Women’s volleyball pummeled by USC in its first Pac-12 match of the season
Despite eight kills and two aces from sophomore opposite Mac May, the Bruins fell to the USC Trojans in straight sets Wednesday night. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak at the Galen Center for UCLA. (Liz Ketcham/Assistant Photo editor)
Women’s volleyball
| No. 17 UCLA | 0 |
| No. 14 USC | 3 |
By Coral Smith
Sept. 21, 2018 3:14 a.m.
The Bruins never had a chance.
No. 17 UCLA women’s volleyball (5-3, 0-1 Pac-12) lost in straight sets to rival No. 14 USC (9-3, 1-0) on Wednesday night, snapping the Bruins’ four-game winning streak at the Galen Center.
The Trojans took the lead early in the opening set, with the Bruins recording nine attack errors and hitting only .089 in the set. UCLA only led once at 14-13 as USC took the set 25-21.
The Bruins were unable to build any momentum in the second set, as the Trojans led throughout and went on a 10-0 run midway en route to a 25-8 set win. The lopsided deficit in the set was the worst the Bruins had suffered since their 25-8 loss against the Washington Huskies in 2014. UCLA was outhit .032 to .441 and had only six kills compared to USC’s 16.
UCLA looked to be turning it around in the third set with an early 4-1 lead, but USC again came back, taking the lead on a four-point run. Despite the Bruins narrowing the gap on an 8-2 run to push the set past the 25-point mark and outhitting them .273 to .250, the Trojans eventually took the set 29-27 on their fifth match point.
The Bruins ended the night with 19 attack errors and just 36 kills. They were outhit overall .276 to .142.
Junior middle blocker Madeleine Gates and sophomore outside hitter Mac May led the Bruins with eight kills each and junior libero Savvy Simo recorded 13 digs.
While freshman setter Devon Chang has played in all but one set since the start of September and started the match at setter, she was replaced late in the first set by junior Kylie Miller. Miller went on to play the rest of the match and finished with five digs and 20 assists.
The Bruins will continue conference play Friday when they travel to No. 23 Utah.
