Jan. 24, 2009

Box Score

Los Angeles, Calif. - The No. 6 USC men's volleyball team defeated the Pacific Tigers, 3-0, on Saturday, Jan. 24. Pacific dropped to 2-6 overall and 0-3 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). With the victory, the Trojans improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the MPSF.

The set scores for the match were: 30-13, 30-22, and 30-25.

In the first set, USC gained a quick 3-0 lead on the Tigers. A service error by the Trojans gave Pacific the sideout, however on the next play USC reclaimed possession of the ball and scored three consecutive points, making the score 6-1. Later in the set, with the score 14-3, freshman Dylan Walker (La Canada, Calif.) got a kill from the outside to make the score 14-4. Later, with the score 18-5, Pacific scored three-straight points on a service error by USC, a block assist by junior Mark Bauhs (Danville, Calif.) and freshman Sean Daley (Moorpark, Calif.) and another error by the Trojans. The Trojans would hold up the rest of the match and USC won the set by a score of 30-13.

The two teams fought through seven tied scores during the second set. Down 8-4, the Tigers started to creep up on USC. Senior Joe Forbes (Westport, Conn.) recorded two kills for the Tigers, bringing the score to 9-6. A kill by Bauhs made the score 9-7 and after a quick sideout, Pacific scored three straight points. Junior Jason Borchin (Roseville, Calif.), and freshman Nicolaas Schenk (Kamuela, Hawaii) both recorded kills for the Tigers, and an error by USC tied the score at 10-10. Later in the set, junior Kevin Pratte (Hemet, Calif.) recorded Pacific's final kill in the set, as USC took the second set with a score of 30-22.

The beginning of the third set went back and forth, much like the second set, and the two teams battled through seven tied scores. The Tigers down 4-3, scored two straight points making the score 5-4, on a kill from junior Kevin Downing (Poipu, Hawaii) and an error by the Trojans. USC answered back by scoring three-consecutive points to retake their lead 7-5. Moments later a service error by USC, a kill from Borchin and a block assist by Downing and Forbes brought the score 9-8, in favor of the Tigers. Later, the Trojans were able to again score five consecutive points, making the score 16-11. Late in the set, Pacific scored five consecutive points to put them within two, 26-24. The first two points were from a service error by the Trojans and a block assist by Borchin and Forbes. Downing then recorded a kill for the Tigers, which was followed by another USC service error. A block assist by Forbes and freshman Eric Fuchino (Kaneohe, Hawaii) was the last point in the five-point run. The Tigers scored one more time on a service error by USC and won the third set by a score of 30-25.

Borchin's six kills and seven digs led the Tigers, while Bauhs had 24 assists for the Tigers.

USC's Murphy Troy had a match-high of 13 kills, followed closely behind by Tony Ciarelli, who had 10.

The Tigers will play UC San Diego on Friday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Alex G. Spanos Center.