University Southern California Trojans
USC Travels To Stanford, Pacific
February 20, 2001 | Men's Volleyball
Feb. 20, 2001
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THE FACTS
The No. 8-ranked USC men's volleyball team (7-5 overall, 5-3 NCAA, 5-3 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Pacific Division) travels to Northern California to take on No. 4 Stanford on Friday (Feb. 23) and then No. 11 Pacific on Saturday (Feb. 24) in a pair of MPSF matches which begin at 7 p.m.
RANKINGS
USC is ranked eighth in this week's USA Today/AVCA coaches poll and sixth by Volleyball. Stanford is fourth by USA Today/AVCA and fifth by Volleyball. Pacific is 11th by USA Today/AVCA and is not ranked by Volleyball.
OPPONENTS
USC holds a 44-17 edge in its series with Stanford and has won the past 4 meetings. The Cardinal, coming off a win over UC San Diego last week, are led by sophomore outside hitter Curt Toppel, junior outside hitter Marcus Skacel and senior middle blocker Brett Youngblood. The Trojans are 17-4 all-time against Pacific and have won the last 2 meetings. UOP, which lost to Pepperdine and beat UC San Diego last week, features junior middle blocker Tim Gerlach (101 kills, .357, 15 blocks) and sophomore Martin Berntsen (86 kills, 43 digs, 14 blocks). Before playing USC, the Cardinal and Tigers face each other in Palo Alto on Wednesday (Feb. 21).
LAST MATCH
Brook Billings had 25 kills and 8 digs, both match highs, to lead No. 7 USC to a 29-31, 30-24, 30-25, 31-29 win at No. 14 Cal State Northridge in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match on Feb. 16. Eli Fairfield added 16 kills and 6 aces for the Trojans.
LAST YEAR
USC proved in 2000 that the program has returned to national prominence. The Trojans had a 22-5 NCAA record (26-6 overall) and captured a share of the Pacific Division crown in the difficult Mountain Pacific Sports Federation by going 16-3 (their first league title since 1991). USC twice beat a No. 1-ranked squad in 2000 (UCLA and Long Beach State), was 14-0 at home and spent two weeks near the end of the season ranked No. 1 before finishing third. Only a close loss to Pepperdine in the semifinals of the MPSF tournament kept Troy out of the NCAA Final Four in 2000 (a loss to BYU in the MPSF tourney finals knocked USC out of the NCAA tourney in 1999).
RETURN TO GLORY?
The 2001 season is the 10th anniversary of USC's last appearance in the NCAA Final Four. In the 15-year span from 1977 to 1991, USC was a near-annual contender for the NCAA title as the Trojans won 4 NCAA crowns, finished second 6 times and were third once.
ALMOST
For each of the past two seasons, the USC men's volleyball team was a victory away from capturing a berth into the NCAA Championship, but losses to Pepperdine in 2000 and BYU in 1999 kept the Trojans home.
TOUGH AT HOME
USC is 203-61 (.769) in home matches in its 25-year history. The Trojans had a school-record 19-match home winning streak in the quaint North Gym (dating to the 1999 season) snapped when they lost to BYU this season. Last year, Troy went 14-0 in the North Gym, its first unblemished home season since 1991 and its most home wins ever.
ACES ARE WILD
Against UC Irvine (1-23), Beau Rawi served a school-record 8 aces and USC posted 18 aces in the match, also a school record.
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, all under coach Chuck Erbe. The 2000 Women of Troy advanced to the NCAA Final Four, but lost in the semifinals.
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 fifth year, his career mark is 92-54. 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. In 1999, the 24-12 Trojans advanced to the finals of the MPSF tourney and earned a No. 7 national ranking. Last year, USC shared the MPSF Pacific Division title and went 26-6 with a No. 4 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, 1985 World Cup and 1986 World Championships.
RETURNING STARTERS
USC returns 5 starters from 2000--All-American opposite hitter Brook Billings, 3-year starting outside hitters Trevor Julian and Eli Fairfield, and middle blockers Beau Rawi and Mark Dusharme. USC's only loss from 2000 is a big one: 2-time All-American setter Donald Suxho, the AVCA National Player of the Year who was a 4-year starter and owns Troy's career record for aces.
BROOK BILLINGS
USC sports one of the collegiate game's most dynamic players in dominating 6-5 junior opposite hitter Brook Billings. He was a 2000 All-American and All-MPSF first team pick. A starter since he arrived at USC, he led the Trojans in kills as a freshman and sophomore (he had 601 last season while hitting .339). He was fifth nationally in kill average in 2000 (6.84)?he had 50 kills in a match last spring?and also had 160 digs and 73 blocks. Nobody in the country hits the ball harder. He currently leads USC in kills (144) and is second in blocks (21) and digs (37).
