Jan. 28, 2006

Box Score

The No. 13-ranked USC men's volleyball team defeated UC San Diego, 30-22, 30-27, 30-27 on Saturday (Jan. 28) at RIMAC Arena in La Jolla.

The Trojans improved to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation to equal their MPSF win total from last year, while UCSD dropped to 0-7 overall and 0-5 in the MPSF.

For the first time this season, UCSD outblocked an opponent, but could not overcome the duo of Juan Figueroa and Joao Grangeiro, who combined for 35 kills. Figueroa had 20 kills while hitting .441 and he added 13 digs. Grangeiro had 15 kills and hit .480.

UCSD was paced by Jon Daze with nine kills and a perfect reception percentage in 19 attempts. Garret Smith also added nine kills against one error for a .471 hitting percentage.

USC led 5-4 in game one and quickly extended the margin to 13-6, forcing UCSD into a timeout. The Tritons would cut the deficit down to 16-13, but could not pull closer the rest of the game. USC put game one away on a kill, 30-22.

UCSD fell behind early in game two, trailing 10-4 and later 22-15. UCSD fought back to within three after a Smith kill at 28-25, but a UCSD service error would end game two in favor of USC, 30-27.

Game three was the most competitive of the night. The teams were tied several times, the last at 14-14 on another Smith kill. USC scored the next four points to go ahead 18-14. UCSD then put a small run together and cut the lead down to 24-22, aided by Smith and Russ Hardy kills. UCSD would come within one at 26-25 on a Daze kill, but UCSD could not produce the game tying point. USC put game three away, 30-27.

USC next hosts No. 6 UCLA on Wednesday (Feb. 1) at 7 p.m. in the North Gym.