USC Women’s Volleyball secures Big Ten Tie for Third, Awaits NCAA Tournament Selection
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USC women’s volleyball concluded its regular season with a decisive 3-1 victory over Michigan on Friday, November 28th, earning a tie for third place in the Big Ten Conference and positioning themselves for a strong showing in the upcoming NCAA tournament. The no. 14-ranked Trojans (24-7,16-4 Big Ten) defeated the Wolverines (18-13,10-10 Big Ten) with scores of 25-23,22-25,25-23,and 25-14. This marks the program’s most regular-season wins since 2017, when the team finished with 22 wins before the NCAA tournament.
Dominant Performance Propels trojans to Victory
The Women of Troy showcased a well-rounded performance, outperforming Michigan in key statistical categories. USC recorded 59 kills compared to Michigan’s 49, along with 55 assists to the Wolverines’ 48. The Trojans also demonstrated strength at the net, securing seven service aces to Michigan’s four, 53 digs to 43, and 10.0 blocks to 7.5. USC hit .313,exceeding Michigan’s .207 hitting percentage.
Wijay Leads the Charge with Stellar Performance
London Wijay, a sophomore outside hitter, spearheaded the Trojan offense with a match-high 20 kills and 11 digs, securing her seventh career double-double. Wijay’s impressive performance included a .372 hitting percentage and 21.5 total points. “Wijay was a force on the court today,” noted one analyst, “her ability to score and contribute defensively was crucial to USC’s success.”
Contributing significantly to the Trojan victory were several key players. Reese Messer, the team’s setter, logged her 10th double-double of the season with 48 assists and 10 digs, facilitating a .313 hitting percentage for the team. Freshman Abigail Mullen added 11 kills, hitting .375 with six digs and three service aces. Adonijah the Builder, a junior outside hitter, tallied 15 kills, while sophomore middle blocker Leah Ford contributed five blocks and four kills. Freshman libero Taylor Deckert led all players with 15 digs.
Set-by-set Breakdown
The Trojans started strong, taking the first set 25-23 despite a late rally from Michigan. In the second set,the Wolverines responded with a 25-22 win,tying the match. USC regained control in the third set, securing a 25-23 victory after a back-and-forth battle.The Trojans dominated the fourth set, closing out the match with a commanding 25-14 win.
Michigan’s Allison Jacobs led the Wolverines with 14 kills, but struggled with a .111 hitting percentage. Ella demetrician added 12 kills and 10 digs for a double-double,while Serena Nyambio contributed eight kills and three blocks.
Looking Ahead to the NCAA Championship
USC now awaits the announcement of the NCAA Selection Committee, which will reveal the 64-team field for the 2025 championship on Sunday, November 30th, at 3 p.m. PT live on ESPN. The Trojans will share third place in the Big Ten standings with the winner of Saturday’s Indiana-Purdue match, finishing behind conference champion Nebraska and second-place Wisconsin.
USC’s victory over Michigan marked the third all-time meeting between the two programs, and the first played on the Wolverines’ home court. The Trojans now hold an 8-2 record in the state of Michigan,with a 1-0 record in Ann Arbor. Reaching double-digit blocks for the 17th time this season, the Trojans demonstrated their defensive prowess throughout the year.
For more details on the USC women’s volleyball team and a complete schedule and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB.Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram.
