The 19th-ranked USC women’s volleyball team (4-2) seeks to get back on the winning track with three matches this weekend at the UCSB Thunderdome Classic (Sept. 8-9) in Santa Barbara, Calif. The Women of Troy will face Arkansas (6-1) and tourney-host UC Santa Barbara (0-6) in a doubleheader day at 12:30 p.m. PT and 7 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 8) at the Thunderdome. The Trojans conclude the tournament with a 4 p.m. PT matchup against Yale (3-0) on Saturday (Sept. 9). All matches will be streamed live on BigWest.tv.
After starting the season 3-0 in the USC/LMU tournament, the Trojans went 1-2 at the Bluejay Invitational in Omaha, Neb., last week. USC has previously faced Arkansas (2000) and Yale (2011) once each and swept both teams. The Trojans have a much longer history with UCSB and lead the all-time series, 28-9, but have not played the Gauchos since taking a 3-1 win in 2013. The Trojans are stacked at the pins and rely heavily on OHs Khalia Lanier (4.59 kps) and Alyse Ford (2.65 kps) and OPPs Brittany Abercrombie (2.70 kps) and Niki Withers(2.65 kps) to drive the attack. Setters Reni Meyer-Whalley (6.22 aps) and Cindy Marina (5.61 aps) run USC’s 6-2 system in which libero Victoria Garrick puts up 4.05 digs per set.
LAST TIME OUT: The Trojans entered the Bluejay Invitational undefeated against teams in the field (13-0 all-time) but dropped a heartbreaking four-setter to Northern Iowa to open the tournament. Each of USC’s set losses in that match was by just two points, 26-24 twice and 30-28 once. In a bounce-back match, the Women of Troy took down tourney host seventh-ranked Creighton in a three-set sweep, but dropped another four-setter to No. 13 Kentucky to close the weekend. Sophomore OH Khalia Lanier led the Trojans in scoring while sophomore setter Cindy Marina picked up her 20th-career double-double. Junior libero Victoria Garrick earned a new career high with 27 digs in the loss to UNI.
1,000 SHIPS: USC’s win over Arizona State on Oct. 5, 2016, was the program’s 1,000th all-time victory. The Trojans became the 17th program in NCAA Division I women’s volleyball history to reach the 1K milestone. USC is the owner of six national championships (three AIAW and three NCAA) and has won eight conference crowns including two since the inception of the Pac-12 (2011 and 2015). Head coach Mick Haley has led USC to each of its 100-win milestones since the program’s 600th victory. The Trojans won their 800th, 900th, and 1,000th all in home matches under Haley’s direction.
BUT FIRST, LET ME TAKE A #SELFIE: Get social with the Women of Troy this season. Fans can follow and interact with the USC women’s volleyball team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Periscope by searching for @USCWomensVolley.
FIRST SERVE
- USC will meet Arkansas and Yale each for only the second time in program history. The Trojans played the Razorbacks in a preseason tournament in 2000 and faced the Bulldogs to open the 2011 NCAA tournament.
- Six of USC’s nine set losses this season have been by just two points.
- OH Khalia Lanier has been named to the all-tournament team for each of USC’s first two pre-conference tournaments.
- USC’s roster features eight newcomers, including four transfers. In total, the Trojan roster has eight players who have played at other colleges.
- Former Trojan middle blocker Elise Ruddins‘ younger sister Lindsey is an outside hitter for the Gauchos.
Press Release courtesy of USC Athletics.
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