University Southern California Trojans
Trojans Prepare For Pair Of Key Matchups
February 15, 2000 | Men's Volleyball
Feb. 15, 2000
THE FACTS--The USC men's volleyball team (13-1 overall, 9-1 NCAA, 6-0 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Pacific Division)--off to its best start in 6 years--hosts No. 14 UC Santa Barbara (4-3, 3-2) this Tuesday (Feb. 15) in the USC North Gym, then travels to No. 5 BYU (10-3, 7-3) on Friday (Feb. 18), with both MPSF matches starting at 7 p.m.
RANKINGS--USC is ranked first in the Volleyball magazine poll and second in the USA Today/AVCA coaches poll. UC Santa Barbara is 14th by USA Today/AVCA, while BYU is fifth in both polls.
BEST START--This is USC's best overall start since going 16-1 in 1994, its best NCAA start since 10-1 in 1994 and its best MPSF start since 9-0 in 1994.
HIGHEST RANKING SINCE--The last time USC was ranked No. 1 in any poll was the season-ending AVCA poll in 1991. The last time USC was ranked second in the USA Today/AVCA poll was March 1, 1994.
OPPONENTS--UC Santa Barbara, which has lost its last 2 matches (to Pacific and Hawaii), is led by Kevin Collins (169 kills), Andy Rivera (37 digs, 10 aces) and Andy Tomkinson (54 blocks). USC holds a 40-30 series lead over the Gauchos, having won the last 2 meetings. BYU, which has won its last 3 matches, has lost this season to Pacific, Long Beach State and Pepperdine. The Cougars are led by Joaquin Acosta (220 kills) and Scott Bunker (119 blocks, 14 aces). Troy is 15-11 versus BYU, but has lost the last 3 meetings.
LAST MATCH--Brook Billings had a match-high 18 kills and four digs to lead USC to a 15-8, 15-5, 15-5 victory over San Diego State in an MPSF home match on Wednesday (Feb. 9). Mark Dusharme added 11 kills and hit .714, while Trevor Julian had nine kills and hit .727. Eli Fairfield and Beau Rawi each added nine kills. As a team, USC hit .470 to San Diego State's .175. The Trojans outdug the Aztecs (16-5) and had a large advantage in aces (11-5). On Friday (Feb. 11), Billings and Julian each had 20 kills to lead USC to a 16-17, 15-6, 15-13, 15-8 victory over La Verne in a non-conference match at home. The Leopards, ranked No. 4 in the NCAA Division III, came back from a 14-8 deficit to win the first game. USC rested its top 3 starters--Billings, Fairfield and Donald Suxho --in that game, but inserted Billings and Suxho for the rest of the match. Ryan Thurlow added 16 kills and Rawi had 14 kills while hitting a match-best .524. Billings had a match-high 11 digs and Julian hit .467. La Verne outblocked USC, 11.0 to 5.0.
RETURN TO GLORY?--In the 15-year span from 1977 to 1991, USC was an annual contender for the NCAA title as the Trojans won 4 NCAA crowns, finished second 6 times and were third once. After an 8-year drought, USC is on the brink of returning to national prominence in 2000. Don't be surprised if this is the season that Troy makes its first visit to the NCAA Final Four since 1991.
VOLLEYBALL SCHOOL-Besides the 4 NCAA crowns (1977-80-88-90) that USC's men have won, the Women of Troy have captured 4 national volleyball titles. USC's women won the AIAW trophy in 1976, 1977 and 1980, and the NCAA crown in 1981. Incidentally, USC leads the nation in NCAA men's team titles in all sports, with 70 (plus 8 unofficial football crowns), and the women have added 15 national titles.
COACH PAT POWERS--Legendary Olympic gold medalist, collegiate All-American and pro beach star Pat Powers returned in 1997 to his alma mater--which he led to the 1980 NCAA title as a player--to become the USC men's volleyball head coach and help bring the Trojans back to national prominence. Now in his fourth year, his career mark is 71-44. In 1997, his first season, Powers put USC back on track, with its first winning season since 1994 at 18-14. In 1998, his Trojans went 17-17 and missed the MPSF Tournament by just one win. Last year, the 24-12 Trojans advanced to the finals of the MPSF tourney and earned a No. 7 national ranking. The 6-foot-5 Powers is one of the greatest players in international volleyball history. He was a member of the U.S. National Team for nine years (1978-86) and started at outside hitter on a squad that won America's first-ever ?Triple Crown?: the 1984 Olympics, the 1985 World Cup and the 1986 World Championships.
