USC Women's Volleyball Loses Both Big Ten Matches This Week

The USC Trojans volleyball team (7-7,1-3) suffered back-to-back home losses to the Michigan Wolverines and to the Michigan State Spartans. 

Despite three different USC players achieving double-digit kills, USC lost to Michigan (10-4, 1-2) in four sets, 3-1. 

Michigan outperformed USC in kills (60-54), assists (57-51), and digs (81-76). USC had more blocks (12-8). The Trojans were outplayed by the Wolverines 6-4 in service aces.

In the first set, the two teams battled, trading 13 ties. Michigan outhit USC, .128-.333. Michigan survived its five service errors by taking advantage of USC’s eight attack errors to secure the win 25-22. Mia Tvrdy led USC with four kills while hitting .286.

USC battled back in the second set winning 25-18. Tvrdy again led the charge leading USC to a 20-12 advantage before securing the win. Tvrdy and Adonia Faumuina each had three kills. London Wijay had four digs. 

The third set was tied at 19 before a back row attack violation by Michigan helped USC go up 20-19. Michigan would storm back to win 25-23. Faumuina led USC with four kills.

In the final set Michigan jumped out to a 10-2 lead. USC would never recover or take the lead. Michigan closed out the match winning the fourth set 25-23.

Michigan St outplayed USC in this five-set match. They outhit USC (.333-.236), had more kills (78-50), and more digs (63-45). USC recorded double-digit blocks for the seventh time this season.

In the first set, Wijay led the charge with six kills helping USC take a 12-2 lead. Four blocks by USC helped hold Michigan State to a .059 hit percentage. USC would go on to win 25-18 behind .320 hitting.

In the second set, Michigan State hit .607 with 18 kills. A .156 attack percentage contributed to USC losing this set 25-14.

USC came back to win the third set 26-24. USC won in spite of Michigan St winning the kill battle 19-14. USC was outhit .297 to .325. Tvrdy had five kills for USC.

After being tied 8-8, Michigan State would go on a 9-1 run winning the set 25-18. The Spartans had 19 kills compared to USC’s nine. Michigan State's Karolina Staniszewska led them with seven kills.

In the final set, USC could not hold their 5-2 lead. Staniszewska led Michigan State to a 15-11 victory. Michigan St outhit the Trojans .333-to- .217 behind 12 kills compared to USC’s seven kills.

USC travels to West Lafayette to take on the No.10 Purdue Boilermakers Friday, Oct.