Friday, September 8
Santa Barbara, CA
12:30 PM
USC
5-2
3
vs
2
Arkansas
6-2
1
2
3
4
5
F
USC
22
25
20
26
15
3
Arkansas
25
21
25
24
9
2
Team Stats
USC
AR
Kills
59
63
Errors
30
32
Attempts
165
184
Hitting %
.176
.168
Points
79.0
81.0
Assists
55
60
Aces
5
2
Blocks
15.0
16.0
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
9
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
10
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's VolleyballPhoto by: John McGillen
No. 19 USC Passes Five-Set Test Against Arkansas
September 08, 2017 | Women's Volleyball, Features
The Women of Troy scored their first 3-2 win of the season in a thrilling finish over the Razorbacks
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The 19th-ranked USC women's volleyball team (5-2) needed every last point to complete a 3-2 win (22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 26-24, 15-9) over Arkansas (6-2) in the second match of the UCSB Thunderdome Classic at The Thunderdome on Friday, Sept. 8. The match marked the first five-setter for the Women of Troy this season.
Â
The Trojans hit .400 in the final frame, but found themselves in a drag-out battle with the Razorbacks throughout the match. Arkansas finished with 16.0 blocks to USC's 15.0, but the Women of Troy edged ahead at the end to finish with a .176 hitting percentage (59k, 30e, 165att). The Razorbacks hit .168 (63k, 32e, 184att).
Â
Sophomore outside hitter Khalia Lanier put up 18 kills (11e, 53att, .132) and had a season-high 17 digs for her second double-double of the year (18th career). Lanier was one of four Trojans in double-digit points and was joined by senior opposite hitter Brittany Abercrombie, who had 12 kills (4e, 30att, .267) to go with a career-high nine blocks (one solo).
Â
Senior middle blocker Jordan Dunn had six kills on eight swings without an error to hit .750 and added a season-high 10 blocks (one solo) for 11.5 points. Senior opposite Niki Withers added 10 kills (5e, 26att, .192) with five digs and two blocks. Junior middle blocker Brittany Welsh put up five kills (2e, 11att, .273) to go with four blocks. Defensively, the Women of Troy were led by junior libero Victoria Garrick, who had 20 digs. Sophomore defender Jenna Adams added six digs and one service ace.
Â
Senior setter Reni Meyer-Whalley dished out 29 assists, put up nine digs, and scored a pair of service aces. Sophomore setter Cindy Marina had 21 assists to go with four digs and one ace.
Â
For the Razorbacks, Victoria Pilar had 33.5 points on 29 kills (11e, 71att, .254) with 15 digs. Rachel Rippee had 49 assists with 10 digs for a double-double. Elizabeth Pamphile scored eight kills with seven blocks.
Â
The Trojans led the first set by as many as five points at 17-12, but Arkansas mounted its first run to equalize at 19-all on a block. The Razorbacks inched ahead several times before closing out a 9-3 run to sew up a 25-22 win. USC fell back by four points early in the second, but used a 6-1 run to take a 10-9 lead and rode it out to a 25-21 win. The Trojans led by as many as eight points at 23-15 on a service ace by Garrick, but the Razorbacks mounted a comeback with their own 6-1 run to close within three at 24-21. In transition, Abercrombie set Lanier for the final kill of the set to put the 25-21 win in the books.
Â
Arkansas led by as many as six points at 19-13 in the third set, but the Trojans stayed the course to tie the score for just the second time at 20-all. The Razorbacks broke the 20-point tie and scored the final five points with two blocks, two kills, and a Trojan error to win the third set, 25-20. The Women of Troy erased a five-point deficit in the fourth set with back-to-back blocks from Dunn and went ahead, 14-13, momentarily; but Arkansas regained control and went up by three, 21-18. Three straight kills from Krage, Lanier, and Abercrombie closed the gap once more, but it was Meyer-Whalley's ace that put USC on top, 23-22. The Trojans sewed up their 26-24 win in the fourth with a block of Victoria by Abercrombie and Welsh.
Â
The teams went back and forth to open the fifth, but three kills from Lanier helped the Women of Troy pull ahead by three, 6-3. Withers and Welsh teamed up for a block to bring the Trojans a 10-5 lead and forced a second Arkansas timeout. The Razorbacks scored back-to-back kills from Victoria, but Lanier's kill, followed by an ace by Adams, sent the Trojans on the final run of the match. Abercrombie scored on a tool-shot kill and then Lanier's crosscourt rocket terminated the final rally of the match for a 15-9 USC win.
Â
The Trojans are back in action tonight at 7 p.m. PT against tournament host UC Santa Barbara (0-7) in the fourth match of the UCSB Thunderdome Classic. USC closes out the tourney with one more match at 4 p.m. PT on Saturday (Sept. 9).
Â
For more information on the USC women's volleyball team and a complete schedule and results, please visit USCTrojans.com. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on Periscope, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram.