--He began his 2001 campaign by being named to the 2001UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational All-Tournament team.
--He had a match-high 17 kills while hitting .577 vs.Cal State Northridge (1-17).
--He had a match-high 15 kills with 3 digs and 3 blocks vs. UC San Diego (1-19).
--He had a match-best 22 kills with 4 blocks and 6 digs vs. UC Irvine (1-23).
--He had 23 kills and a match-high 11 digs at UC Irvine (1-26).
--He had 9 kills vs. BYU (1-31).
--He had 13 kills at UCLA (2-7).
--Because of disciplinary reasons, he came off the bench to start the third game vs. UC Santa Barbara (2-10) and had a game-high 20 kills while hitting .448.
--He had 25 kills and 8 digs, both match highs, at Cal State Northridge (2-16).
ELI FAIRFIELD
Eli Fairfield, a 6-7 senior outside hitter starting for his fourth season, is known as a strong hitter, accurate passer, lethal jump server and dependable defender. A 2000 All-American honorable mention selection and All-MPSF second teamer, he was second last year on USC in kills (497) while hitting .323 and third in aces (42). He also had 150 digs and 77 blocks. He currently leads USC in aces (14), digs (59) and blocks (23) and is second in kills (111).
--He had 7 kills and 3 aces vs.Cal State Northridge (1-17).
--He had13 kills while hitting .429 and added a team-best 5 digs vs. UC San Diego (1-19).
--He had a match-high 9 digs to go along with his 12 blocks vs. UC Irvine (1-23).
--He had a match-high 24 kills with 10 digs at UC Irvine (1-26).
--He had 9 kills vs. BYU (1-31).
--He had 16 kills and a match-high 12 digs at UCLA (2-7).
--He had 14 kills, 5 blocks and a match-high 12 digs vs. UC Santa Barbara (2-10).
--He had 16 kills (hitting .344), a match-high 6 aces and 5 blocks at Cal State Northridge (2-16).
TREVOR JULIAN
Coach Pat Powers says 6-5 senior outside hitter Trevor Julian, USC's captain in 2001, might be the nation's best passer. He is starting for his fourth seasons. He was second last spring on the Trojans in aces (51) and third in both kills (362) and hitting percentage (.373). He also had 117 digs and 71 blocks. He currently is second on USC in aces with 12.
--He had 5 kills (hitting .500) and 3 aces vs. Cal State Northridge (1-17).
--He had a match-high 4 aces (plus 4 digs and 2 blocks) vs. UC San Diego (1-19).
--He had 14 kills while hitting a match-high .611, and added 6 digs, vs. UC Irvine (1-23).
--He had 12 kills and a match-high 11 digs at UC Irvine (1-26).
--He served a match-high 3 aces vs. BYU (1-31).
--He had 12 digs while hitting a team-best .588 at UCLA (2-7).
--He had 12 kills vs. UC Santa Barbara (2-10).
--He hit .389 with 9 kills, 5 blocks and 4 digs at Cal State Northridge (2-16).
BEAU RAWI
Beau Rawi, a 6-5 junior who is a two-year starting middle blocker, led USC last year in blocks (137) and hitting percentage (.442). He had 315 kills, 24 aces and 28 digs. He currently is second on USC in aces (12).
--He hit .833 with 5 kills and a match-best 5 blocks vs. Cal State Northridge (1-17).
--He set a school single match record 8 aces and added a match-high 5 blocks with 7 kills vs. UC Irvine (1-23).
--He had 14 kills while hitting .440 and added 5 blocks at UC Irvine (1-26).
--He had 9 kills vs. BYU (1-31).
DONNY KILLIAN
It makes sense that 6-5 middle blocker Donny Killian, a transfer from Pepperdine who has earned a starting job most of this season, will spend his 2001 senior year at USC. He has deep Trojan roots, as his father, Don, was a member of USC's 1977 NCAA champs and his sister, Lauren, is a member of the Women of Troy team which played in the 2000 NCAA Final Four (about a dozen other relatives also attended USC). Killian was a two-year starter for Pepperdine, twice appeared in the Final Four and led the Waves in hitting percentage the past two seasons, including .465 (sixth nationally) last fall. He also had 303 kills, 47 aces (he was fifth nationally in ace average at .495), 134 blocks and 69 digs in 2000. He currently leads USC's regulars in hitting percentage at .386.
--In his Trojan home debut, he had 10 kills while hitting .692 vs. Cal State Northridge (1-17).
--He had 4 aces vs. UC Irvine (1-23).
