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Photo by: John McGillen
USC Men’s Volleyball 2020 Season Preview
December 31, 2019 | Men's Volleyball, Features
Can the 2020 USC men's volleyball team build on the momentum of 2019, when the Trojans advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012 and had their most wins since 2015?
Fifth-year head coach Jeff Nygaard and his young Trojans (1 senior and 15 underclassmen on the 22-man roster) believe they can. And will.
"This is a hungry team, having tasted the fruit last year," said Nygaard. "We're young, so we need to gain experience, but we will improve as the season goes on because we are deep, competitive and physical at every position. We are grooming a strong group of team leaders and growing the right culture. Our players are 100% bought in to pursuing the goal of a championship."
Last season, the Trojans more than doubled their win total from 2018 by going 18-11 overall and finishing third in the MPSF at 7-5 (their highest league finish since 2012). Troy was the MPSF Tournament runnerup. 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. Its in-season No. 4 AVCA ranking was the program's highest since 2015 and its final No. 5 ranking was its best finish since 2012. Troy was undefeated at home (12-0) for the first time since 2000 and was 5-2 on neutral courts. The team's .320 hitting percentage was its highest since 2011. USC snapped eventual NCAA champ Long Beach State's 23-match winning streak, Troy's first win over a No. 1 team since 2013 (USC was 1 of just 2 teams to beat LBSU in 2019). The Trojans' 3-0 win over BYU was its first sweep over the Cougars since 1991 and the back-to-back wins over UCLA were USC's first consecutive victories over the Bruins since 2011.
However, USC has graduated some key performers from that 2019 squad: outside hitters Jack Wyett and Gianluca Grasso, opposite hitter Ryan Moss, libero Matt Douglas (all 4 were starters) and backup middle blocker Tyler Resnick. Wyett and Moss made the 2019 All-MPSF first team (Wyett also was an All-American second teamer) and Grasso made the All-MPSF second team. Last season, Wyett hit .319 with 387 kills, 115 digs, 50 blocks and 22 aces, Grasso started for his third year and had 323 kills (hitting .269), 141 digs, a team-high 29 aces and 37 blocks, Moss had a team-best 403 kills while hitting .338, with 169 digs, 68 blocks and 25 aces and Douglas led USC with 210 digs.
Fourteen squad members, including 3 starters and 9 who saw action last year, return from the 2019 roster. They are joined by 8 talented first-year freshmen. This group, using the term "Brotherhood" as its mantra, will look to continue the high standards of the USC men's volleyball program that has won 6 national championships, played in 15 NCAA tourneys and produced 20 Olympians, 34 All-American first teamers and 7 College Players of the Year.
Chris Hall, a 6-2 junior setter, returns for his third season running USC's offense. Last year, he had 1,027 assists (ranking 10th nationally in assist average at 10.88) to go with his 158 digs, 30 blocks and 15 aces. A 2019 All-MPSF honorable mention selection, he was named to the MPSF All-Tournament team.
"Chris is a veteran and he'll help us tremendously because of his experience," said Nygaard. "He works hard and he continues to improve and evolve his game."
Kyle Gear, a 6-9 junior with a .432 career hitting percentage and 28 starts, will be in the lineup at either middle blocker or opposite hitter. He started in the middle last spring, leading USC in hitting (.421) and getting 91 kills, 54 blocks, 28 digs and 14 aces.
"Kyle has the ability to physically dominate and take over matches, especially from the opposite spot," said Nygaard. "We're looking for him to do that on a consistent basis this year. If so, he can redefine that position for us."
Two-year starting middle blocker Sam Lewis, at 6-10 the second tallest Trojan in history, could be slowed again this season while recuperating from a collapsed lung in the fall (he had the same issue prior to the 2019 season). The junior hit .370 last year and had a team-high 70 blocks.
"Sam gives us the experience and big presence in the middle that we need," said Nygaard. "We are hopeful that he recovers well and quickly. We need to get him back healthy this season and playing at the level of which he is capable."
Cole Paxson, a 5-11 junior, could take over again at libero, where he started most of 2018. He saw action in only 3 matches last spring due to injuries (surgery on both hips in the pre-season and then a midseason broken hand).
"Cole has put the injuries of his past behind him and worked hard to earn the right to be our starting libero," said Nygaard. "His athleticism is matching his physicality. It will be fun to watch how far he grows his game."
Vying for the open outside hitter spots are 6-4 sophomore Brandon Browning, 6-6 soph Noah Franklin and 6-6 redshirt freshman Michael O'Toole. Browning appeared in 11 matches last year and hit .300. Franklin missed the 2019 campaign with a back injury after getting time in 18 matches in 2018.
