LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- Men's volleyball came close to taking the third set in a rematch with #5 USC, but in the end fell 3-0 to the Trojans at the Galen Center Friday night. The opening two stanzas went to the Trojans 25-17, 25-16, as USC hit over .400 in both periods. The Lions were brightest in the third frame, leading in kills (14-12) and service aces (2-1), but USC sported a composed finish to secure the sweep in the final set 25-23. VU drop to 3-8, and 0-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The Trojans claim the rematch to rise to 11-2, 2-0.

The Blue and Gold hit .146 (30-16-96) for the contest and led from the service line 3-2. USC hit .447 (45-7-85) across the three sets and held the Lions without a block assist to lead 9-1 in total blocks. Phinehas Wiley led the way for VU with eight kills and four digs. Logan Freemon cracked off seven kills and swung at a rate of .185. Grant Dvorak tallied five kills, while Micah Sybesma finished with four. Sean Nguyen scored all three aces for the Lions on the night and coined a team-high 14 helpers.

What Happened? The second MPSF match in three days between both programs started with a 6-3 USC run. Freemon fired his first two kills to draw the Lions within one as the Blue and Gold maintained pace in the early stages of the set. A cross-court shot from Wiley and a slap from the right side from Brock Henderson kept the Lions in punching distance at 15-12 USC. Despite VU keeping the set within a three-to-four-point deficit, the Trojans' elite .750 (17-2-20) hitting percentage eventually blew the lead open, as they finished the period on a 6-1 run to take the first.

Set 2- Unlike the first set, the Lions struggled for a crisp start, as a game-low .091 (7-4-33) would frame the difficulties of the interval. The Trojan front row also had their most influential set, winning the block count 4-0. USC marked a 9-4 start to the set, with Wiley finding the first Lion kill. Sybesma had the next VU kill on a driven spike through the middle to put the Blue and Gold down six (12-6 USC). Vanguard's best run came in the latter moments of the set, as a 4-0 push started with Nick Dvorak and ended with a thrashing palm from Wiley. Up 19-12, the Trojans took back control and won the remainder of the set on a 6-4 trade between both sides.

Set 3- VU led in kills (14-12) but suffered vital attacking errors, committing seven to USC's one. In a set with eight ties, the score was glued at 7-7 before a dominant serving run from Nguyen created separation. The senior setter contributed to all four VU points in a 4-0 run, dishing two aces and a pair of assists. The Lion lead was soon erased, however, by USC's  4-0 rebuttal, and the game would remain dead-even until a 5-2 Trojan swing put the home team up 21-17. USC carried on their momentum to potentially close the match, but a tight finish at the net from Nguyen and Trojan's error left the frame tight at 23-22 USC. Unfortunately for the Blue and Gold, an attacking error placed the Trojans at match point. Though Wiley issued a critical Lion point on the side out, the Trojans found the final point to close out the sweep at the Galen Center.

What's Next? Men's volleyball will launch a five-game home stand, starting with Jamestown, on Monday, March 3, at 7 pm.