USC Women’s Volleyball Opens 40th NCAA Tournament Run in Austin

Trojans Set for 40th NCAA Tournament Appearance

LOS ANGELES – The USC women’s ⁢volleyball team (21-9) is heading back to the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive year,marking ⁢the program’s 40th all-time appearance in the prestigious national tourney. The ⁣six-seeded Trojans, led by fifth-year head coach Brad ⁢Keller,​ will face off​ against Western Athletic Conference champion UT Arlington (29-2) ⁣in a first-round match on Thursday,‍ Dec. 5, at 4 p.m. CT (2‌ p.m. PT) at Gregory‍ Gymnasium in Austin, Texas.

“We’re thrilled to be back in‍ the NCAA tournament,” said Keller. ⁣”This‍ team has worked incredibly hard all season, and they deserve this opportunity. We know UT Arlington will be a tough opponent,but ⁢we’re confident in our abilities and excited to compete.”

Keller, who boasts a 84-56 (.600) record​ as USC’s head coach, brings‌ a unique viewpoint to the Trojans, having coached‌ both men’s and women’s volleyball programs at both USC and UCLA.

USC‌ boasts ‍a rich history in the NCAA tournament, with‍ an notable 129-43⁣ (.750) overall postseason record and an⁣ 83-36 (.697) mark‍ specifically in the NCAA ‌tournament. The Trojans have dominated in first-round matches,boasting a 34-5 record.

The Trojans⁢ and mavericks have met three times previously, with USC ⁢sweeping all three encounters. Their last meeting ⁤took place on August 31,‌ 1996,‌ in Boulder, Colorado.

Fans can catch ⁣all the action live on ESPN+ with Lincoln Rose and Shelby ⁣Coppedge providing commentary. For⁤ more information⁣ on the UT Arlington Mavericks, visit UTAMavs.com.

Trojans Volleyball ⁣Heads to Texas for NCAA Tournament Opener

Los Angeles,​ CA – The USC Women of Troy volleyball team (20-10) are set to embark on their 37th NCAA Tournament appearance, traveling to Austin, Texas to face off against the Texas A&M Aggies (20-9) in ⁣the first round. The match is ​scheduled for Friday, December 1st‌ at ‌4:30 PM ‌PT.

USC boasts a storied history in⁣ the ⁣NCAA Tournament,having appeared in all but four tournaments since 1981 and claiming ​six national ⁤championships,including three NCAA titles (1981,2002,2003).The Trojans are no strangers to success in​ the Lone Star State, boasting a 32-8 record ​in Texas, including an impressive 11-2⁤ mark specifically in Austin.

This ​year’s squad is led by a talented core of veterans. Senior setter Mia Tuaniga has been a ⁢mainstay for the Trojans, starting for the past three seasons⁤ and amassing 4,471⁤ career assists, placing her second in USC history. Tuaniga is just 40⁤ assists shy of⁢ breaking the‍ school ‌record.

Graduate outside hitter Ally Batenhorst​ has been ​a force on offense, ranking ninth in the Big Ten with 3.87 ⁤kills per set and eighth in the league for points per set (4.56). Redshirt freshman middle blocker Leah Ford​ leads the Trojans with a .367 hitting percentage, good for fourth in the Big Ten, and ‍ranks fifth in the ​conference for blocks (1.35 ⁣bps).

USC’s strong blocking​ presence ⁤has been a key factor in their ​success this ⁤season. The Trojans ⁢rank third in⁤ the big‍ Ten and seventh ​nationally ​for blocks per set (2.86⁢ bps) and have recorded double-digit blocks in 19 matches.

The Trojans⁤ enter the tournament on⁣ a high note, having closed out the regular season with two consecutive ⁢victories, including a 3-1 win ⁤at ​Washington and a 3-0 sweep ​of Iowa on Senior Night. ⁢Tuaniga recorded back-to-back double-doubles ⁤in those matches, while Batenhorst continued her impressive offensive output with back-to-back nights of 19‌ points or more.With a history of success,⁤ a talented roster, and momentum on their side, the Trojans are‌ poised to ‍make ⁣a deep run in ⁣the NCAA Tournament.

Trojans Head to Texas for NCAA Volleyball tournament, Aiming ​for Deep Run

Austin, TX – The USC Women of troy ⁤volleyball team (21-9) is heading to​ the ⁤Lone Star State ⁤for the ‍first round of the NCAA Tournament, facing⁣ off against UT Arlington (23-8) on friday, December ‍1st. The match will be held at⁢ the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, the site of USC’s 2003 NCAA Championship victory.

This marks USC’s 36th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, a testament to the‍ program’s storied ‍history.‌ The ⁢Trojans boast an impressive 129-43 (.750) record in postseason play,including six national ‍championships –⁤ three NCAA titles (1981,2002,2003)‍ and three AIAW championships (1976,1977,1980).

“We’re excited to ‍be back in the NCAA Tournament and heading to Texas,”⁢ said Head ‌Coach Brad ⁢Keller. ‍”This team has worked hard all season, and we’re looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

USC enters the tournament with​ momentum, finishing the regular season tied for sixth in the Big ⁤Ten ⁢standings.The Trojans dominated⁢ their ⁣former Pac-12 rivals,posting a ‌5-1 record against Oregon,UCLA,and Washington.

