University Southern California Trojans
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/ Men's Volleyball
Photo by: Katie Chin
One Day At A Time
February 07, 2019 | Men's Volleyball, Features
by Ryan Witter, USC Sports Information Student Assistant
For a guy who comes across in person just as he describes himself — "calm and mellow" — it might be hard to reconcile that Ryan Moss leads the surging USC men's volleyball team in kills.
The Trojans are in the midst of one of the biggest turnarounds in program history, ranked No. 14 in the nation with a 6-4 mark after going 8-20 last season, and Moss is no small reason why.
The 6-8, 225-pound senior co-captain's 127 kills and recent MPSF Player of the Week award are tangible evidence of his efforts. He is on pace to shatter his career best mark for kills (272) set a year ago.
But there's also the intangible that comes from his leadership. That's where the calm and mellow comes in handy for the Corona del Mar, Calif. product.
Moss, who plays opposite hitter, says his primary focus as a leader is on "building relationships with everybody on the team" and making sure everyone — whether a freshman or senior, starter or reserve — "feels like their voice matters."
For much of his USC career, Moss was the ultimate utility man, bringing a versatility to the court that allowed coaches to move him around as needed, be it middle blocker, outside hitter or opposite hitter. Now one of five seniors on the team, he has settled in at opposite hitter. This move has given Moss the opportunity to hone his game at one position, which he says has been important for match preparations.
Moss's freshman season at USC in 2016 coincided with Jeff Nygaard's first season as head coach. The two have developed a close connection and Moss is grateful for the opportunity to serve as co-captain in this turnaround season. He says the program has "made so many great strides" in the past four years under Nygaard, and sees the positive trend continuing long term.
Moss credits the team's impressive start to the higher level of experience on the roster, which has 14 returning players. "Everybody is a bit more seasoned this year, a bit older, and more mature," he says. And that has allowed the Trojans to go into competition "with less worry and more attention to detail and focus on the match ahead."
Looking back on his time at Troy, Moss says what he will remember most will be the camaraderie he has built with his teammates. He is also making sure to cherish each moment of this senior season. In his words, "those emotions of thankfulness and appreciating where you are really take away all the anxious nerves and worries you have about being on the court."
From an individual standpoint, he wants to keep building on his strong start to the season and push himself to see how high his ceiling is. As a team, he says the upperclassmen are committed to "leaving the program in a better place" than they found it.
Indeed, Moss believes this team has what it takes to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. But for now, he stresses the importance of taking everything "one day at a time" and developing a consistently high level of play.
As for life after USC, Moss hopes to continue playing overseas. "I would hate to leave the sport now, then be older and ask, 'What if?'" says the 22-year-old business administration major.
Regardless of what lies ahead, Moss will apply the same approach that has made him a team leader and formidable opposite hitter at USC, taking everything "one day at a time."
For a guy who comes across in person just as he describes himself — "calm and mellow" — it might be hard to reconcile that Ryan Moss leads the surging USC men's volleyball team in kills.
The Trojans are in the midst of one of the biggest turnarounds in program history, ranked No. 14 in the nation with a 6-4 mark after going 8-20 last season, and Moss is no small reason why.
The 6-8, 225-pound senior co-captain's 127 kills and recent MPSF Player of the Week award are tangible evidence of his efforts. He is on pace to shatter his career best mark for kills (272) set a year ago.
But there's also the intangible that comes from his leadership. That's where the calm and mellow comes in handy for the Corona del Mar, Calif. product.
Moss, who plays opposite hitter, says his primary focus as a leader is on "building relationships with everybody on the team" and making sure everyone — whether a freshman or senior, starter or reserve — "feels like their voice matters."
For much of his USC career, Moss was the ultimate utility man, bringing a versatility to the court that allowed coaches to move him around as needed, be it middle blocker, outside hitter or opposite hitter. Now one of five seniors on the team, he has settled in at opposite hitter. This move has given Moss the opportunity to hone his game at one position, which he says has been important for match preparations.
Moss's freshman season at USC in 2016 coincided with Jeff Nygaard's first season as head coach. The two have developed a close connection and Moss is grateful for the opportunity to serve as co-captain in this turnaround season. He says the program has "made so many great strides" in the past four years under Nygaard, and sees the positive trend continuing long term.
Moss credits the team's impressive start to the higher level of experience on the roster, which has 14 returning players. "Everybody is a bit more seasoned this year, a bit older, and more mature," he says. And that has allowed the Trojans to go into competition "with less worry and more attention to detail and focus on the match ahead."
Looking back on his time at Troy, Moss says what he will remember most will be the camaraderie he has built with his teammates. He is also making sure to cherish each moment of this senior season. In his words, "those emotions of thankfulness and appreciating where you are really take away all the anxious nerves and worries you have about being on the court."
From an individual standpoint, he wants to keep building on his strong start to the season and push himself to see how high his ceiling is. As a team, he says the upperclassmen are committed to "leaving the program in a better place" than they found it.
Indeed, Moss believes this team has what it takes to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. But for now, he stresses the importance of taking everything "one day at a time" and developing a consistently high level of play.
As for life after USC, Moss hopes to continue playing overseas. "I would hate to leave the sport now, then be older and ask, 'What if?'" says the 22-year-old business administration major.
Regardless of what lies ahead, Moss will apply the same approach that has made him a team leader and formidable opposite hitter at USC, taking everything "one day at a time."
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