Men's Volleyball Plays Three Matches in Five Days
February 04, 2003 | Men's Volleyball
Feb. 4, 2003
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THE FACTS
The USC men's volleyball team (2-6 overall, 1-4 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) this week plays 3 matches in a 5-day span when it goes to NCAA Division III power No. 3 La Verne (4-5) on Tuesday (Feb. 4) for a non-conference contest, then hosts MPSF foes No. 9 Pacific (6-4, 3-1) on Thursday (Feb. 6) in the North Gym and No. 6 Stanford (5-5, 3-3) on Saturday (Feb. 8) in the Lyon Center. All the matches start at 7 p.m.
ON THE AIR
All of USC's home MPSF matches are broadcast live over the internet on www.usctrojans.com. Justin Unell and Scott Lembke are mikeside.
RANKINGS
USC is not ranked in the USA Today/AVCA coaches poll. La Verne is third in the AVCA Division III poll, while Pacific is ninth and Stanford is sixth in the Division I poll.
OPPONENTS
USC has never lost to La Verne in 12 meetings. The Trojans hold a 20-5 lead in its series with Pacific and have won the last 2 meetings, including 3-2 last month in the UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational. Troy owns a 45-19 series edge over Stanford (which plays at Pepperdine on Feb. 6), but has dropped the last 2 contests.
LAST MATCHES
No. 5 Long Beach State rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat USC in 5 games, 30-28, 18-30, 28-30, 30-25, 15-10, on Jan. 28 in Troy's first MPSF road match of 2003. The Trojans were led by Blake Tippett and Mark Dusharme, who each had 14 kills, and Josh Day and Ian Gallagher, who both contributed 13 kills. Chris McKniff had a match-best 10 blocks and hit .571 with 8 kills, while Day (who hit .458) and Dusharme each had 6 blocks and Gallagher added 10 digs. USC outhit (.341 to .273) and outblocked (16.5 to 6.0) the 49ers. On Jan. 31, USC got its first MPSF win of the season with a 22-30, 30-21, 24-30, 30-28, 15-7 comeback in at No. 15 UC San Diego. Dusharme had a team-best 15 kills and Day added 11 with a career-high 10 blocks. Miles McGann had 7 blocks, 6 digs and 2 aces, while Joao Grangeiro had a match-high 14 digs. USC won the blocking battle, 18.5 to 11.0
TOUGH AT HOME
USC is 214-74 (.743) in home matches in its 27-year history. From 1999 to 2001, the Trojans had a school-record 19-match home winning streak in the quaint North Gym.
NORTH GYM/LYON CENTER
For the first time since the 1997 season, USC is returning to the Lyon Center on a regular basis for most of its 2003 home matches. The Trojans will play 8 of their home matches in the 1,300-seat Lyon Center, while the other 4 will be played in the quaint 1,000-seat North Gym (USC's home the past 5 years).
VOLLEYBALL SCHOOL
Besides the 4 NCAA crowns (1977-80-88-90) that USC's men have won, the Women of Troy have captured 5 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. Then, coach Mick Haley's 2002 Women of Troy squad captured the NCAA title this past December.
COACH TURHAN DOUGLAS
Turhan Douglas, an assistant coach the past 3 seasons at USC, was promoted to head coach in May of 2002. Being a head coach is nothing new to the 33-year-old Douglas. In fact, he already exhibited his head coaching ability at USC before this season. When Pat Powers-his predecessor at Troy-missed USC's home match against BYU in 2001 to be with his ill mother, Douglas stepped in and directed the Trojans to a 3-1 upset over the top-ranked, undefeated Cougars. Douglas was a successful junior college and club coach before he came to USC for the 2000 season. He was the men's head coach at Pierce Junior College in Woodland Hills (Calif.) for 2 seasons (1998-99) and guided his squad to the South Coast Conference title both years while going 43-9. His 1999 team was the state runner-up and he was named the conference's Coach of the Year. He also was the head coach of Pierce's women's team for 6 seasons (1993-98). He also spent 6 years (1996-2001) as the director and coach of the Santa Monica (Calif.) Beach Club. In 1998, his team won the USA Junior Olympics Boys 17-and-Under championship. He was an assistant with the Santa Monica Junior College men's team for 4 years (1992-95). Douglas was a reserve middle blocker on the 1991 Long Beach State team that won the NCAA title (defeating USC in the final). He also played 2 seasons at Pierce (1987-88). The 1987 Pierce squad won the state crown and the 1988 team was the state runner-up.
ASSISTANT COACHES
There's a familiar face among USC's 3 first-year assisant coaches. Donald Suxho, one of Troy's greatest players, returned to his alma mater after spending time playing with the USA national team (2000-01), professionally in Poland (2001-02) and on the AVP beach tour (2000 and 2002). The Albanian native was the AVCA National Player of the Year as a Trojan senior setter in 2000. The 2-time (1999-2000) All-American first teamer holds the USC career record for aces (164). Joining him on the 2003 staff are Nabil Mardini, a native of Lebanon who was the women's head coach at Pierce J.C. in Woodland Hills (Calif.) the past 4 seasons (1999-2002)-Pierce was the league champ the last 2 years-and the director and coach of the boys' and girls' teams for Santa Monica (Calif.) Beach Club the last 8 years (1995-2002), and Mark Cruz, a former player under Turhan Douglas at Pierce and then a high school and club coach in Southern California (most recently, guiding the girls' team at Hart High in Newhall).
