USC Men’s Volleyball Set for Clash with Undefeated UC Irvine in Early-Season Showdown
LOS ANGELES - The Trojans are rolling. Sitting at 7-0, No.
4 USC men’s volleyball is off to another red-hot start and staring down a major early-season test this week: a home-and-home series with No. 5 UC Irvine, who’s also undefeated at 11-0.
This matchup isn’t just two top-five teams going head-to-head - it’s a rematch with real weight, especially after last season’s back-to-back heartbreakers at the hands of the Anteaters.
The two-match series kicks off Wednesday at UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center (6 p.m. PT), with the return leg at USC’s Galen Center on Friday night (7 p.m. PT), streamed live on Big Ten Plus.
A Rivalry with Some Recent Bite
USC might hold the all-time series edge (43-38), but recent history tells a different story. The Trojans were 9-0 last year before UC Irvine handed them their first loss in a five-set thriller that stretched nearly three hours.
That match ended 26-24 in the fifth - the kind of gut-punch that lingers. Just days later, Irvine came into the Galen Center and swept USC off its home court on Valentine’s Day.
The Trojans have dropped two straight in the series and are 4-6 in the last 10 meetings. This week offers a chance to flip that script.
Nygaard’s Squad: Deep, Balanced, and Hungry
Led by 11th-year head coach Jeff Nygaard - a three-time Olympian and two-time NCAA champion - USC is once again showing the kind of depth and balance that makes them a legitimate national contender. Nygaard, recently extended through 2028, has built a program that’s both consistent and dangerous. He now has 130 career wins at USC and continues to push the Trojans to new heights - including last season’s climb into the top three of the AVCA poll for the first time in over a decade.
This year’s team is packed with returning firepower. Five Trojans earned AVCA All-America recognition in 2025, including first-team outside hitter Dillon Klein and second-team middle blocker Parker Tomkinson. Setter Caleb Blanchette, outside hitter Sterling Foley, and libero Johnny Dykstra all earned honorable mention nods.
Klein Keeps Climbing
Klein continues to be the heartbeat of USC’s attack. He’s already surpassed 1,000 career kills - a milestone he hit late last season against UCLA - and now sits at 1,150 and counting.
Through seven matches, he’s averaging 4.04 kills per set (7th in the NCAA) and 4.83 points per set (6th in the NCAA). He’s also hitting at a .430 clip, good for seventh nationally.
The numbers are elite, but it’s the consistency that stands out: Klein has logged double-digit kills in 68 of his 85 career matches.
Blocking Beasts in the Middle
USC’s frontline defense has been a major storyline this season, and middle blockers Wesley Smith and Parker Tomkinson are leading the charge. Smith, a redshirt sophomore, was just named MPSF/Molten Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career.
He ranks third in the MPSF in both blocks per set (1.27) and hitting percentage (.524). Tomkinson, despite not qualifying for the national rankings due to limited sets played, is averaging an eye-popping 1.57 blocks per set - a number that would have him near the top of the national leaderboard.
Blanchette Hits 2,000 - and Keeps Going
Senior setter Caleb Blanchette crossed the 2,000-career assist mark in the season opener and is now up to 2,221. He’s the engine behind USC’s offense, and his ability to spread the ball and keep defenses guessing has been a huge part of the Trojans’ success. Last season, he led the MPSF and ranked fourth nationally in assists per set (10.61), and he’s already matched his career-high of 61 assists twice.
Last Time Out: Statement Wins Over Ranked Big West Foes
USC’s unbeaten run includes a pair of big wins last week that showed both grit and dominance. First, the Trojans edged No.
16 CSUN in a five-set battle where four players - Klein, Noah Roberts (12), Foley (11), and Smith (10) - reached double-digit kills. USC hit .333 in that match, showing off its offensive depth.
Then came a sweep of No. 15 UC Santa Barbara, where the Trojans again hit .333 and put up 13.5 blocks to hold the Gauchos to a .100 hitting percentage.
Klein dropped another 12 kills, with Roberts adding 10. It was USC’s third match this season with double-digit blocks - a clear sign that this team can win with offense or defense.
Poll Watch: A Program Mainstay
USC is no stranger to the national rankings. This week’s No. 4 spot marks the 508th time the Trojans have appeared in the AVCA Coaches Poll - a testament to the program’s sustained excellence. They began the year ranked fifth and reached as high as No. 3 last March, their best ranking since 2015.
What’s at Stake
This week’s series isn’t just about bragging rights - it’s about momentum, confidence, and early-season positioning in the national conversation. Both teams are undefeated, both are ranked in the top five, and both know what it feels like to be in the thick of the postseason race. For USC, it’s a chance to avenge last year’s losses and prove that this version of the Trojans is built to go the distance.
The Stage is Set
Two top-five teams. Two undefeated records.
Two matches that could shape the early landscape of men’s college volleyball. USC vs.
UC Irvine isn’t just a marquee matchup - it’s must-watch volleyball. And if history is any indication, we’re in for a battle.