University Southern California Trojans
Trojans to Host Three for USC Classic Tournament
September 05, 2012 | Women's Volleyball
USC Match Notes (PDF) 
| San Diego Match Notes (PDF)
Cal Poly Match Notes (PDF) | Notre Dame Match Notes (PDF)
THIS WEEK:
USC CLASSIC TOURNAMENT
Galen Center | Los Angeles, Calif.
Web Radio: USCTrojans.com All-Access
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Match #1: Cal Poly vs. Notre Dame - 4:30 p.m.
Match #2: No. 5 USC vs. No. 17 San Diego - 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Match #3: No. 5 USC vs. Cal Poly - 10 a.m.
Match #4: No. 17 San Diego vs. Notre Dame - Noon
Match #5: No. 17 San Diego vs. Cal Poly - 5 p.m.
Match #6: No. 5 USC vs. Notre Dame - 7 p.m.
LOS ANGELES - The fifth-ranked Women of Troy continue the back half of a six-match home stand as hosts of the USC Classic Tournament at Galen Center, this weekend. The Trojans are 6-0 on the young season as they welcome in a 17th-ranked San Diego (3-1) squad, Notre Dame (4-2), and Cal Poly (1-4).
USC has had little trouble with its opponents to date. USC is 24-2 in sets, this season. Each of the two sets that the Trojans have lost have been by 28-26 scores; once to Texas A&M and once to Boston College.
Back where they are comfortable, the Trojans have made it very difficult on visitors to the Galen Center. USC went 12-1 in home matches a year ago and is 80-9 all-time on the Galen Center floor. In 2007, the Trojans went undefeated at home with a 19-0 mark on the way to the NCAA national semifinal match.
Through two tournaments, the Trojans have already celebrated two tournament MVP selections. Freshman OH Samantha Bricio was named the most valuable player of the Texas A&M Invitational and senior opposite hitter Katie Fuller was dubbed the MVP of the Luxe City Center Trojan Invitational.
USC can make it seven, eight, or nine in a row when the Toreros, Fighting Irish, and the Mustangs come to LA. The last time the Trojans started a season with that kind of a streak, it went 12-0 to open the 2010 season and ended up in the first of two back-to-back NCAA semifinal matches.
TOURNAMENT RECAP: The Women of Troy dominated the competition to claim the 2012 Luxe City Center Trojan Invitational title. Senior opposite hitter Katie Fuller was chosen as the tournament MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by junior libero Natalie Hagglund and freshman outside hitter Samantha Bricio. USC posted the first of two 3-0 sweeps in a 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 victory over a 23rd-ranked Northern Iowa squad. The Trojans held a 2-0 lead against Boston College but were edged for the third set, 28-26, by the Eagles. USC came back to close out the match on an incredible fourth set where it attacked at a .680 rate with 17 kills on 25 swings without a single error. Bricio was on fire as she posted nine kills without an error on nine swings. USC made good on 90 percent of its sideout opportunities and came away with a 25-10 win. In a quick match against Mississippi State, the Trojans stifled the Bulldogs to the tune of a 25-13, 25-10, 25-12 victory to win the tournament crown.
TROJANS IN TV LAND: The Women of Troy will appear in at least 15 televised matches, this season. With the arrival of the new Pac-12 Networks, over 80 conference events are scheduled for broadcast, this fall. USC had the honor and privilege of being part of the first-ever live women's volleyball event on the new networks on Tuesday, Aug. 28, when it hosted Jiangsu China in an exhibition match. The Trojans are slated to appear 13 times on Pac-12 Networks; five times at Galen Center, and eight times as the road team. The Sept. 19 rivalry match against defending NCAA champion UCLA will be broadcast by ESPNU.
SCOUTING REPORT:
SAN DIEGO
The Trojans and the Toreros (3-1) last met in the second round of the 2012 NCAA tournament. As hosts of the first and second rounds, USC took advantage of the home-court advantage and claimed a 3-1 win (25-15, 25-20, 22-25, 31-29) at the Galen Center on Dec. 4. That year, the Trojans advanced all the way to the NCAA semifinals before suffering a loss to California. Overall, USC is 8-0 in all-time meetings against San Diego. The Toreros are paced by junior hitter Katie Hoekman who averages 2.75 kps. She is one of five USD players who average at least two kills per set.
CAL POLY
Under first-year head coach Sam Crosson, the Mustangs are off to a 1-4 start, but they have faced elite competition in a second-ranked Texas squad, and a previously 19th-ranked San Diego team. Cal Poly's only win was a 3-2 victory against Idaho. The Trojans are 12-5 against Cal Poly all-time and currently hold a three-match winning streak. The teams last met in the 2005 season opener where the Trojans won a 30-27, 30-26, 30-25 decision at home on August 27. USC is also 7-3 in the last 10 meetings against the Mustangs. Four players average over two kills per set for Cal Poly, which is led by junior outside hitter Holly Franks (2.53 kps).
NOTRE DAME
The Fighting Irish (4-2) won on a neutral court the last time they faced off with the Trojans, but are winless in LA as guests of the Women of Troy. USC owns a 4-2 record in the all-time series history but dropped a four-set match, 23-30, 32-30, 30-26, 30-27, against a 19th-ranked Notre Dame squad on Sept. 9, 2005, the last time the two teams met. The Irish are coached by former USC All-American Debbie Brown (formerly Landreth) who captained the Trojans to national titles in 1976 and 1977. Sophomore right side Toni Alugbue was honored by the Big East after she received the MVP award at Notre Dame's last tournament. She averages 4.00 kps (.301) and 2.00 digs, this season.