"Brandon has a great all-around game and is everything you want in an outside hitter," said Nygaard. "He is a hard worker and leads by example, which earns him the team's respect every day. Noah continues to find a way to bring value to our team with his hard work day in and day out. Michael also has a strong all-around game. He not only continues to impress us by giving everything he has on a daily basis, but with his high character."
A pair of untested sophomores—6-7 Clay Dickinson and 6-8 Billy Fauntleroy—will compete at either outside hitter or opposite hitter. Dickinson, who was slowed in fall practice by a back injury, redshirted last spring after seeing brief action in 5 matches in 2018, while Fauntleroy has yet to see action at USC.
"Clay has one of the highest ceilings of any of our players," said Nygaard. "This past fall, he showed his ability to play at an extremely high level. As he gets healthy and continues to improve, he will help our team. We expect big things from Billy this season. He has set high goals and is working hard to achieve them."
Looking for time at middle blocker are 6-7 Vecas Lewin, the team's only senior, and 6-8 sophomore Liam Schroeder. Lewin played in 5 early-season matches in 2019, hitting .375, then was slowed by a mid-season back injury. Schroeder saw action as a blocking specialist off the bench in 16 matches last year.
"Vecas has unlimited potential, both athletically and physically," said Nygaard. "I look forward to watching him strive daily to be all he can be. Liam is big and physical and gives 100% on every play. He is also a great teammate, with a big heart."
Backing up Hall are a pair of somewhat experienced 6-3 setters: junior Matt Faraimo and soph Jameson McKibbin. Faraimo has appeared in 14 matches in his career (with 5 starts), including 8 times in 2019. McKibbin, who has 4 relatives who wore Cardinal and Gold, played in 23 matches last spring, mainly as a serving specialist.
"Matt has accepted the challenge of his role and being a senior leader, something that will transcend his time at USC," said Nygaard. "He is respected by all his teammates and has done an outstanding job of maturing and also growing his voice within the team. Jameson's work ethic, charisma and leading-by-example shows his willingness to help our team in any way. He is living up to the McKibbin legacy at USC."
Junior Michael Chang, a 5-8 libero, has not played yet in his USC career.
"Michael is the epitome of a Trojan: faithful, scholarly, skillful, courageous and ambitious," said Nygaard. "It's great to have him in the gym every day and we're fortunate he is on our roster."
Look for several of USC's new freshmen to contend for playing time in 2020.
At middle blockers are 6-8 Max Beck of Canyon High in Anaheim, Calif., who made the 2019 Volleyballmag.com Fab 50 list, and 6-6 Andrew Condon of Villa Park (Calif.) High, along with 6-6 Lucas Frassrand of Richard Montgomery High in Rockville, Md., who might also work at opposite hitter. Also available at opposite hitter is 6-6 Corbitt Kerr of St. Augustine High in San Diego, Calif., and 6-8 Simon Gallas, who was on Germany's Youth National Team. Gallas, who also can play outside hitter, was slowed by a back injury from fall practice. Then there are 6-3 outside hitter Adam Flood of Corona del Mar (Calif.) High, another Volleyballmag.com Fab 50 pick, 6-0 setter Shane Suxhoof Santa Margarita High in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., whose father Donald was the 2000 College Player of the Year at USC and then a 2-time U.S. Olympian setter, and 6-1 libero Gus Acord of Campbell Hall High in Studio City, Calif.
"Max has been a fixture all fall in the middle," said Nygaard. "I love how he competes and I am excited to watch him improve as he gets more time on the court. Andrew is an intense, strong competitor who gives us all he has every day. Lucas was one of the surprises of the fall, opening our eyes to his athleticism while he worked at several positions. He is explosive, highly analytical and improving daily. Corbitt, too, has been a pleasant surprise. He is a fierce competitor who wants to win every point. Simon brings international experience, has a high level of physicality and knows how to win. He is very dedicated to his rehab so he can get back on the court as soon as possible and make the most of his opportunity of playing at USC.
"Adam is a very smooth, steady, dependable workhorse who is developing his physicality. He is one of our most disciplined and composed players. Shane knows how to run an offense. He is still developing, but he has a high volleyball IQ and a great pedigree. Gus is one of our most athletic players and brings infectious energy to our team every day. I'm delighted to see how good he is."
Gary Sato returns for his fifth season as an assistant coach, while ex-club and high school coach Rory Prager joins the staff this year as an assistant.
Along with its 12 MPSF contests, USC's 2020 schedule features early-season tournaments at George Mason (facing the Patriots and NJIT) and Penn State (meeting the Nittany Lions and Ohio State), plus non-conference matches against 5 Big West members (at 2-time defending NCAA champion Long Beach State, Cal State Northridge and UC San Diego and hosting UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara) and rare visits from Princeton, Harvard, St. Francis and Lindenwood.
Fifth-year head coach Jeff Nygaard and his young Trojans (1 senior and 15 underclassmen on the 22-man roster) believe they can. And will.
