United States Professional Volleyball (2002)
Tombstone
Born: 2001 – USPV founding franchise
Folded: January 2003
First Match: February 5, 2002 (L 3 games to 1 @ Minnesota Chill)
Last Match: April 21, 2002 (L 3 game to 1 vs. Chicago Thunder)
UPSV Championships: None
Arena
Washington University Field House
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner: USPV (William W. Kennedy)
Background
The St. Louis Quest were one of four Midwestern members of United States Professional Volleyball (USPV), a women’s pro volleyball promotion that managed to stage only one season during the winter & spring of 2002. The other three teams were the Chicago Thunder, the Grand Rapids Force and the eventual champion Minnesota Chill. The league offered a short-lived opportunity for top American players to turn pro in the United States, whereas volleyball stars traditionally had to venture overseas for any hope of extending their careers beyond college.
USPV was founded by Illinois real estate developer William Kennedy, whose daughter Kelly played for the Chicago franchise. The league was years in the making and spent the better part of three years barnstorming the Midwest with its “Dream Team” for one-off exhibitions from 1999 to 2001. Finally, the league felt ready (enough) to play a full season with four franchises that tipped off in February 2002.
2002 Season
The Quest played their inaugural season home matches at the Washington University Field House. The team’s home debut on Valentine’s Day 2002 drew an announced crowd of 1,073 fans. The Quest defeated the previously undefeated Minnesota Chill in three straight games.
Notable players included East St. Louis native and former Grambling star Kim Young and 6′ 2″ middle blocker Benishe Roberts. Roberts would go on to win the USPV’s first and only Most Valuable Player award at the conclusion of the 2002 season.
Following a 10-8 regular season record, the Quest met the Chicago Thunder in the USPV playoff semi-finals. (Thanks to the league’s barely viable 4-team membership, all clubs made the playoffs). The Thunder swept the Quest in two games to close out the best-of-three series.
End of Quest
USPV’s second season was scheduled to tip off in January 2003. The Quest planned to move from Washington University Field House to the Family Arena in suburban St. Charles for the new season. Pocket schedules were even printed up for the new season (see top right), but all was not well in USPV. League founder William Kennedy pulled out in November, citing an inability to lure new investors and unwillingness to continue footing the bill for the entire league himself. After 11th hour efforts to find new capital to prop up the promotion failed, USPV closed its doors for good in January 2003 without launching a sophomore campaign.
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