University Southern California Trojans
Monday, December 30
Los Angeles, Calif.
4:00 PM
USC
vs
Douglas College
Photo by: John McGillen/USC Athletics
No. 12 USC Men's Volleyball Hosts Canada's Douglas College In Exhibition
December 30, 2019 | Men's Volleyball, Features
The 2020 USC men's volleyball team hosts Canada's Douglas College in split squad exhibition matches today (Dec. 30) at 4 p.m. PT in the Galen Center and Galen Center Pavilion.
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USC is coming off a successful 2019 season. The Trojans more than doubled their win total from 2018 by going 18-11 overall (their most wins since 2015) and finishing third in the MPSF at 7-5 (their highest league finish since 2012). Troy was the MPSF Tournament runnerup and, for the first time since 2012, qualified for the NCAAs. USC, playing the nation's toughest schedule, had 7 wins over teams ranked in the AVCA Top 10 at the time and won 11 of its last 15 matches.Â
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Top returning players for fifth-year USC head coach Jeff Nygaard are a trio of juniors: opposite hitter-middle blocker Kyle Gear, who led USC in hitting percentage last spring (.421), 2-year starting setter Chris Hall, an All-MPSF honorable mention choice in 2019 who made the MPSF All-Tournament team, and 6-10 middle blocker Sam Lewis, another 2-year starter whose 70 blocks in 2019 was a team high.
Douglas is currently in the middle of its season. The Royals have a 9-2 record.
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After today's exhibition, No. 12-ranked USC begins 2020 regular season play by welcoming No. 10 Princeton, a 2019 NCAA tourney participant, on Thursday (Jan. 2) at 7 p.m. PT in the Galen Center.
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USC is coming off a successful 2019 season. The Trojans more than doubled their win total from 2018 by going 18-11 overall (their most wins since 2015) and finishing third in the MPSF at 7-5 (their highest league finish since 2012). Troy was the MPSF Tournament runnerup and, for the first time since 2012, qualified for the NCAAs. USC, playing the nation's toughest schedule, had 7 wins over teams ranked in the AVCA Top 10 at the time and won 11 of its last 15 matches.Â
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Top returning players for fifth-year USC head coach Jeff Nygaard are a trio of juniors: opposite hitter-middle blocker Kyle Gear, who led USC in hitting percentage last spring (.421), 2-year starting setter Chris Hall, an All-MPSF honorable mention choice in 2019 who made the MPSF All-Tournament team, and 6-10 middle blocker Sam Lewis, another 2-year starter whose 70 blocks in 2019 was a team high.
Douglas is currently in the middle of its season. The Royals have a 9-2 record.
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After today's exhibition, No. 12-ranked USC begins 2020 regular season play by welcoming No. 10 Princeton, a 2019 NCAA tourney participant, on Thursday (Jan. 2) at 7 p.m. PT in the Galen Center.
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