Saturday, February 24
Tempe, Ariz.
5:00 PM
USC
at
USC at Arizona State
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
Photo by: John McGillen
No. 1 USC Storms Desert to Open 2018 Campaign
February 22, 2018 | Women's Beach Volleyball, Features
The Women of Troy are three-time defending collegiate beach volleyball champions
LOS ANGELES – No. 1-ranked USC begins defense of its three consecutive national championships this weekend when the Women of Troy head to the desert for duals at the PERA Club in Tempe, Ariz. The Trojans face host Arizona State (Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. PT), Nebraska (Feb. 25 at 8 a.m. PT), and No. 14 Cal Poly (Feb. 25 at 12 p.m. PT) as part of the Arizona State Tournament.
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USC has won 100 of its last 103 contests and won the final six duals of 2017 to finish 38-1 en route to the second of back-to-back NCAA titles. The Trojans' run began in 2015 with a 28-0 mark that led to their first national championship, an AVCA crown.
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Gone is the Trojans' talented 2017 senior class of All-Americans Kelly Claes, Sara Hughes, Allie Wheeler, and Sophie Bukovec; and CoSIDA Academic All-American Nicolette Martin, but USC returns a strong core with seniors Jenna Belton, Jo Kremer, and Terese Cannon at the forefront. Junior Abril Bustamante and sophomore Joy Dennis are also among the Trojans' returning starters. Junior Katrina Kernochan--who partnered with eighth different teammates a season ago--and sophomores Cammie Dorn and Lainy Thomas are back to bolster the USC lineup.
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The Women of Troy also welcome a group of newcomers that will battle immediately for playing time. Junior Brianna Sizemore will see time in uniform for the first time this spring but has been with the Trojans since spring of 2017 following her transfer from Point Loma. USC also welcomes Alexandra Poletto, who joins the team following a four-year indoor career at Colorado State. The Trojans' freshman class includes Haley Hallgren, Sammy Slater, Maja Kaiser, Tina Graudina, and Peri Green. In her seventh year at the helm, head coach Anna Collier is 146-18 in all-time dual matches.
2018 ARIZONA STATE INVITATIONAL
PERA Club • Tempe, Ariz.
MATCH #1 • Saturday, Feb. 24 • 6 p.m. MT (5 p.m. PT)
No. 1 USC (0-0) at Arizona State (0-0)
Series History: USC leads, 7-0 (1.000) • Streak: W7
Last Meeting: W, 5-0 (Apr. 27, 2017 • Tucson, Ariz.)
Opponent Web: TheSunDevils.com
MATCH #2 • Sunday, Feb. 25 • 9 a.m. MT (8 a.m. PT)
No. 1 USC (0-0) vs. Nebraska (0-0)
Series History: USC leads, 7-0 (1.000) • Streak: W7
Last Meeting: W, 5-0 (Apr. 17, 2017 • Honolulu, Hawai'i)
Opponent Web: Huskers.com
MATCH #3 • Sunday, Feb. 25 • 1 p.m. MT (12 p.m. PT)
No. 1 USC (0-0) vs. No. 14 Cal Poly (0-0)
Series History: USC leads, 1-0 (1.000) • Streak: W1
Last Meeting: W, 5-0 (Apr. 22, 2017 • MNS)
Opponent Web: GoPoly.com
BARE E-SAND-SHELLS
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USC has won 100 of its last 103 contests and won the final six duals of 2017 to finish 38-1 en route to the second of back-to-back NCAA titles. The Trojans' run began in 2015 with a 28-0 mark that led to their first national championship, an AVCA crown.
Â
Gone is the Trojans' talented 2017 senior class of All-Americans Kelly Claes, Sara Hughes, Allie Wheeler, and Sophie Bukovec; and CoSIDA Academic All-American Nicolette Martin, but USC returns a strong core with seniors Jenna Belton, Jo Kremer, and Terese Cannon at the forefront. Junior Abril Bustamante and sophomore Joy Dennis are also among the Trojans' returning starters. Junior Katrina Kernochan--who partnered with eighth different teammates a season ago--and sophomores Cammie Dorn and Lainy Thomas are back to bolster the USC lineup.
Â
The Women of Troy also welcome a group of newcomers that will battle immediately for playing time. Junior Brianna Sizemore will see time in uniform for the first time this spring but has been with the Trojans since spring of 2017 following her transfer from Point Loma. USC also welcomes Alexandra Poletto, who joins the team following a four-year indoor career at Colorado State. The Trojans' freshman class includes Haley Hallgren, Sammy Slater, Maja Kaiser, Tina Graudina, and Peri Green. In her seventh year at the helm, head coach Anna Collier is 146-18 in all-time dual matches.
2018 ARIZONA STATE INVITATIONAL
PERA Club • Tempe, Ariz.
MATCH #1 • Saturday, Feb. 24 • 6 p.m. MT (5 p.m. PT)
No. 1 USC (0-0) at Arizona State (0-0)
Series History: USC leads, 7-0 (1.000) • Streak: W7
Last Meeting: W, 5-0 (Apr. 27, 2017 • Tucson, Ariz.)
Opponent Web: TheSunDevils.com
MATCH #2 • Sunday, Feb. 25 • 9 a.m. MT (8 a.m. PT)
No. 1 USC (0-0) vs. Nebraska (0-0)
Series History: USC leads, 7-0 (1.000) • Streak: W7
Last Meeting: W, 5-0 (Apr. 17, 2017 • Honolulu, Hawai'i)
Opponent Web: Huskers.com
MATCH #3 • Sunday, Feb. 25 • 1 p.m. MT (12 p.m. PT)
No. 1 USC (0-0) vs. No. 14 Cal Poly (0-0)
Series History: USC leads, 1-0 (1.000) • Streak: W1
Last Meeting: W, 5-0 (Apr. 22, 2017 • MNS)
Opponent Web: GoPoly.com
BARE E-SAND-SHELLS
- USC is the three-time defending national champion and won the first-ever NCAA title in the sport in 2016 (AVCA, 2015). The Trojans are also the two-time defending Pac-12 Champions.
- The Women of Troy have won 100 of their last 103 dual matches.
- Seventh-year head coach Anna Collier was the 2014 AVCA National Coach of the Year. She is 146-18 (.890) at USC and was the first collegiate coach to reach 100 career victories; now just one of two.
- Only five teams have ever beaten the Trojans in a dual: Pepperdine (8), Long Beach State (5), Florida State (3), Hawai'i (1), and UCLA (1).
- USC leads the Pac-12 with 11 all-time Pair of the Week honors.
Beach Volleyball - USC 1, LMU 3: Highlights (5/3/25)
Saturday, May 03
Beach Volleyball - USC 3, North Florida 0: Highlights (5/2/25)
Friday, May 02
USC Beach's Madison White | Trojans Live 4.14.25
Monday, April 14
Beach Volleyball - USC 3, Cal Poly 2: Highlights (4/11/25)
Friday, April 11
