No. 21 USC Women's Volleyball Opens 2024 at Pepperdine

LOS ANGELES - The 21st-ranked USC women's volleyball team (0-0) opens the 2024 season with a pair of matches at Pepperdine this weekend (Aug. 30, 31) at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, Calif. The Women of Troy--new members of the Big Ten Conference--are coming off a second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance under fifth-year head coach Brad Keller and return Preseason All-Big Ten setter Mia Tuaniga.

THIS WEEK
No. 21 USC (0-0) at Pepperdine (0-0)
Firestone Fieldhouse • Malibu, Calif.

Match #1 • Friday, Aug. 30 • 6 p.m. PT
TV/STREAM: ESPN+ (Al Epstein)

Match #2 • Saturday, Aug. 31 • 6 p.m. PT
TV/STREAM: ESPN+ (Al Epstein)

SERIES RECORD: USC leads, 39-8 (.830)
LAST MEETING: W 3-0 (Sept. 10, 2015 • Galen Center)
STREAK: Won 6 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 9-1
OPPONENT WEBSITE: PepperdineWaves.com

FIRST SERVE (TL;DR)

USC has won six national championships. Three AIAW titles (1976, '77, '80) and three NCAA crowns (1981, 2002, '03).
The Women of Troy own eight conference championships. Three in the Western Collegiate Athletic Association (1976, '77, '80), three in the Pac-10 (2000, '02, '03), and two in the Pac-12 (2011, '15).
The Trojans are led by fifth-year head coach Brad Keller who has the unique experience of having coached both men's and women's programs at both USC and UCLA. Overall, Keller is 63-47 (.573) as the USC's head coach.
USC has played in the NCAA tournament 39 times; twice under Keller.
The Women of Troy are 38-10 all-time in season openers with a 26-8 mark when they open on the road. More specifically, USC is 13-5 in season openers when it is the true road team (not including neutral sites).
The Trojans and the Waves will meet for the 48th time (USC leads, 39-8, all-time) but for only the first time since 2015. It will be the fourth time the two teams meet in USC's season opener. The Trojans won two of those previous meetings (1981, '82) at home but lost the one in Malibu (1986).
USC is 13-2 in Malibu (all against Pepperdine) and has won its last eight matches there; last taking a five-set win over the Waves on Sept. 14, 2006.
The Trojans will play their first season as a member of the Big Ten Conference in 2024 and were picked to finish seventh in a preseason coaches poll.
Sr. setter Mia Tuaniga has been the Trojans' starting setter for each of the last three seasons has amassed 3,309 career assists to rank eighth in school history. She was selected to the Big Ten Preseason All-Conference Team.
USC adds two graduate transfers from Big Ten schools this fall. OH Ally Batenhorst (Nebraska) who was a two-time NCAA runner-up with the Huskers, and OH Grae Gosnell (Indiana) will both wear the Cardinal and Gold.
The Trojans return its second, third, and fourth leading hitters by total kills in MB Tyrah Ariail (222), OH London Wijay (191), and MB Lindsey Miller (188). Ariail (115.0) and Miller (107.0) were also USC's leading blockers in 2023.
USC will also return starting libero Gala Trubint. She led the Trojans in digs (416) and was second on the team in service aces (31).

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Players Mentioned

Tyrah Ariail

Ally Batenhorst

Grae Gosnell

Lindsey Miller

Gala Trubint

Mia Tuaniga

London Wijay