DONALD SUXHO--The team's only senior is 6-5 captain Donald Suxho of >Albania, who is starting at setter for the fourth year. One of the premier setters in college, he is also a blocking force at the net and possesses a lethal jump serve. In 2000, he tops USC in aces (24) and assists (693), and is second in digs (52). He made the All-Tournament team at the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational (for the second consecutive year). He hit .600 with 10 kills against Penn State. He had 6 aces at San Diego State and 10 digs at UC San Diego. He hit .545 and had 9 digs at UCLA. He was named to the 1999 AVCA All-American first team when he led USC in aces (a USC season record 63), digs (199) and assists (1,871). He was second nationally in ace average in 1999 (.658, tops in the MPSF). He was an All-MPSF third teamer in 1998 when set a since-broken NCAA record for most assists in a match (129 versus Ohio State in 1997).
BROOK BILLINGS--USC sports perhaps the top young player in the game in dominating 6-5 sophomore opposite hitter Brook Billings, who is in the starting lineup for his second season and could be in line for All-American honors. In 2000, he leads USC in kills (264) and digs (64). In the finals of the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational against Pepperdine, he led USC with 23 kills and 9 digs. He followed that up by equalling a career-high with 39 kills (hitting .540) against Penn State. He had 20 kills and hit .500 versus Manitoba. He had 35 kills (hitting .434) at San Diego State and 23 at UC San Diego. He then had match highs in kills against Pacific (25, while hitting .588 with 5 digs) and Stanford (15). He was named MPSF Player of the Week for his performance at UCLA, getting match highs in kills (33) and digs (a career-high 17). He had a match-best 18 kills while hitting .462 against San Diego State. He was USC's co-leader in kills (20) versus La Verne and added a match-best 11 digs. In 1999, he was the Asics/Volleyball National Co-Freshman of the Year and the MPSF Freshman of the Year as he led USC in kills with 640, the fourth most ever in a season by a Trojan (more than any USC freshman), while hitting .317. He was sixth nationally in kill average (6.17) and added 169 digs (second on USC) and 92 blocks (fourth on USC). He showed just how precocious he was during USC's final 4 matches of 1999 (all against Top 7-ranked squads) when he had an amazing 30-plus kills in each outing (and he had 20-plus kills in the last 9 matches of 1999).
ELI FAIRFIELD--Back for his third year starting at an outside hitter spot is junior Eli Fairfield. In 2000, he is second on USC in kills (147) and blocks (30). In the finals of the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational against Pepperdine, he had 17 kills and hit. 344. He had 10 kills, 5 aces and 6 digs in the first match against Penn State, then came back the next night to post 19 kills and 5 digs. He had 17 kills and hit .464 versus Manitoba. He had 25 kills at San Diego State. He then had 13 kills and 5 blocks against both Pacific (hitting .391) and Stanford(hitting .478). At UCLA, he had 19 kills and a career-high 15 digs. Last season, the 6-7 Fairfield was second on USC in kills (501) while hitting .283 and in aces (30) and fourth in digs (139) and blocks (83). He was a Freshman All-American in 1998.
TREVOR JULIAN--Also returning for his third year starting at outside hitter is junior Trevor Julian. This year, he is second on USC in aces (19). He had 13 kills (hitting .530) and 3 aces against Penn State. He had 17 kills (hitting .414) with 5 aces and 6 blocks at San Diego State, then added 10 kills at UC San Diego. At UCLA, he had 15 kills and 3 aces. He hit .727 with 9 kills against San Diego State. He was USC's co-leader in kills (20) versus La Verne while hitting .467. Last season, the 6-5 Julian was third on USC in kills (269), aces (24) and digs (154) in 1999, and also had 80 blocks.
BEAU RAWI--Beau Rawi, a 6-5 sophomore middle blocker, is USC's fifth returning starter. In 2000, he leads USC in hitting percentage (.466) and blocks (46). He made the All-Tournament team at the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational (he hit .313 in the final against Pepperdine). He had 6 blocks in the first match against Penn State, then had 11 kills (hitting .450) with 5 blocks the next match. Against Manitoba, he had 10 kills and hit .600. He hit .611 with 13 kills and had 6 blocks at San Diego State, then added 8 blocks at UC San Diego. Against Pacific, he hit .615 with 9 kills, then hit .714 with 12 kills and 5 blocks versus Stanford. At UCLA, he hit .448 with 16 kills and had a match-best 6 blocks. He hit .462 with 9 kills against San Diego State. He hit .524 with 16 kills against La Verne. He was second on USC in blocks with 114 in 1999, and also had 235 kills while hitting .358, 18 aces (fourth on USC) and 104 digs.
