bpg). She earned Gainesville (Fla.) All-Regional Team honors after recording 16 kills and hitting .359 (16-2-39) against St. John's and registering 15 kills and a .379 hitting clip (15-4-29) against No. 3 Texas.

As a highly-touted recruit from the well-known St. Francis High squad that featured former USC players Diane Copenhagen and Annie Montgomery, Gysin severely sprained her ankle during fall training camp of her 2004 season. She would play one match before aggravating the injury and missing the remainder of the season. Before her 2005 season, she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and missed the entire season.

USC opens the 2008 season at the Runza/AVCA College Showcase in Omaha, Neb., against national powers Texas and Nebraska. CBS College Sports will broadcast both matches live nationally.