The USC men’s volleyball team continues to impress, maintaining its perfect start to the season with two strong victories in the Big Ten Challenge. The No. 6 Trojans (8-0) secured four-set wins over No. 13 Ohio State (3-5) and No. 17 Penn State (0-6) this past weekend, marking their best season-opening streak since 1991.
Dominant Performances Propel USC Past Ohio State
USC opened the Big Ten Challenge with a hard-fought victory against the Buckeyes on Friday. Leading the charge was junior outside hitter Dillon Klein, who delivered a season-high 22 kills while achieving a career-best .700 hitting percentage.
Klein credited much of his success to sophomore setter Caleb Blanchette, who showcased excellent decision-making throughout the match. Blanchette, who made the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Freshman Team last season, continues to elevate his game, averaging 10.5 assists per set—an improvement of over one assist from his previous season. With his leadership, the Trojans recorded a season-high .500 hitting percentage against Ohio State.
The most intense moment of the match came in the second set, which saw 14 ties before USC edged out a 29-27 victory. Klein delivered two clutch kills to secure the set, giving the Trojans a commanding 2-0 lead. Although Ohio State claimed the third set 25-21, USC responded with a 25-20 fourth-set win to seal the match.
Freshman middle blocker Parker Tomkinson played a key role, contributing 8 kills and 8 blocks, while outside hitters redshirt sophomore Noah Roberts and freshman Sterling Foley each added 8 kills. Head Coach Jeff Nygaard praised the team’s effort, saying, “The guys did a really great job. They came in [and] played at a high level.”
USC Handles Penn State to Stay Unbeaten
The Trojans carried their momentum into Saturday’s match against Penn State, securing another four-set victory. Once again, Klein and Roberts were instrumental in leading USC’s offensive attack.
USC’s offensive efficiency continued to shine, hitting over .450 for the third consecutive match. The team’s .381 overall hitting percentage ranks fifth in the nation, trailing only Loyola Chicago, Pepperdine, Hawaii, and Long Beach State.
“That’s one side of the game that we really showcased at a high level this weekend,” Nygaard said. “We put the ball away so efficiently, there was a ton of pressure on the other team to have to perform.”
The Trojans opened with a 25-22 first-set win, with Klein delivering 6 kills on 7 attempts. Penn State responded by taking the second set 25-21, capitalizing on USC’s six service errors. However, the Trojans regained control in the final two sets, securing the match with dominant performances from Roberts, Klein, and Foley.
USC’s offense was particularly dominant in the fourth set, posting a .500 hitting percentage, while Penn State struggled at .217.
Looking Ahead
After an impressive showing in the Midwest, USC returns home to Los Angeles, where they will face Dominican University on Saturday at noon. The Trojans aim to continue their undefeated run and maintain their high-level play as they look to extend their winning streak to 9-0.
“There should be a lot of buzz about this team,” Nygaard said. “These guys are high-flying and entertaining and doing some great things. They’re representing USC at a high level.”