MARK DUSHARME--The only new starter in USC's lineup is 6-7 freshman Mark Dusharme, a 1999 Volleyball Fab 50 pick and 2-time All-CIF San Diego Section first teamer at Bonita Vista High in Chula Vista, Calif. In the finals of the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational against Pepperdine, he hit .615. He had 11 kills while hitting .430 against Penn State. He hit .615 with 8 kills versus Stanford. He hit .714 with 11 kills and 3 aces against San Diego State. He was a member of the 1999 USA Boys Youth National Training team and the 1998 USA Youth National team, where he was named the ?Best Blocker? at the NORCECA Youth National Tournament. He's nearly back to full speed now after being slowed in fall workouts by injuries (back stress fracture, appendectomy), although he has missed some time in early-season 2000 matches.
RESERVES--Providing depth at outside hitter are Ryan Thurlow, an experienced 6-2 junior, and 6-8 walk-on freshman Marcus Gilmour, USC's biggest player who has loads of potential. Thurlow started against La Verne this year and had 16 kills. He was a part-time starter in 1998 and appeared in 9 matches as a reserve in 1999. Gilmour was named to the 1999 Volleyball Fab 50 team and the All-CIF Division III first team at Santa Ynez (Calif.) High, which won the CIF Division III championship last season. Gilmour played on the 1999 USA Junior Nationals Boys 18-and-Under champion. He is just coming around after knee surgery this past fall and has yet to play in 2000. Josh Day, a 6-6 walk-on freshman, is a reserve middle blocker. This year, he is second on USC in hitting percentage (.452). He hit .444 with 6 blocks at San Diego State, then hit .538 with another 6 blocks while starting at UC San Diego. He also started versus Pacific. He hit .500 with 6 kills while starting against La Verne. He was on the 1999 Volleyball Fab 50 team and was an All-State first teamer at Kamehameha High in Honolulu, Hi. Suxho's backup at setter in 2000 is 6-2 redshirt freshman walk-on Dustin Avol, who did not compete at USC last year after attending prep powerhouse Mira Costa High in Manhattan Beach, Calif. He started against La Verne this season. But waiting in the wings while probably redshirting is highly-touted 6-5 freshman Miles McGann, a 3-time All-CIF first teamer (he was MVP of the 1999 All-CIF Division III team) and a Volleyball Fab 50 choice at Laguna Beach (Calif.) High. He was a 4-time All-American first team selection at the USA Junior Nationals (his team finished first twice) and was on the 1998 USA Youth National team.
LIBEROS--USC has a pair of players capable of ably filling the new libero position, a combination defensive and passing specialist: 6-0 sophomore Greg Burden and 5-10 redshirt freshman walk-on John Hinds. This season, Burden is third on USC in digs (49). He had 9 digs against Pepperdine in the finals of the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational, 7 digs against Penn State, 8 digs at San Diego State and 10 digs at UCLA. Hinds had 7 digs at UC San Diego and 10 versus Stanford. Burden is the more skilled passer, while Hinds is better on defense. Burden saw limited action in 3 matches last year at Troy, while Hinds sat out 1999 at USC after prepping at Santa Margarita High in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. Hinds played on the 1998 USA Junior Nationals Boys 18-and-Under champion. Hinds suffered a knee sprain in early January and will be sidelined several weeks.
NOTES--When USC upset top-ranked UCLA in 5 games on Feb. 4, the Trojans not only broke a 13-match losing streak to their crosstown rival, but it was USC's first regulation-match win over the Bruins since 1991, its first victory in Pauley Pavilion since 1990 and its first win in the Kilgour Cup after 7 losses...Here's a rarity in the world of men's athletics. One of USC's assistant coaches is a woman, Laura Ames, who was the women's head coach at both Aurora (1993-95) and Benedictine (1996-97)...Beau Rawi's brother, Omar, started for USC's men's volleyball team in 1998 and 1999...Ryan Thurlow's father, Toby, lettered for USC's 1962 national championship football team and his grandfather, Leavitt, lettered in football from 1934 to 1936...Miles McGann's brother, Grant, played water polo at USC in 1997 and his cousin, Jeremy Laster, is a member of the USA national water polo team...Several dozen of Marcus Gilmour's relatives attended USC, including his mother and father.