RETURNING STARTERS
USC returned 4 starters from 2001: middle blockers Josh Day and Phil Small, setter Miles McGann and outside hitter Mark Dusharme. Gone from last year are prolific outside hitter/opposite hitter Brook Billings, a 2000 All-American first teamer who had 2,075 career kills while starting for four seasons, and opposite hitter/middle blocker Beau Rawi, who started 75 matches in his career (plus 3-year starting libero Greg Burden).
TALL TEAM
USC might field the tallest roster in the country, with seven players at least 6-7, led by the inappropriately-named Phil Small (at 6-11, the tallest player in Trojan history).
JOSH DAY
Third-year starter Josh Day, an effective 6-5 senior middle blocker, leads USC in hitting percentage (.401) and blocks (33) and is second in kills (82) in 2003. He led USC's regulars in hitting percentage (.329) and blocks (86) and was second in kills (194) in 2002.
- He had 12 kills while hitting .611 vs. UCLA (1-10).
- He had 8 kills (hitting .400) and 2 blocks vs. Long Beach State (1-11).
- He had 10 kills, 5 digs and 4 blocks vs. Pacific (1-11).
- He had 13 kills (hitting .360) with a match-best 5 blocks vs. Cal State Northridge (1-22).
- He hit an incredible .917 with 11 kills in 12 attempts (zero errors) vs. UC Santa Barbara (1-25).
- He had 13 kills (hitting .458) and 6 blocks at Long Beach State (1-28).
- He had 11 kills with a career-best 10 blocks at UC San Diego (1-31).
MILES McGANN
Steady third-year starter Miles McGann, a 6-5 senior setter, tops Troy is assists (378) and is second in aces (6) and digs (45) in 2003. He led USC in assists (805) and was second in aces (21) in 2002.
- He had 41 assists, 5 digs, 2 aces and 2 blocks vs. UCLA (1-10).
- He had 40 assists, 3 kills and 3 digs vs. Long Beach State (1-11).
- He had 61 assists, 7 digs and 3 kills vs. Pacific (1-11).
- He had 35 assists and a team-best 7 digs vs. Pepperdine (1-17).
- He had 54 assists, 5 kills and 7 digs vs. Cal State Northridge (1-22).
- He had 43 assists and 7 digs vs. UC Santa Barbara (1-25).
- He had 59 assists and 3 blocks at Long Beach State (1-28).
- He had 6 kills, 7 blocks, 6 digs and 2 aces to go along with his 45 assists at UC San Diego (1-31).
MARK DUSHARME
Mark Dusharme, a 6-8 senior with 54 starts at middle blocker and opposite hitter the past 2 seasons, likely will start at opposite hitter or outside hitter in 2003. He leads USC in aces (7), is third in kills (77) and blocks (19) in 2003. He was third on USC in aces (20) in 2002 to rank ninth in the MPSF in ace average (.345).
- He had a match-best 14 kills while hitting .346 vs. Pepperdine (1-17).
- He had a career-best 22 kills (hitting a team-high .447), plus 4 digs and 2 aces, vs. Cal State Northridge (1-22).
- He had 8 kills, 2 aces and 3 blocks vs. UC Santa Barbara (1-25).
- He had a team-best 14 kills with 6 blocks and 5 digs at Long Beach State (1-28).
- He had a team-best 15 kills at UC San Diego (1-31), plus 2 aces.
IN THE MIDDLE
Competing for the other middle blocker spot are sophomores Phil Small, the tallest player (6-11) in USC history, 6-10 Chris McKniff and 6-8 Jeff Bailey. McKniff is third on USC in blocks (19) and second in hitting percentage (.400) in 2003. Each started some matches last season in the middle (20 by Small, 5 by McKniff and 2 by Bailey). Small had 62 blocks in 2002.
- McKniff had 4 kills and 3 blocks vs. UCLA (1-10).
- Bailey had 4 kills vs. Long Beach State (1-11).
- McKniff had 9 kills (hitting .571), 3 aces and 4 blocks vs. Pacific (1-11), while Small was sidelined with a right knee injury.
- Bailey had 9 kills while hitting .375 vs. Pepperdine (1-17).
- Bailey had a career-high 11 kills (hitting .304)with 4 blocks and 5 digs vs. Cal State Northridge (1-22).
- McKniff had a match-best and career-high 10 blocks while hitting .571 with 8 kills at Long Beach State (1-28).
- Bailey had 4 kills and 3 blocks at UC San Diego (1-31).
THE GILMOUR BROTHERS
Challenging Miles McGann at setter is 6-7 soph J.T. Gilmour, who started 11 times last spring and had 366 assists. J.T.'s older brother, 6-9 junior Marcus Gilmour, is fighting for time at an outside hitter spot. Marcus has tremendous potential, but he has been bothered by knee injuries in his Trojan career and has seen only limited action.