The Trojans ⁣have a strong history in Texas, boasting a 32-8 all-time record in the state. They’ve also had success against‍ UT Arlington, holding‌ a⁢ 3-0‍ advantage in their previous matchups.

Adding to the Texas⁢ connection, five Trojans​ hail ⁣from the‍ Lone Star State, including ⁢All-American middle blocker Lauren Williams (Houston), middle blocker Tyrah Ariail (Frisco), and ‌middle blocker Leah​ Ford⁣ (Keller). Graduate transfer ​outside hitter Ally Batenhorst also ‍joins the Texas contingent.

“having ‍so many players from Texas on our team makes this trip even more special,” said Ariail.”We’re⁤ excited to ‌play in⁢ front⁤ of our families ⁤and ‍friends.”

USC is‌ aiming​ for a deep⁣ run in the tournament, hoping to ⁢add⁣ another chapter to ⁢its ‍rich volleyball legacy. With ‍a ⁢talented roster and a history of success, the Trojans ⁢are poised to make a statement in Austin.

Trojan Trio Leads USC Volleyball to Texas‌ Showdown

Los ​Angeles,CA – The USC Women’s Volleyball team is heading to the Lone ⁢Star State,ready to face off ‌against the Texas ​Longhorns in a ​highly ‍anticipated NCAA Tournament matchup. Leading the charge for⁣ the Trojans are a trio of talented freshmen: middle blocker Favor⁤ Anyanwu, outside hitter jadyn Livings, and setter mia Tuaniga.

This young core has injected a surge of energy into the Trojan squad, showcasing‍ impressive skills and​ a fierce competitive spirit. Anyanwu,hailing from Rowlett,Texas,brings a powerful presence at ‍the ⁣net,while Livings,a Dallas native,delivers consistent firepower from the outside. Tuaniga, a California native, orchestrates the offense ⁢with precision and poise.

The Trojans boast a strong ⁤ancient record against the‌ Longhorns, holding‍ a 32-8 advantage in all-time matchups. In postseason play,‍ USC has dominated, securing 12 victories against Texas’s 3.

This weekend’s ‍clash promises ⁢to ⁤be a thrilling battle between two powerhouse programs. ‍With their young stars leading the way, the trojans are poised to make a deep run in the tournament.

Trojan Volleyball: Back in the Big ​Dance, A Conversation with Coach⁤ Keller

NewsDirectory3.com – The ‌USC Women’s Volleyball⁢ team is heading back to the NCAA tournament for the 40th time in program history, a remarkable feat that speaks to the program’s consistent excellence.⁤ This year’s ⁤squad, led by fifth-year head coach Brad Keller, aims to ⁤build on that legacy.

We sat down⁣ with Coach Keller to discuss ‌the team’s exciting ⁣road ahead as they prepare to face off ⁣against UT Arlington in the first round.

ND3: Coach Keller,congratulations on another NCAA tournament berth! This marks the third consecutive year for USC. How does ​this⁤ team compare to previous squads and what‌ makes them so special?

Keller:​ ​ Thank you. This team has⁣ shown astonishing ​resilience and commitment throughout the season. They’ve faced adversity​ and always found a way to bounce back. The team chemistry is exceptional, and they truly‌ play for each other.

ND3: You bring⁣ a unique outlook to ⁤USC,having coached both men’s and women’s volleyball at both USC and UCLA. How does this experience⁤ inform your‌ coaching style and approach?

Keller: Coaching at both universities and with both genders has given ⁢me a broader understanding of the ‌game.It’s helped me develop my coaching‍ philosophy and adapt to different playing styles and personalities.

ND3: Looking ahead ​to ‍the first round‍ matchup against UT Arlington, what are your key​ takeaways from ⁣scouting them, and‌ how do ‍you see ⁤the matchup playing out?​

Keller: UT Arlington is a well-coached team with a lot of talent. They have a strong offensive presence and a tenacious ‌defense. We know it will be ⁢a tough challenge, but we are confident in our abilities ‌and believe that our experience on the big stage will be an advantage. Our ‌focus is on executing our game plan, playing disciplined volleyball, and trusting our abilities.

ND3: USC boasts a rich ⁢history in the NCAA‍ Tournament, with multiple⁤ championships and consistent deep runs. How do you instill that legacy in the⁢ current team while also allowing them to carve thier own path?

Keller: We talk about the program’s history and the players⁣ who came before them, but the focus is always on the present and what we can⁤ accomplish together. We want them to feel the weight of​ tradition, but also understand that they have the possibility to make⁢ their own ⁣mark.

ND3: what message do you have for the trojan​ faithful as the team enters this exciting ​part of the season?

Keller: We ⁢are incredibly grateful ‍for the unwavering support of our‌ fans. Their energy​ and enthusiasm mean ‌the world to us. We​ want them to know that we‌ are going to give it our ​all on​ the court ‌and fight for every point. we hope‍ to see them in Austin, cheering us on!

The ‍first round matchup‌ against UT Arlington‍ will be a thrilling showdown, and ⁣Coach Keller and‌ the Trojans⁤ are ready‌ for the challenge. Be sure to catch the action ‍live on ESPN+ and join us in cheering ⁣on the ‌women of ‌Troy as they continue their quest for NCAA glory!