Aug. 27, 2010

Final Stats

LOS ANGELES - Junior middle blocker Lauren Williams (Houston, Texas/Stratford HS) had seven kills, four digs and three blocks while hitting .667 (7-1-9) as the No. 10 USC Women of Troy opened the 2010 season with a 3-0 sweep over Loyola Marymount, 25-12, 25-18,25-19. USC showcased its No. 1 recruiting class in the match as all six freshmen played in day one action of the Luxe City Center Trojan Invitational.

The win was the 1,000th collegiate women's victory for USC head coach Mick Haley, who is now in his 34th year as a head coach with previous stops at the University of Texas and Kellogg Community College (Battle Creek, Michigan).

Junior setter Kendall Bateman had 34 assists and 10 digs, starting where she left off after leading the nation last season in assists per set. The balance for the Trojans showed as no player had double-digit kills, but seven players had four or more kills in the match. USC hit .263 on the night, forcing 23 hitting errors by LMU, who hit .037 in the match.

"It was a very balanced effort tonight," said Haley. "I told our players that this was the best opening night that I could remember where people were not too anxious and everyone played for each other. I was very pleased. I thought all six of our freshmen contributed tonight."

Jupiter used her serve to get things started in the first set. After LMU scored the first point, the Women of Troy scored 10 straight points as Jupiter recorded three service aces during the run. Up 16-5, Zoe Garrett earned a kill, followed by a solo block by Jupiter and an ace from Geena Urango for the 19-5 advantage. Jupiter closed out the set with a back-row kill as she finished with four kills, three aces, five digs and two solo blocks for the opening frame.

The Women of Troy opened the second set with a six-pack of points for the 6-0 lead. The Lions responded with four straight after Becky Stehling and Rankins combined for the block. Burnham started another stretch of six points with a kill, capping things with a kill on an overpass as USC led, 13-5. Freshman Falyn Fonoimoana got into the act with her first kill as a Trojan, making the score 19-11 in favor of USC. Both teams traded points as Rankins had three sideout kills for the Lions. An LMU attack error cemented the 2-0 lead in the match for the Trojans.

In set three, LMU took a 4-3 lead before USC scored three straight. The Lions answered with three straight to retake the lead, 7-6. Freshman Sara Shaw's solo block made it 10-8 for USC. Kenna Crouse put a kill off freshman Alexis Olgard's block to even it at 13-13. Olgard and Bateman combined on a block as the Women of Troy scored four straight for an 18-14 score. USC led by five at 21-16, but a Trojan service error started three straight for the Lions. Crouse and Emily Cheek stuffed Fonoimoana with USC calling a timeout, but still leading at 21-19. Fonoimoana came back with a shot off the LMU block as the Trojans closed out the win with four straight points.

USC plays Bucknell tomorrow in a 10 a.m. match. The tournament continues with Cal State Fullerton taking on Loyola Marymount at noon, Bucknell against Loyola Marymount at 5 p.m. and USC against Cal State Fullerton at 7:30 p.m. The USC matches will be shown live on usctrojans.com, courtesy of SC TV.

Notes: Alex Jupiter tied her previous career high with four aces (at Washington State, 10/16/09)...USC had two true freshmen in the starting lineup (Natalie Hagglund and Kirby Burnham).

LMU	  12-18-19
USC	  25-25-25
Records: USC (1-0), Loyola Marymount (0-1)
Kills: Felicia Arriola 10 (LMU), Lauren Williams 7 (USC)
Team:	LMU	USC
1	.026	.306
2	.118	.250
3	-.028	.226
Match	.037	.263