ALSO ON THE OUTSIDE
Also in the mix to start at outside hitter are 6-3 junior Peter Jordan, who started 13 times last year at libero, and 6-4 sophomore Blake Tippett, a member of the 2002 USA men's junior national team who started 4 times at opposite hitter and outside hitter for USC in 2002 and also saw action at libero.
- Jordan had 8 kills vs. UCLA (1-10).
- Jordan had 4 kills vs. Long Beach State (1-11), while Tippett added 3 kills.
- Tippett had 4 kills vs. Pepperdine (1-17).
- Tippett had 3 kills vs. UC Santa Barbara (1-25).
- Tippett started at Long Beach State (1-28) and had a team-best 14 kills, plus 7 digs and 4 blocks.
- Jordan had 6 kills and 6 digs at UC San Diego (1-31).
IAN GALLAGHER
The opposite hitter job could go to 6-6 junior Ian Gallagher, who started 13 matches at outside hitter last year (he came to USC as a setter). He leads USC in kills (90), is second in blocks (24) and is third in digs (41) in 2003.
- He had a team-best 15 kills and 4 blocks vs. UCLA (1-10).
- He had a team-high 10 kills and 3 blocks vs. Long Beach State (1-11).
- He had a team-high 22 kills (hitting .351) with 5 digs and 3 blocks vs. Pacific (1-11).
- He had 7 kills, a career-high 8 digs, 3 blocks and 3 aces vs. Cal State Northridge (1-22).
- He had a match-best 13 kills (hitting .381) with 4 digs and 2 blocks vs. UC Santa Barbara (1-25).
- He had 13 kills, 10 digs and 4 blocks at Long Beach State (1-28).
- He had 7 kills, 5 blocks and 8 digs at UC San Diego (1-31).
OTHER RETURNEES
The other returning squadmen have limited USC experience: 6-7 junior outside hitter Phil Peterson, 6-4 sophomore outside hitter Charley Witt, 6-2 sophomore opposite hitter Owen Hanson and 5-10 redshirt freshman libero Evan Burden. Peterson (a part-time starter at San Diego State in 2000) saw brief action last year, Witt has yet to play while slowed with a foot injury, Hanson also has not seen action yet at USC and Burden (the younger brother of USC's former 3-year starting libero, Greg) redshirted in 2002.
- Burden had 5 digs vs. Pacific (1-11).
- Burden had 5 digs vs. Pepperdine (1-17).
FRESHMEN
USC's three new freshmen could have an immediate impact: 6-4 outside hitter Derek Otte and a pair of Brazilians in 6-5 opposite hitter Thiago Barbosa and 6-2 libero-outside hitter Joao Grangeiro. Grangeiro leads USC in digs (96) in 2003. Otte, a two-time All-CIF first teamer who made Volleyball magazine's Fab 50 list, joined Tippett on the 2002 USA men's junior national team. Grangeiro was a member of Brazil's junior national team that won the 2001 World Championship, while both he and Barbosa played on several Brazilian state championship club teams. Barbosa is not yet eligible to compete.
- Grangeiro had a match-best 14 digs vs. UCLA (1-10).
- Grangeiro had a team-best 6 digs vs. Long Beach State (1-11), while Otte added 5 kills.
- Grangeiro started at outside hitter vs. Pacific (1-11) and had 18 kills and a match-best 13 digs, while Otte had 8 kills, 7 digs and 2 blocks.
- Grangeiro had 7 digs while playing both libero and outside hitter vs. Pepperdine (1-17).
- Otte had a career-best 10 kills vs. Cal State Northridge (1-22), while Grangeiro had a match-high and career-best 16 digs.
- Otte had 8 kills vs. UC Santa Barbara (1-25), while Grangeiro had a match-best 14 digs.
- Grangeiro had 12 digs at Long Beach State (1-28).
- Grangeiro had a match0best 14 digs at UC San Diego (1-31).
NOTES
Miles McGann is a business major at USC with a team-best 3.83 GPA...Several USC players have Trojan relatives: Evan Burden's brother, Greg, was USC's libero for 3 seasons (2000-02). Miles McGann's brother, Grant, played water polo at USC in 1997. Several dozen of Marcus and J.T. Gilmour's relatives attended USC, including his mother and father. Charley Witt is a fourth generation Trojan his father, Bob, played water polo at USC and his great grandfather (John Elmore, who lettered at fullback in 1914 for the Trojan football team) and grandfather are Trojan alums. Blake Tippett is a third generation Trojan (his uncle, Hunt Williams, played soccer at USC). Peter Jordan's grandparents and an aunt attended USC. Derek Otte's sister, Luzanne, is a USC grad...Charley Witt's brothers, Andy and Larry, played volleyball at Stanford...Chris McKniff's parents were athletes: his father, John, played basketball at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, while his mother, Sharon (Callahan), placed ninth in the high jump for the U.S. at the 1968 Olympics as just a 16-year-old...Joao Grangeiro's father, Joao, played volleyball for Brazil in the 1980 Olympics...Mark Dusharme's sister, Michelle, played softball at Doane.