"This is a hungry team, having tasted the fruit last year," said Nygaard. "We're young, so we need to gain experience, but we will improve as the season goes on because we are deep, competitive and physical at every position. We are grooming a strong group of team leaders and growing the right culture. Our players are 100% bought in to pursuing the goal of a championship."
Last season, the Trojans more than doubled their win total from 2018 by going 18-11 overall and finishing third in the MPSF at 7-5 (their highest league finish since 2012). Troy was the MPSF Tournament runnerup. 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. Its in-season No. 4 AVCA ranking was the program's highest since 2015 and its final No. 5 ranking was its best finish since 2012. Troy was undefeated at home (12-0) for the first time since 2000 and was 5-2 on neutral courts. The team's .320 hitting percentage was its highest since 2011. USC snapped eventual NCAA champ Long Beach State's 23-match winning streak, Troy's first win over a No. 1 team since 2013 (USC was 1 of just 2 teams to beat LBSU in 2019). The Trojans' 3-0 win over BYU was its first sweep over the Cougars since 1991 and the back-to-back wins over UCLA were USC's first consecutive victories over the Bruins since 2011.
However, USC has graduated some key performers from that 2019 squad: outside hitters Jack Wyett and Gianluca Grasso, opposite hitter Ryan Moss, libero Matt Douglas (all 4 were starters) and backup middle blocker Tyler Resnick. Wyett and Moss made the 2019 All-MPSF first team (Wyett also was an All-American second teamer) and Grasso made the All-MPSF second team. Last season, Wyett hit .319 with 387 kills, 115 digs, 50 blocks and 22 aces, Grasso started for his third year and had 323 kills (hitting .269), 141 digs, a team-high 29 aces and 37 blocks, Moss had a team-best 403 kills while hitting .338, with 169 digs, 68 blocks and 25 aces and Douglas led USC with 210 digs.
Fourteen squad members, including 3 starters and 9 who saw action last year, return from the 2019 roster. They are joined by 8 talented first-year freshmen. This group, using the term "Brotherhood" as its mantra, will look to continue the high standards of the USC men's volleyball program that has won 6 national championships, played in 15 NCAA tourneys and produced 20 Olympians, 34 All-American first teamers and 7 College Players of the Year.
Chris Hall, a 6-2 junior setter, returns for his third season running USC's offense. Last year, he had 1,027 assists (ranking 10th nationally in assist average at 10.88) to go with his 158 digs, 30 blocks and 15 aces. A 2019 All-MPSF honorable mention selection, he was named to the MPSF All-Tournament team.
"Chris is a veteran and he'll help us tremendously because of his experience," said Nygaard. "He works hard and he continues to improve and evolve his game."
Kyle Gear, a 6-9 junior with a .432 career hitting percentage and 28 starts, will be in the lineup at either middle blocker or opposite hitter. He started in the middle last spring, leading USC in hitting (.421) and getting 91 kills, 54 blocks, 28 digs and 14 aces.
"Kyle has the ability to physically dominate and take over matches, especially from the opposite spot," said Nygaard. "We're looking for him to do that on a consistent basis this year. If so, he can redefine that position for us."
Two-year starting middle blocker Sam Lewis, at 6-10 the second tallest Trojan in history, could be slowed again this season while recuperating from a collapsed lung in the fall (he had the same issue prior to the 2019 season). The junior hit .370 last year and had a team-high 70 blocks.
"Sam gives us the experience and big presence in the middle that we need," said Nygaard. "We are hopeful that he recovers well and quickly. We need to get him back healthy this season and playing at the level of which he is capable."
Cole Paxson, a 5-11 junior, could take over again at libero, where he started most of 2018. He saw action in only 3 matches last spring due to injuries (surgery on both hips in the pre-season and then a midseason broken hand).
"Cole has put the injuries of his past behind him and worked hard to earn the right to be our starting libero," said Nygaard. "His athleticism is matching his physicality. It will be fun to watch how far he grows his game."
Vying for the open outside hitter spots are 6-4 sophomore Brandon Browning, 6-6 soph Noah Franklin and 6-6 redshirt freshman Michael O'Toole. Browning appeared in 11 matches last year and hit .300. Franklin missed the 2019 campaign with a back injury after getting time in 18 matches in 2018.
"Brandon has a great all-around game and is everything you want in an outside hitter," said Nygaard. "He is a hard worker and leads by example, which earns him the team's respect every day. Noah continues to find a way to bring value to our team with his hard work day in and day out. Michael also has a strong all-around game. He not only continues to impress us by giving everything he has on a daily basis, but with his high character."
