University Southern California Trojans
USC
15-0, 3-0Pac-12
Washington State
12-3, 1-2Pac-12
No. 2 USC Cages Cougars For 3-0 Sweep
October 02, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 2, 2015
Final Stats | Notes | Box Score (PDF) 
LOS ANGELES -- The second-ranked Women of Troy (15-0, 3-0 Pac-12) continued to roll and picked up a 15th consecutive win to open the season with a 3-0 sweep of Washington State (12-3, 1-2) at the Galen Center on Friday, Oct. 2. The Trojans were led by senior outside hitter Samantha Bricio who tallied 13 kills (6e, 35att, .200) to go with 15 digs for her fifth double-double of the season (46th of her career). Bricio also had a service ace and five blocks for 16.5 points.
USC's freshman outside hitter Alyse Ford also did some damage from the pins and finished with 11 kills (3e, 20att) and hit .400 to go with a pair of blocks. USC hit .245 in the match (39k, 16e, 94att) thanks to the setting of freshman Baylee Johnson and junior Alice Pizzasegola. Johnson picked up her fourth double-double of the year with 20 assists and 10 digs to go with a pair of aces and two kills. Pizzasegola dished out 14 assists and had seven digs and a service ace.
As successful as its offense was, the Trojans were staunch on the defensive side of the net and held the Cougars to a .000 hitting percentage with 23 kills (23e) on 113 attempts; the lowest offensive output by an opponent this year. USC finished with 10.0 blocks with eight from senior middle blocker Alicia Ogoms (one solo). Junior libero Taylor Whittingham led the charge from the back row with 18 digs.
The Cougars' top attackers were each held to negative hitting percentages. Kyra Holt had seven kills (9e, 40att) but hit negative .050. McKenna Woodford had four kills (5e) on 33 swings and hit negative .030. WSU also had 10 blocks and got 10 digs from libero Kate Sommer.
USC never trailed in the opening set and led by five, 9-4, on back-to-back kills from Ford and Bricio. The Cougars trimmed that lead to one, but Bricio and Johnson scored on consecutive rallies to give the Trojans a three-point lead at 11-8. USC scored a 7-2 run to close the first set and won, 25-14, on a pipe-set kill from Bricio.
The Trojans scored points on the first six rallies of the second set and had all but put away the Cougars when Bricio served an ace for a 22-10 lead. Back-to-back kills from sophomore Brittany Abercrombie and Bricio gave USC set point at 24-12, but WSU reeled off a 6-0 run to get within seven, 24-17. Out of a timeout, Abercrombie and junior middle blocker Elise Ruddins teamed up to stuff Woodford and closed out a 25-17 win to put the Trojans up, 2-0, in the match.
The lead changed three times and the score was tied seven times before the Trojans could complete a 25-21 win in the third set to take down the Cougars, 3-0. USC led by four, 10-6, but WSU charged back to take a 14-13 lead on a 5-1 run. The Trojans went back ahead by two at 17-15, but were caught once more at 19. It took some persistence, but Ford came through with the final two points of the match to secure the victory.
USC is back in action on Sunday, Oct. 4, against No. 5-ranked Washington (13-0, 3-0 Pac-12). The match will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks at 1 p.m. PT with Anne Marie Anderson and Josh Grau on the call. It is also Family Funday Sunday at Galen Center. The special promotion includes $1 tickets for kids 12 and under (walk-up only), $1 hot dogs and $1 small sodas. The first 500 fans receive a special 22x17 autograph cheer card and the Women of Troy will be offering a free post-match autograph session in the Centofante Hall of Fame.
To purchase season or single-match tickets for USC home matches, visit GetTrojanTix.com or call (213) 740-GOSC. For more information on the USC women's volleyball team and a complete schedule, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCWomensVolley on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Periscope.
MATCH NOTES
- USC improved to 47-13 in all-time matches against Washington State and moved to 28-2 all-time at home. The Trojans won their third straight against the Cougars.
- The Women of Troy are 15-0 to start a season for the fourth time under head coach Mick Haley.
- The Trojans finished with 10.0 blocks and reached the 10-block mark for the fifth straight match; the seventh time this season.
- USC held Washington State to a .000 hitting percentage, the lowest output by an opponent this year. • Senior OH Samantha Bricio logged her fifth double-double of the season and the 46th of her career with 13 kills and 15 digs.
- With 11 kills, freshman OH Alyse Ford had her sixth straight match in double digits for kills; her eighth this season.
- Freshman setter Baylee Johnson produced her fourth double-double of the season and finished with 20 assists and 10 digs.
