No. 18 Trojans Face Tough Tests in Omaha

LOS ANGELES – The 18th-ranked USC women's volleyball team (3-0) heads east this week to face Northern Iowa (3-0), No. 13 Kentucky (3-0), and host No. 7 Creighton (3-0) in the 2017 Bluejay Invitational presented by First National Bank at the D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha, Neb. These four teams will meet in a non-conference tournament for the fourth-straight season and while each of the squads enters the weekend undefeated, the Women of Troy are unbeaten all-time (13-0) against its upcoming weekend foes.

Last year, USC's three wins at Galen Center against UNI, UK, and Creighton sprang the Trojans to their season-long eight-match winning streak (Sept. 2-16). The Women of Troy opened this season with a trio of four-set wins including one over 16th-ranked Michigan. Led by double-doubles from sophomore OH Khalia Lanier (19k, 12d) and sophomore S Cindy Marina (29a, 10d), the Trojans took down their first ranked team since beating a 16th-ranked Oregon on Oct. 14, 2016. Marina and senior S Reni Meyer-Whalley, have set the Trojans to better than .365 hitting in each of their first three matches.

LAST TIME OUT: The Women of Troy opened the 2017 campaign with three 3-1 wins in the USC/LMU Tournament. USC took town co-host Loyola Marymount after dropping its first set and then earned a big victory over No. 16 Michigan at Galen Center. The Trojans topped the weekend off with a 3-1 win over UAlbany. Outside hitters Khalia Lanier and Alyse Ford; and opposite hitters Brittany Abercrombie and Niki Withers were each named to the All-Tournament Team with Lanier taking home MVP honors. Lanier logged her 17th-career double-double (19k, 12d) to lead the Women of Troy to their win over the Wolverines. Sophomore transfer setter Cindy Marina made her USC debut weekend and put up her 18th-career double-double with 29 assists and 10 digs against Michigan.

THE FOOT FAULT

USC is a combined 13-0 against UNI, Creighton, and Kentucky. The Trojans won last year's edition of this tournament as hosts at Galen Center.
The Women of Troy are 3-2 all-time in matches played in the state of Nebraska and last ventured into the Cornhusker State in 2008.
The Trojans' current three-match win streak is their longest since Oct. 14-21, 2016. USC last won more than three in a row Sept. 2-16, 2016 (8 straight).
OH Khalia Lanier was named last week's Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week; the first-such award of her career.
Lanier the MVP, OH Alyse Ford, OPP Brittany Abercrombie, and OPP Niki Withers were each chosen to the USC/LMU All-Tournament Team last week.
USC's roster features eight newcomers in 2017 including four transfers. In total, the Trojan roster has eight players who have played at other colleges.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Brittany Abercrombie

Alyse Ford

Khalia Lanier

Cindy Marina

Reni Meyer-Whalley

Niki Withers