January 5, 1999

LOS ANGELES - Youth will be served -- literally -- on the 1999 USC men's volleyball team.

There are no seniors among the 15 Trojans (12 are underclassmen, including five newcomers) and, in most cases, that would be a cause for concern.

But the encouraging news is that five starters return from last year's squad.

"No doubt, we're a young team," said head coach Pat Powers, the former USC All-American, Olympic gold medalist and pro beach star. "But I believe we'll jell as the season progresses and we'll put ourselves in a good position to make a run at the playoffs."

Now in his third season of rebuilding the traditionally successful Trojan program which has won four NCAA championships and finished second on six other occasions, Powers realizes USC -- which has missed out on any kind of post-season play the past three years -- is on the cusp of returning to national prominence. Last year while starting three freshmen, Troy went 17-17 overall (7-12 for fourth place in the Pacific Division of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation).

"The hardest thing for me is to be patient," said Powers, now in the third year of his rebuilding effort at Troy. "Last year was a struggle, as bad as it'll get here at USC. But we were building for the long term. Now, this team reminds me of the proverbial puppy who gets kicked around by bigger dogs for a year only to grow up and assume a deeper growl and a sharper bite.

"We have a chance to be good this year. Then next season, we can be a Final Four team. And from then on, we should never be out of the top four or five teams in the nation."

Despite their youthfulness, the 1998 Trojans are experienced and talented. And they've got a something else going for them.

"The overall attitude is the best Ive seen," said Powers. "The players practice hard and go after each other every day."

The team's veteran is 6-5 junior setter Donald Suxho, who will be starting for his third season. Now an All-American candidate, he was an All-MPSF third teamer in 1998 while averaging 15.3 assists a game. He also led USC in digs (214), tied for the team lead in aces (27) and was third in blocks (103).

"Donald is one of the best setters in college," said Powers. "He is certainly the best blocking setter we've ever had at USC. His setting and tempo are getting better and better, and he is jump serving well. He runs the entire offense very well. He has come into his own this year and leads our team in a lot of areas, including defense and serving."

Another All-American candidate is 6-7 sophomore outside hitter Eli Fairfield, who was a Freshman All-American in 1998. He was second on the Trojans in kills (389) while starting all of last season, and also joined Suxho in topping Troy in aces (27), plus he was third in digs (149) and fourth in blocks (65).

"By the end of this season, I predict Eli will be one of the dominant players in the MPSF," said Powers. "He is the kind of player who you can build a program around. He's a great blocker, is coming into his own hitting, has good ball control and passes well. He's one of the emerging leaders on our team."

Another sophomore, 6-5 Trevor Julian, returns as a starting outside hitter. Last year, he was third on the Trojans in kills (275), second in digs (172) and fifth in blocks (62).

"Trevor has improved," said Powers. "He has a lightning-quick arm swing and is our best passer. He is becoming a better blocker and has quick feet. He has excellent defensive instincts. He is becoming a more confident player and rarely has a bad day of practice."

Junior Omar Rawi, at 6-5, is back as a starting middle blocker, where last season he was second on the squad in blocks (104) and fourth in kills (223) while hitting .299.

"Omar is the quickest middle blocker on our team," said Powers. "He is very athletic. He is strong in the middle and touches an amazing number of balls. He had a great fall practice and is starting to come into his own this year."

Last year, Ryan Thurlow and Craig Dennis, now both 6-3 sophomores, shared an outside hitting (opposite) starting job. Thurlow posted 181 kills and Dennis added 180.

"Ryan is the most competitive player on our team, with a strong will to win," said Powers. "He looks for ways to win, whether hitting or serving. He has phenomenal extension and reach for an outside hitter. And he is one of the better passers on our team.

"Craig has untapped physical talent. He has the quickest arm swing on the team and he hits the ball effortlessly. He blocks well for his size and defensively, he's good. He'll see lots of time in 1998."

But they'll be challenged for the opposite starting role by highly regarded 6-5 freshman Brook Billings, who was the MVP of Volleyball magazine's 1998 Fab 50 prep list. He played for the USA Volleyball Junior National team in the summer of 1998 (along with Fairfield) after making the 1998 All-CIF Division II first team as a senior at San Marcos High in Santa Barbara, Calif.

"Brook is a phenomenal raw talent," said Powers. "He is one of the quickest players on the team. He has great instincts as to where the ball is going to be. Now, he has to learn to play against players who are as physical as he is. I'm confident he will be able to do that and that he will become one of the best hitters in the MPSF, which would be something for a freshman."

The only position without a returning starter this year is at middle blocker, where four-year starter Szilard Kovacs graduated after earning All-American honorable mention and All-MPSF third team notice in 1998 while hitting .368 and leading Troy in kills (396) and blocks (150). His likely replacement will be 6-7 sophomore Tony Knopp, who saw limited action in 16 matches last spring. He had 49 kills while hitting .324 along with 32 blocks.

"Tony could start this year," said Powers. "He is an improving hitter and one of our better middle blockers. He works so hard every day in practice. He's going to be a good one for us."

Others in the outside hitter mix include 6-5 junior David Grimm, who has played in only seven matches in his career, and a pair of newcomers, 6-3 sophomore Will Nelson, who joined USC from Fresno (Calif.) City College (he was a Fab 50 member in 1996 out of Bullard High in Fresno), and 6-5 freshman Beau Rawi, Omar's brother, who was a Fab 50 pick out of Capistrano Valley High in Mission Viejo, Calif. The younger Rawi might also play middle blocker.

Also seeking playing time in the middle are 6-5 soph Ryan Hill, who got into just one match in 1998, and 6-5 freshman Cam Land of First Colonial High in Virginia Beach, Va., another Fab 50 selection.

Backing up Suxho at setter is 6-3 sophomore Caleb Anderson. He played briefly in 6 matches last year.

Serving as a defensive and serving specialist will be 6-0 freshman Greg Burden, a Fab 50 pick while at Corona del Mar (Calif.) High.

Powers and his players are anxious to see what the future holds.

"We're far and away the youngest team in the MPSF," said Powers. "But we're ready to play and find out if we're as good as I think we are.

"Towards the end of last season, our freshmen were playing like sophomores. If we have the same kind of transformation this year, we could be in the hunt for the trophy."