Match Stats
- #14 USC def. #5 Lewis 3-0, (25-23, 25-23, 29-27)
- USC improves to 7-12
- Lewis falls to 15-5
- Match results
#14 USC Upsets #5 Lewis in three set sweep without star hitter Lucas Yoder. This is the fifth time this season that USC has defeated a top-10 team.
Early in the first set USC trailed 9-15, but were able to close the gap to 16-18. Andy Benesh stepped back to the service line and was able to put down four aces for the Trojans, propelling them ahead 20-18. USC continued to use this momentum to take the first set 25-23.
The second set was more of a back and forth battle, as the score ended up being tied late in the set 23-23. Gert Lisha of USC was able to put down a block to go ahead 24-23 with the final point coming on a Flyers hitting error to drop the second 25-23.
The final set was led by the Flyers until midway through when Lisha dumped the ball to take the 15-14 lead. The remainder of the match was back and forth with the Trojans picking up the three set sweep over Lewis with a 29-17 third set score.
Leading the Trojans was mid-season transfer Gianluca Grasso with a double-double of 19 kills and 10 digs while Lucas Lossone added another nine kills. Setter Lisha produced a solid overall match dishing out 37 assists, six digs, three blocks and one ace.
For the Flyers, Mitch Perinar slammed down 13 kills with Trevor Wieskircher adding 10 kills, four aces and two blocks.
.@USCmensvolley sweeps @LewisMVBall (25-23, 25-23, 29-27) without Lucas Yoder #VBScores #FightOn pic.twitter.com/eI3aQigdQo
— MPSF Bias (@MPSF_Bias) March 10, 2017
Press Release
Courtesy of USC Athletics
Gianluca Grasso had 19 kills and 10 digs to help the No. 14 USC men’s volleyball team upset No. 5 Lewis in a 3-0 sweep, 25-23, 25-23, 29-27 in a non-conference match on Thursday (March 9) in USC’s North Gym.
The Trojans improved to 7-12 overall after breaking a three-match losing streak. This is USC’s fifth win against a Top-10 team this season.
Lewis dropped to 15-5 overall after also losing to UCLA on Wednesday (March 8).
As a team, USC hit .407 while Lucas Lossone tallied nine kills (hitting .333). The production out of the middle was efficient as Andy Benesh collected six kills (hitting .667), and teammate Connor Inlow recorded six kills of his own (hitting .417).
For Lewis, Mitch Perinar led the Flyers with 13 kills (hitting .407) and teammate Trevor Weiskircher earned 10 of his own (hitting .273). As a team, Lewis hit .354 on the night.
The Trojans collected 46 kills to the Flyers’ 38, and USC had 32 digs to Lewis’ 25. It was a big night from the service line as the Trojans served up six aces, while the Flyers had five of their own. Finally, Troy recorded 5.0 blocks to Lewis’ 4.5.
The Trojans were without top outside hitter Lucas Yoder who missed the match with an abdominal strain.
USC trailed Lewis 9-15 in the first set, but pushed back to close the gap to 16-18. Benesh then went back to the service line to collect four aces in a row for Troy, surging them ahead 20-18. USC used this momentum to take the first set 25-23. Set number two was tight with both teams exchanging points back and forth. With the score tied at 23-23, Gert Lisha, who transferred from Lewis to USC in 2016, put up a clutch block to make it set point Trojans. During the next rally, the Flyers hit the ball out of bounds which gave the second set to the Trojans. USC didn’t hold a lead in the third set until Lisha proved to be an offensive threat as he dumped the ball to push the Trojans ahead 15-14. Exciting offensive plays and defensive stops on both sides of the net kept the score close with USC continuing to remain just one point ahead. After going to extra points, Grasso, the night’s kill leader, tooled the Flyer block for a kill to close out the night’s match.
USC’s next action will bring them back to the iconic North Gym where they will take on George Mason in a non-conference match on Monday (March 13) at 7 p.m. PT. On Tuesday (March 14), the Trojans return to the Galen Center where they will face non-conference opponent Harvard at 7 p.m. PT.
Press Release
Courtesy of Lewis Athletics
The No. 14 USC men’s volleyball team recorded a hitting percentage of .407 (46 kills, 11 errors, 86 attacks) as the host Trojans swept Lewis University, 25-23, 25-23, 29-27 in a non-conference match-up at North Gym on Thursday (March 9).
USC hit .400 (11-3-20) in the first set and .500 (22-2-40) in the final set to earn the win. Lewis was successful in converting their attempts as well, knocking down its shots at a clip of .354 (38-9-82).
With the win, USC improves to 7-12 on the campaign, while the Flyers fall to 15-5.
Lewis redshirt sophomore opposite hitter Mitch Perinar (Channahon, Ill./Minooka) topped the Flyers with 13 kills and hit .407 (13-2-27) against the Trojans, while senior outside hitter Trevor Weiskircher (Loves Park, Ill./Boylan Catholic) pitched in 10 putaways and a match-high four service aces.
Lewis sophomore setter Matt Yoshimoto (Ventura, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo) led the Flyers in both assists (31) and digs (8).
Lewis is back in action on Saturday (March 11), as the Flyers meet No. 15 UC Santa Barbara for a 7 PM PT first serve.
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