Events

    Feb. 21, 1997

    USC Men's Volleyball Defeats UC Santa Cruz 3-1

    LOS ANGELES -- Sophomore opposite hitter Gabe Gardner's 21 kills and senior swing hitter Chris Guigliano's 17 kills helped No. 12 USC to a 15-2, 12-15, 15-4, 15-10 nonconference win over UC Santa Cruz at the North Gym on Friday night in front of 180.

    USC improved to 7-5 on the season while UC Santa Cruz dropped to 2-7.

    Freshman setter Donald Suxho had 56 assists for USC and junior middle blocker Szilard Kovacs added 12 kills and 6 blocks. The Banana Slugs were led by senior middle blocker Adrian Sosa's 12 kills.

    USC outhit UC Santa Cruz, .315 to .194, and also had a season-high 12 service aces, led by Guigliano's 4.

    In Game 1, USC took a 3-2 lead, and then scored the game's final 12 points, hitting .619 in the process.

    The Banana Slugs dramatically reversed their play in Game 2, hitting .528 compared to .095 in Game 1. UC Santa Cruz got off to a 7-2 lead before USC rallied to take an 8-7 lead. After taking back the lead at 9-8, UC Santa Cruz didn't trail again in Game 2.

    USC came back to earn another quick win in Game 3, then took an early lead and held off the Banana Slugs in Game 4 to end the match.