The USC men’s volleyball team recently announced adding three more signings to its 2018 recruiting class, bringing the group up to five players. The class will join the program for the fall of 2018, with their inaugural season coming in the winter/spring of 2019.
The quintet of players currently signed for USC now are setter Jameson McKibbin, outside hitters Brandon Browning and Izac Carracher, middle blocker Liam Schroeder and outside hitter/libero Dylan Lange. The three newest additions are Carracher, Schroeder and Lange.
Carracher gives USC a newcomer from overseas, as the 6’6″ outside hitter is from Australia. He participated in the Australian Volleyball League with the Sydney Warriors. Carracher sported the Australian jersey in the international U17 and U19 indoor contests in 2016. Additionally, he played beach volleyball and earned a bronze at the 2017 Australia Junior Beach Volleyball U19 championships. He will join a group of six outside hitters set to return for USC from 2018.
Adding to the class is 6’7″ middle Schroeder, who comes from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and chose USC over the likes of Ohio State. At Marquette University High, he earned All-State first team in his final two years and set the state record for blocks in a season when he won the state title as a senior. His Hudl profile with video of his play can be seen here. Schroeder also becomes one of five middle blockers on the 2019 USC roster (assuming all four set to return come back).
Rounding out the new trio is 6’3″ outside hitter and libero Dylan Lange. An attendee of Hart High School in California, Lange was an All-Foothill League first-team performer. As the team captain in 2017 and 2018, Lange pushed the Indians to its first-ever CIF playoff match victory. Lange will give the program a fourth that can play libero.
“We are delighted to welcome these talented young players to our program,” USC head coach Jeff Nygaard said in the team’s release about the newest three signings. “Izac brings an international mentality and skill set to our team, and he has the right kind of priorities to help us. Liam is a natural blocker and a physical presence at the net, plus he has strong leadership qualities. Dylan is a well-rounded athlete who fits our style of play and his ability to play multiple positions will help our program.”
A 6’3″ native of Honolulu, Hawaii, McKibbin joins the program from Punahou School and was one of the two winter signings for the Trojans. With the school he won the 2017 Hawaii Division I state championship as a member of the All-Tournament Team. He also played beach volleyball. His Hudl recruiting profile can be seen here.
Browning was the other early recruit for USC that signed in November. He is a 6’6″ outside hitter who was All-Pacific League first team as a junior at Corona del Mar High School. His play continued with the USA Volleyball Boys Youth National Team, where he started in the 2017 FIVB U19 World Championship and earned a silver at the 2016 NORCECA U19 Continental Championship.
USC finished the 2018 season at 8-20 overall and 3-7 playing in the MPSF, ending their season in the league’s postseason tournament semifinals. They graduate just two seniors from the roster in setter Gert Lisha (18 starts, team-high 8.10 assists per set) and opposite Jon Rivera (three starts, 0.52 kills, 0.43 digs per set).
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