--He had 17 kills while hitting a match-best .448 at UC Irvine (1-26).
--He came off the bench vs. BYU (1-31) to hit .429.
--He had 7 kills and a team-best 5 blocks at UCLA (2-7).
--He missed the UC Santa Barbara match (2-10) after spraining his wrist in a car accident.
--He had 4 blocks off the bench at Cal State Northridge (2-16).
MARK DUSHARME
Mark Dusharme, a 6-7 sophmore middle blocker who started in 2000, is one of the country's top young players (he captained the 2000 USA Boys Junior National team). He was second on USC in blocks (98) and had 253 kills while hitting .361. He also had 20 aces and 32 digs.
--He had 2 aces vs. UC San Diego (1-19).
--He got his first start of 2001 vs. BYU (1-31).
--He had 13 kills (while hitting .364) and a team-best 6 blocks vs. UC Santa Barbara (2-10).
--He started at Cal State Northridge (2-16) and hit a match-best .556.
JOSH DAY
A 6-6 sophomore, Josh Day will push for playing time at middle blocker in 2001. He started 8 times in 2000, ending up second on USC in hitting percentage (.413) and had 79 kills, 45 blocks, 14 aces and 14 digs.
--He started vs. UC Santa Barbara (2-10) and had 10 kills while hitting a match-best .533.
--He started at Cal State Northridge (2-16) and had a team-best 7 blocks.
MILES McGANN
Having the challenging task of filling the big shoes of Donald Suxho at setter is 6-5 sophomore Miles McGann, who appeared in 11 matches in 2000 as an outside hitter and jump serving specialist. But he was a highly-decorated high school setter who has impressive national junior-level experience. He currently leads USC in assists (376).
--He dished 37 assists vs. Cal State Northridge (1-17).
--He rested a sore ankle vs. UC San Diego (1-19).
--He had 52 assists vs. UC Irvine (1-23).
--He had 84 assists with 2 kills, 6 digs and 3 blocks at UC Irvine (1-26).
--He had 33 assists vs. BYU (1-31).
--He posted 50 assists at UCLA (2-7).
--He had 69 assists vs. UC Santa Barbara (2-10).
--He had 51 assists at Cal State Northridge (2-16).
LIBEROS
Greg Burden, a 6-0 junior, is back as USC's libero. He led the Trojans in digs (183) last season. He'll be aided by 6-2 soph Dustin Avol, who was used often as a serving specialist in 2000. Avol is also available to set.
--Burden had 4 digs vs. Cal State Northridge (1-17).
--Burden had 3 digs vs. UC San Diego (1-19), while Avol filled in at setter for McGann (sore ankle) and had 34 assists, 2 aces and 4 digs.
--Burden had 5 digs vs. UC Irvine (1-23).
--Burden had 8 digs at UCLA (2-7).
RESERVES
The wild card in USC's lineup mix is 6-8 redshirt freshman outside hitter Marcus Gilmour, who redshirted last season while recuperating from knee surgery. USC's tallest player, he's just now rounding into playing form...There are four freshmen outside hitters on the 2001 Trojans: a pair of 6-3 players in Peter Jordan and Greg Stampley, 6-4 Charley Witt and 6-5 Michael Hickman. Jordan was the 1999 All-CIF Division II MVP as a senior at San Marcos High in Santa Barbara, Calif., but sat out the 2000 season while working. Stampley was a 2000 All-CIF Division I first teamer on CIF Division I titlist Corona del Mar (Calif.) High. Witt, whose brothers played at Stanford, made the 2000 All-CIF Division III first team at Santa Ynez (Calif.) Valley Union High. Hickman was a three-time All-State selection while at Castle Hills First Baptist High in San Antonio, Tex. Owen Hanson, a 2000 All-CIF Division II first team pick from Redondo (Calif.) Union High, comes in as a 6-2 frosh opposite hitter. Ian Gallagher, who sat out his 2000 senior season at Bishop Montgomery High in Torrance, Calif., with a knee injury (he was a 1999 All-CIF Division II second teamer), is a 6-5 freshman setter. Jordan, Stampley, Hickman and Hanson all were named to Volleyball's Fab 50 prep list.
--Jordan appeared briefly to serve (his first actino at USC) vs. UC San Diego (1-19).
--Jordan had 1 kills at UC Irvine (1-26).
--Hickman saw his first action as a Trojan at UCLA (2-7) and had 1 ace.
--Hickman started vs. UC Santa Barbara (2-10) and had 4 kills while playing the first 2 games.
--Stampley was the libero at Cal State Northridge (2-16) and had 6 digs in his first action as a Trojan.
