Mar. 4, 1997

USC Men's Volleyball Defeats Loyola Marymount 3-0

LOS ANGELES - Sophomore opposite hitter Gabe Gardner's match-high 26 kills and .477 hitting percentage led the No. 12 USC men's volleyball team to a 15-5, 15-11, 15-8 win over No. 15 Loyola Marymount on Tuesday night at the North Gym in front of 125 fans.

USC improved to a 9-7 overall record and 6-5 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Loyola Marymount fell to 4-7, 3-7.

Junior middle blocker Szilard Kovacs had 15 kills, 5 blocks and a hitting percentage of .684 and senior swing hitter Chris Guigliano had 13 kills for the Trojans. The Lions were led by freshman outside hitter Corin Bemus' 17 kills. USC outhit Loyola, .442 to .179.

The Trojans got off to a 4-1 lead in Game 1. After the Lions tied it, 4-4, USC ran off 11 of the next 12 points to easily win the first game.

USC again took a 4-1 lead in game 2, but the Lions came roaring back to go ahead 10-4. Gardner led the Trojans comeback, however, as he had 4 kills for points as the Trojans again went on an 11-1 game-ending run.

In Game 3, Guigliano helped get the Trojans off to a 6-3 lead with 3 kills for points, and USC was never seriously threatened. Junior swing hitter Beau Bianchi ended the match with a service ace.