Â
MATCH NOTES
Â
The Trojans hit .400 in the final frame, but found themselves in a drag-out battle with the Razorbacks throughout the match. Arkansas finished with 16.0 blocks to USC's 15.0, but the Women of Troy edged ahead at the end to finish with a .176 hitting percentage (59k, 30e, 165att). The Razorbacks hit .168 (63k, 32e, 184att).
Â
Sophomore outside hitter Khalia Lanier put up 18 kills (11e, 53att, .132) and had a season-high 17 digs for her second double-double of the year (18th career). Lanier was one of four Trojans in double-digit points and was joined by senior opposite hitter Brittany Abercrombie, who had 12 kills (4e, 30att, .267) to go with a career-high nine blocks (one solo).
Â
Senior middle blocker Jordan Dunn had six kills on eight swings without an error to hit .750 and added a season-high 10 blocks (one solo) for 11.5 points. Senior opposite Niki Withers added 10 kills (5e, 26att, .192) with five digs and two blocks. Junior middle blocker Brittany Welsh put up five kills (2e, 11att, .273) to go with four blocks. Defensively, the Women of Troy were led by junior libero Victoria Garrick, who had 20 digs. Sophomore defender Jenna Adams added six digs and one service ace.
Â
Senior setter Reni Meyer-Whalley dished out 29 assists, put up nine digs, and scored a pair of service aces. Sophomore setter Cindy Marina had 21 assists to go with four digs and one ace.
Â
For the Razorbacks, Victoria Pilar had 33.5 points on 29 kills (11e, 71att, .254) with 15 digs. Rachel Rippee had 49 assists with 10 digs for a double-double. Elizabeth Pamphile scored eight kills with seven blocks.
Â
The Trojans led the first set by as many as five points at 17-12, but Arkansas mounted its first run to equalize at 19-all on a block. The Razorbacks inched ahead several times before closing out a 9-3 run to sew up a 25-22 win. USC fell back by four points early in the second, but used a 6-1 run to take a 10-9 lead and rode it out to a 25-21 win. The Trojans led by as many as eight points at 23-15 on a service ace by Garrick, but the Razorbacks mounted a comeback with their own 6-1 run to close within three at 24-21. In transition, Abercrombie set Lanier for the final kill of the set to put the 25-21 win in the books.
Â
Arkansas led by as many as six points at 19-13 in the third set, but the Trojans stayed the course to tie the score for just the second time at 20-all. The Razorbacks broke the 20-point tie and scored the final five points with two blocks, two kills, and a Trojan error to win the third set, 25-20. The Women of Troy erased a five-point deficit in the fourth set with back-to-back blocks from Dunn and went ahead, 14-13, momentarily; but Arkansas regained control and went up by three, 21-18. Three straight kills from Krage, Lanier, and Abercrombie closed the gap once more, but it was Meyer-Whalley's ace that put USC on top, 23-22. The Trojans sewed up their 26-24 win in the fourth with a block of Victoria by Abercrombie and Welsh.
Â
The teams went back and forth to open the fifth, but three kills from Lanier helped the Women of Troy pull ahead by three, 6-3. Withers and Welsh teamed up for a block to bring the Trojans a 10-5 lead and forced a second Arkansas timeout. The Razorbacks scored back-to-back kills from Victoria, but Lanier's kill, followed by an ace by Adams, sent the Trojans on the final run of the match. Abercrombie scored on a tool-shot kill and then Lanier's crosscourt rocket terminated the final rally of the match for a 15-9 USC win.
Â
The Trojans are back in action tonight at 7 p.m. PT against tournament host UC Santa Barbara (0-7) in the fourth match of the UCSB Thunderdome Classic. USC closes out the tourney with one more match at 4 p.m. PT on Saturday (Sept. 9).
Â
For more information on the USC women's volleyball team and a complete schedule and results, please visit USCTrojans.com. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on Periscope, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram.
Â
MATCH NOTES
- USC improved to 2-0 in all-time matches against Arkansas (W, 3-0, in Austin, Texas; Sept. 2, 2000).
- The Trojans played in and won their first five-set match of the season. It was the first five-set win for the Women of Troy since a 3-2 victory over Oregon State on Nov. 18, 2016.
- The Trojans hit a season-low .176 (59-30-165) but put up a season-high 15.0 blocks.
- Sophomore OH Khalia Lanier scored her second double-double of the season (18th career) with 18 kills and 17 digs.
- Senior OPP Brittany Abercrombie set a new career high with nine blocks (one solo).
- Senior MB Jordan Dunn had a season-high 10 blocks (one shy of her career mark).
- Junior L Victoria Garrick scored her third 20-plus dig match of the season; her third in the last four matches.
- Sophomore OPP Daley Krage scored her first-collegiate kills and finished with three and a block for 3.5 points.
Women's Volleyball - USC 3, Iowa 1: Highlights (10/17/25)
Friday, October 17
Women's Volleyball - USC 0, UCLA 3: Highlights (10/11/25)
Saturday, October 11
Women's Volleyball USC 3, Oregon 0: Highlights (10/9/25)
Thursday, October 09
Women's Volleyball - USC 0, Purdue 3: Highlights (10/04/25)
Saturday, October 04
