Battle in Troy

Thursday, April 6

Los Angeles, Calif.

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

7-20, 2-15MPSF

USC

13-13, 7-10MPSF

California Baptist

USC

Photo by: Sammi Wellman

4/6/2017 9:00:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

LOS ANGELES — Coming off back-to-back five-set matches last week against two ranked teams, California Baptist University looked to do it again Thursday after finding itself down two sets to No. 11-ranked USC. The Lancers rallied in the third to keep the match alive, but dropped the match 3-1 (25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22).

CBU falls to 7-20 overall, 2-15 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. USC improves to 13-13 on the year and 7-10 in conference, securing its spot in the MPSF Tournament.

Luis Palos had a career night, finishing with 18 kills on a 53.6 hitting clip. Enrique de Diego Garcia chipped in 10 kills on 47.1-percent hitting, while Palos and Caleb Miller each posted four blocks on the night.

USC grabbed the first multi-point lead of the night, 6-3, but the Lancers battled back to tie the set up at 6-6. The Trojans tried to create some separation again, with a 12-10 upper hand, but Rohit Paul snuck a kill past the USC block to put CBU within one, 12-11.

It was the closest CBU would get, however, as USC took the set 25-18.

That momentum carried over into the next set as Troy jumped out to a 7-1 lead. CBU stayed in it, slowly chipping away at the home team's lead. A solo stuff from Cody Jackson put the Lancers within three, 21-18, but USC managed to walk away with the 25-21 set win to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Down 2-0 in the match is a position CBU has been in before and the Lancers weren't ready to pack it in. Palos powered home a kill from the back court to put his team in front 6-4, but the Lancers couldn't quite seem to get more separation just yet.

After Palos scrapped up a kill for CBU, Miller smacked down a power kill from the middle to put his team in front 13-8 and force the first Trojan timeout of the night. The Lancers were out-hitting the Trojans 72.7 to 8.3 leading up to the break, hoping to keep momentum in the visitors' corner.

USC tried to battle back, but the Lancers seemed determined to keep their multi-point cushion. The Trojans pulled within four, 15-11, but a powerful kill from Garcia, followed by a block by Garcia and Jackson, gave the Lancers a 17-11 upper hand.

The Lancers kept pushing and extended their lead to a 20-13 mark, forcing another Troy timeout.

With the chance to secure a playoff berth, USC came battling back and cut the margin to just three points, 23-20, to force a CBU timeout. The Trojans weren't stopping, however, and kept coming, 23-22, before a kill from Vaz put CBU within set point.

USC stayed alive with the next point, but Palos evaded the threat with a kill right in the middle of the Trojan defense, 25-23.

The Lancers looked to carry that momentum into the fourth, but found themselves in a battle. Even at 12-12, USC rattled off three-straight points to jump in front 15-12.

Not willing to give up, CBU rallied to pull within two off a Jackson and Miller combo stuff, 22-20. The Trojans still managed to reach match point, 24-21, but Miller kept the Lancers in play with a strong kill in the middle. USC ended it on the next play, however, taking the fourth 25-22 to win the match.

CBU and the Trojans turn right around for a rematch on Saturday, this time back at the Van Dyne Gym with a 7:00 p.m. start time.