With former standout USF volleyball player Erica Berggren being inducted into the USF Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday night, we present this story originally published in The Tampa Tribune on November 1, 1996.

Postscript: In the match previewed below, USF came from two sets down to upset Louisville in a riveting five-set match and the Bulls went on to earn the third NCAA Tournament bid in Berggren's career, along with a home match in the opening round.
 
A two-time Conference USA Player of the Year selection (1995 & 1996) for USF volleyball, Berggren was a dominant force at middle blocker for the Bulls as she earned four first-team all-conference selections while helping lead USF to a 105-26 record (80.1 %), including 55-4 at home. Berggren helped lead the Bulls to three conference championships, winning the Conference USA Tournament in 1995 and 1996 and the Metro Conference regular-season title in her freshman season of 1993. She led the team to postseason appearances in all four of her seasons, including three NCAA Tournament appearances (1993, 1995 and 1996) and hosting a first-round match vs. USC in 1996, and a 1994 NIVC appearance.

   
The kill. A rapid windup at the net, then a high-impact statement. In volleyball, it's the slam-dunk, slap shot and knockout punch, all rolled into one.
 
Flashy, yes. But University of South Florida senior Erica Berggren uses in-your-face aggression only when necessary. Usually, it's more satisfying to kill them softly.
 
"It's not how hard you hit the ball, it's where you put the ball,'' she said. "If I hit it my hardest, right into a block, that doesn't accomplish anything. You've got to be smart in this sport.''
 
A fitting philosophy, indeed. Since arriving at USF in 1993, Berggren, a 6-foot middle blocker, has matured into one of the school's most efficient athletes.
 
She rarely makes mistakes. Right place, right time, always. She has a .421 career hitting percentage. Quick statistical note: Think baseball, where a .300 average is considered good and .400 astronomically great. It's the same meaning in volleyball. Berggren has Ted Williams numbers — for a career.
 
"Erica has been an amazing performer,'' USF coach Perri Hankins said. "Some of her stats have been off the Richter scale. And she does it all with a dramatic flair. She's really fun to watch. She has built up quite a long list of accomplishments.''
 
The nation's leader in hitting percentage during 1994. USF's all-time leader in blocks. Last season's Conference USA Player of the Year. The catalyst behind three postseason teams. So, what's left to accomplish?
 
Plenty.
 
Today, Berggren and her teammates get another shot at No. 17-ranked Louisville, the C-USA frontrunner and longtime USF nemesis. The Bulls (19-3, 9-1) have dropped seven of nine matches against Louisville (18-2, 9-0) since 1991, including two losses in conference tournament finals.
 
Last season, USF finally broke through and beat Louisville in the C-USA Tournament final. The reward? The Bulls were shipped to UC-Santa Barbara for what became a first-round NCAA Tournament loss while Louisville got the higher seed and was awarded a home match.
 
"It's a huge rivalry for us,'' said Berggren, 21, an international marketing major. "When I was a freshman, I was scared of them. But last season proved we can beat them when it really matters. We're over the mental obstacle. They aren't the goddesses of volleyball.
 
"Louisville will always be an important match for our program. Considering what's going on this year, this one is quadruple important.''
 
Louisville is the lone unbeaten team in C-USA. If USF defeats the Cardinals today and wins out — and if Louisville wins at once-beaten Houston on Nov. 15 — the Bulls should earn C-USA's No. 1 seed. For Berggren, that could help solidify her third trip to the NCAAs, plus gain exposure for potential All-American honors.
 
All things she never expected while growing up in Barrington, Ill. Basketball was the primary sport she shared with sister Ashley, now the defending Big Ten Conference scoring leader (24.6) at the University of Illinois. Erica gave up hoops after high school, and she hasn't regretted that decision.
 
"Honestly, sometimes I don't know how it ended up this way,'' she said. "I'm not so much into the awards and honors, but it's still very overwhelming to me. And really unexpected, too. People always thought I was going to play basketball.
 
"I'm going to be sad when I'm not playing on this team after this season. My time at USF has been like a blur. It has gone by so fast. One day, I'll look back and really smile about it all.''
 
No time for that now, though. Not with Louisville straight ahead. There's a time for memories. Today is a time to kill.