University Southern California Trojans
No. 1 USC Opens Title Defense on Zuma Beach
February 29, 2016 | Women's Beach Volleyball
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Feb. 29, 2016
PEPPERDINE KICK OFF
Zuma Beach • Malibu, Calif.
MATCH #1
No. 1 USC (0-0) vs. No. 3 Hawai'i (0-0)
Saturday, March 5 • 10:15 a.m. PT
Series History: USC leads, 5-1
Last Meeting: W, 5-0 (Mar. 18, 2015 • Honolulu)
Opponent Web: www.HawaiiAthletics.com
MATCH #2
No. 1 USC (0-0) at No. 2 Pepperdine (0-0)
Saturday, March 5 • 12:45 p.m. PT
Series History: Pepperdine leads, 7-4
Last Meeting: W, 3-2 (May 1, 2015 • Gulf Shores, Ala.)
Opponent Web: www.PepperdineSports.com
MATCH #3
No. 1 USC (0-0) vs. No. 6 UCLA (0-0)
Sunday, March 6 • 10:15 a.m. PT
Series History: USC leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: W, 5-0 (Apr. 12, 2014 • Hermosa Beach)
Opponent Web: www.UCLABruins.com
MATCH #4
No. 1 USC (0-0) vs. No. 4 Long Beach State (0-0)
Sunday, March 6 • 2 p.m. PT
Series History: LBSU leads, 5-3
Last Meeting: W, 3-0 (May 2, 2015 • Gulf Shores, Ala.)
Opponent Web: www.LongBeachState.com
THE BARE E-SAND-SHELLS
- The Women of Troy are the defending national champions. USC won the school's 123rd team national title by claiming the 2015 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championship.
- The Trojans return four All-Americans to the top of their lineup including defending pairs champions Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes, and Sophie Bukovec and Alexa Strange.
- USC has losing series records against just two schools: Pepperdine (4-7) and Long Beach State (3-5). The Trojans will face both to open the 2016 season.
- Fifth-year head coach Anna Collier was the 2014 AVCA National Coach of the Year and has a 74-15 overall record with the Women of Troy.
- 2016 marks the inaugural season for beach volleyball as an NCAA championship sport. The Pac-12 will also sponsor a championship tournament.
- USC has defeated Pepperdine at Zuma Beach once in four tries (2015).
- The USC-Long Beach State contest is a rematch of the 2015 natonal title match.
LOS ANGELES -- The No. 1-ranked defending national champion USC beach volleyball team (0-0) opens the 2016 campaign with four matches in the Pepperdine Kick Off this weekend (March 5-6) on the sands of Zuma Beach in Malibu, Calif. The Women of Troy will face four teams ranked in the AVCA Top 10; all ranked No. 6 or higher. On Saturday, March 5, the Trojans break the seal on 2016 with a 10:15 a.m. PT match against No. 3 Hawai'i (0-0). They then take on No. 2 Pepperdine (0-0) at 12:45 p.m. On Sunday, March 6, USC faces No. 6-ranked UCLA (0-0) for the first time since 2014 at 10:15 a.m. and then concludes the weekend in a rematch against No. 4 Long Beach State (2 p.m.), whom the Women of Troy beat twice in the AVCA National Championships last May to claim the national crown.