A pair of untested sophomores—6-7 Clay Dickinson and 6-8 Billy Fauntleroy—will compete at either outside hitter or opposite hitter. Dickinson, who was slowed in fall practice by a back injury, redshirted last spring after seeing brief action in 5 matches in 2018, while Fauntleroy has yet to see action at USC.
"Clay has one of the highest ceilings of any of our players," said Nygaard. "This past fall, he showed his ability to play at an extremely high level. As he gets healthy and continues to improve, he will help our team. We expect big things from Billy this season. He has set high goals and is working hard to achieve them."
Looking for time at middle blocker are 6-7 Vecas Lewin, the team's only senior, and 6-8 sophomore Liam Schroeder. Lewin played in 5 early-season matches in 2019, hitting .375, then was slowed by a mid-season back injury. Schroeder saw action as a blocking specialist off the bench in 16 matches last year.
"Vecas has unlimited potential, both athletically and physically," said Nygaard. "I look forward to watching him strive daily to be all he can be. Liam is big and physical and gives 100% on every play. He is also a great teammate, with a big heart."
Backing up Hall are a pair of somewhat experienced 6-3 setters: junior Matt Faraimo and soph Jameson McKibbin. Faraimo has appeared in 14 matches in his career (with 5 starts), including 8 times in 2019. McKibbin, who has 4 relatives who wore Cardinal and Gold, played in 23 matches last spring, mainly as a serving specialist.
"Matt has accepted the challenge of his role and being a senior leader, something that will transcend his time at USC," said Nygaard. "He is respected by all his teammates and has done an outstanding job of maturing and also growing his voice within the team. Jameson's work ethic, charisma and leading-by-example shows his willingness to help our team in any way. He is living up to the McKibbin legacy at USC."
Junior Michael Chang, a 5-8 libero, has not played yet in his USC career.
"Michael is the epitome of a Trojan: faithful, scholarly, skillful, courageous and ambitious," said Nygaard. "It's great to have him in the gym every day and we're fortunate he is on our roster."
Look for several of USC's new freshmen to contend for playing time in 2020.
At middle blockers are 6-8 Max Beck of Canyon High in Anaheim, Calif., who made the 2019 Volleyballmag.com Fab 50 list, and 6-6 Andrew Condon of Villa Park (Calif.) High, along with 6-6 Lucas Frassrand of Richard Montgomery High in Rockville, Md., who might also work at opposite hitter. Also available at opposite hitter is 6-6 Corbitt Kerr of St. Augustine High in San Diego, Calif., and 6-8 Simon Gallas, who was on Germany's Youth National Team. Gallas, who also can play outside hitter, was slowed by a back injury from fall practice. Then there are 6-3 outside hitter Adam Flood of Corona del Mar (Calif.) High, another Volleyballmag.com Fab 50 pick, 6-0 setter Shane Suxhoof Santa Margarita High in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., whose father Donald was the 2000 College Player of the Year at USC and then a 2-time U.S. Olympian setter, and 6-1 libero Gus Acord of Campbell Hall High in Studio City, Calif.
"Max has been a fixture all fall in the middle," said Nygaard. "I love how he competes and I am excited to watch him improve as he gets more time on the court. Andrew is an intense, strong competitor who gives us all he has every day. Lucas was one of the surprises of the fall, opening our eyes to his athleticism while he worked at several positions. He is explosive, highly analytical and improving daily. Corbitt, too, has been a pleasant surprise. He is a fierce competitor who wants to win every point. Simon brings international experience, has a high level of physicality and knows how to win. He is very dedicated to his rehab so he can get back on the court as soon as possible and make the most of his opportunity of playing at USC.
"Adam is a very smooth, steady, dependable workhorse who is developing his physicality. He is one of our most disciplined and composed players. Shane knows how to run an offense. He is still developing, but he has a high volleyball IQ and a great pedigree. Gus is one of our most athletic players and brings infectious energy to our team every day. I'm delighted to see how good he is."
Gary Sato returns for his fifth season as an assistant coach, while ex-club and high school coach Rory Prager joins the staff this year as an assistant.
Along with its 12 MPSF contests, USC's 2020 schedule features early-season tournaments at George Mason (facing the Patriots and NJIT) and Penn State (meeting the Nittany Lions and Ohio State), plus non-conference matches against 5 Big West members (at 2-time defending NCAA champion Long Beach State, Cal State Northridge and UC San Diego and hosting UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara) and rare visits from Princeton, Harvard, St. Francis and Lindenwood.
Men's Volleyball - USC 1, Pepperdine 3: Highlights (04/26/25)
Saturday, April 26
Men's Volleyball - USC 3, Stanford 1: Highlights (04/25/25)
Friday, April 25
Men's Volleyball - USC 3, UCLA 0: Highlights (04/19/25)
Saturday, April 19
Men's Volleyball - USC 2, UCLA 3: Highlights (04/17/25)
Thursday, April 17
