Road Games Against First-Ranked USC

This weekend, about midway through the 2011 season, the second-ranked BYU men's volleyball team will face its toughest test yet as they head to California to take on No. 1 USC on their home court this Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5.

The last time BYU and USC met when the Trojans held a No. 1 ranking was back in 1991.

The Cougars head to USC with a 13-4 overall record and 9-3 holding in league play. Junior Robb Stowell leads the BYU attack on 233 kills and an overall .344 attacking percentage. Taylor Sander and Futi Tavana are also recording double-digit kills with 170 and 128, respectively, while Tavana is currently the only BYU player to have recorded over 100 blocks this season.

Setter Joe Kauliakamoa has recorded 535 assists this season as he paces the Cougar offense, averaging 9.91 per set.

The Trojans will host the Cougars with a 10-1 record led by Murphy Troy’s 158 kills and a .398 attacking percentage. Pepperdine gave USC its only loss of the season two weeks ago but the Trojans have bounced back from there and are currently on a four-match win streak. The team went 16-11 overall last season and returned six starters.

USC is averaging 14.5 kills/set compared to BYU’s 12.8 but the Cougars are averaging more blocks per set than the Trojans with 3.1 compared to 2.6.

Live stats are available for both matches through the BYU men's volleyball schedule page.