University Southern California Trojans
No. 3 USC Set for Oklahoma Invitational
September 16, 2015 | Women's Volleyball
Follow, Like, Instagram, and Periscope with @USCWomensVolley
2015 Oklahoma Invitational
McCasland Field House • Norman, Okla.
Match #11
No. 3 USC (10-0) at Oklahoma (5-4)
Thursday, Sept. 17 • 8 p.m. CT (6 p.m. PT)
Series Record: USC leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: W, 3-0 (Dec. 4, 2009 | Galen Center)
Current Streak: Won 3
Last 10 Meetings: 3-0
TV: Fox College Sports (Central)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Opponent Web: SoonerSports.com
Match #12
No. 3 USC (10-0) vs. Maryland (10-1)
Friday, Sept. 18 • 4:30 p.m. CT (2:30 p.m. PT)
Series Record: USC leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: W, 3-0 (Sept. 19, 2014 | Seattle, Wash.)
Current Streak: Won 2
Last 10 Meetings: 2-0
Live Stream: SoonerSports.com
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Opponent Web: UMTerps.com
Sept. 16, 2015
LOS ANGELES -- The third-ranked USC women's volleyball team (10-0) carries a 29-set winning streak into its final tune up before the start of Pac-12 play. The Women of Troy will head to Norman, Okla., to face host Oklahoma (5-4) on Thursday, Sept. 17 (8 p.m. CT), and Maryland (10-1) on Friday, Sept. 18 (4:30 p.m. CT), in the Oklahoma Invitational at the McCasland Field House.
The Trojans' 29-set winning streak is the program's longest since the team had a 30-set streak in 2002 (Nov. 8-Dec. 13) en route to claiming the first of two back-to-back NCAA championships. USC's school record set streak is 38 set in 2000 (Sept. 1-Oct. 6). The Women of Troy are 10-0 to start a season for the seventh time under head coach Mick Haley. In fact, the Trojans have gone unbeaten in pre-league tournaments six times in Haley's previous 14 seasons. USC needs two more wins to match that milestone for a seventh time.
Senior outside hitter Samantha Bricio earned her third consecutive Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honor this week and became just the second player in league history to win three straight weekly honors in the same season (Logan Tom, 2001) and the first to do so in nearly 15 years. She leads the conference in kills (5.13 kps) and ranks second in the nation. She leads the country in service aces (0.81 saps) and points (6.32 pps).
Bricio isn't alone in her endeavors however. Fellow senior Alicia Ogoms has been a solid middle blocker for the Trojans and leads the Pac-12 with 1.68 bps and is fifth in hitting percentage (.419). Junior libero Taylor Whittingham is the league's leader for digs (4.90 dps). The Trojans also boast scoring threats in freshman Alyse Ford (2.45 kps) and sophomore opposite hitter Brittany Abercrombie (2.50 kps).
LAST TIME OUT: The Women of Troy extended their 17-set winning streak to 29 as they captured the USC Classic title with four 3-0 sweeps on wins over Utah State, Pepperdine, Idaho State, and New Mexico. Seniors Alicia Ogoms, Samantha Bricio, and freshman Alyse Ford were each chosen to the all-tournament team. Bricio earned tournament MVP honors for the eighth time in her career and appeared on a pre-conference all-tournament team for the 13th time in four years. On the weekend, Bricio rose from ninth to sixth place on USC's all-time career kills list and displaced Trojan legends April Ross (7th), Nancy Hillman (8th), and Katie Haller (9th). She also served eight aces against the Aggies to match the program's single-match record; a mark she has once set before. The same day, she also served five aces against the Waves: the 15th time in her career that she has had five or more aces in one match. Bricio maintained a .404 hitting percentage in the four matches and collected a total of 14 aces (1.17 saps). Ogoms had 16 kills and hit .316 as she led the team with 18 blocks including a career-high matching eight against Idaho State. Junior libero Taylor Whittingham led the team with 58 digs (4.83 dps).
LET ME TAKE A #SELFIE: Get social with the Women of Troy this season. Fans can follow and interact with the USC women's volleyball team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Periscope by searching for @USCWomensVolley.
