Jan. 14, 2006

Box Score

Los Angeles, Calif. - The Pacific men's volleyball team fell 3-2 to the Southern Cal Trojans, Friday, January 13 in Los Angeles. The Tigers battled back for wins in games two and three before falling to the Trojans in extra points, 17-15 in game five. With MPSF conference loss the Tigers fall to 0-1 in the conference and 1-3 on the season.

The Trojans made quick work of the Tigers in game one, winning 30-21 but Pacific claimed games two and three, 30-27 and 33-31. However USC tied the sets at two each with a 30-26 game four win and finished the match with a 17-15 win.

Senior outside hitter Brian Adamson led the Tigers' attack with 23 kills on the night while junior Andreas Baboulidis and sophomore Pekka Seppanen had 15 and 14, respectively. Setter Mitchel Hazelett had 59 assists on the night and libero Garrett Morales had 15 digs. Defensively Seppanen and sophomore Simon Chen-Byerley had two blocks apiece.

The Tigers jumped to a quick start in the first set, opening up a 3-1 lead early on but the Trojans quickly tied the game at 6-6. A Joe Forbes kill got the Tigers back on top but USC went on a 7-1 run to push their lead. Both teams traded points back and forth but Pacific could get no closer than four points late in the game. The Trojans finished the set with a 5-1 run to take the first game 30-21. The Tigers got four kills from Pekka Seppanen but were out hit 52% to 26%.

Pacific once again started on the attack but this time the Tigers were able to maintain their lead and defeat the Trojans 30-27 in game two. Southern Cal took the lead midway through the set at 14-13 but the Tigers regained their momentum and went on a 7-3 run. The Tigers got the lead up to four at 29-25 and finished the second game to win 30-27.

The Trojans started game three quickly, jumping to a seven point lead at 22-15 but the Tigers battled back late in the game. With the Trojans leading 27-22 Pacific went on a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 28-27. After trading serves the Tigers put together back-to-back points to win 33-31.

Southern Cal took game four by making a 7-1 run midway through the set and never looking back. Pacific held a slight advantage early on but USC came back from five down and to remain close and eventually take the lead for good at 18-17. The Tigers tied the game twice after that but could get not string together consecutive points and fell 30-26.

With neither team stringing together multiple points the Trojans found themselves with a slight point advantage throughout the game, needing extra points to decide the fifth and final game.

The Tigers next play January 14, against Pepperdine in Malibu.