USC men’s volleyball wasted no time making a statement to open its 2026 fall season, rolling through the USC Fall Invitational with a 4-0 record at home.
The Trojans handled UC San Diego, Cal Lutheran, UC Irvine and Vanguard over the weekend at the Galen Center, putting together a clean start in front of their own crowd while also sharing the building with UCLA.
Friday set the tone. USC opened the tournament against Cal Lutheran and took care of business in straight sets, 25-20, 25-19. The Trojans then turned around and outlasted Vanguard in a tighter match, grabbing the opening set 25-23, dropping the second 20-25, and then closing it out with a 15-8 win in the deciding set.
UCLA had its own strong Friday, beating Vanguard and Cal Lutheran in straight sets. The Bruins topped Vanguard 25-17, 25-19, 25-17 before sweeping Cal Lutheran 25-20, 25-23, 25-23.
USC was back in action Saturday morning when the Galen Center reopened at 9 a.m. against UC San Diego. The Trojans stayed in control throughout, winning 25-19 and 25-22 to move to 3-0 in the event.
They finished the weekend with another straight-set victory over UC Irvine, though this one was much tighter from start to finish at 25-23, 25-21.
USC enters the new season after going 20-8 in the regular season last year and finishing third in the MPSF standings. Jeff Nygaard is heading into his 12th season as head coach, and the Trojans are leaning on that foundation as they build toward the year ahead.
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For Trojans fans, Sanchez was part of an era that helped shape the programs identity, and his name carried weight in college baseball circles long after he left Los Angeles. He was recognized for his contributions to the sport and is survived by his family, leaving USC and the broader baseball community to reflect on a career that made a lasting mark. [Read more 🡒]
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USC Volleyball Finally Got The Reset Trojans Fans Needed
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Mia Tvrdy, London Wijay and Adonia Faumuina were among the key pieces in a performance that gave USC a chance to breathe and regroup. For a team trying to stop a slide and steady itself, this was the sort of clean win that can matter beyond the box score, even if the real test is whether it carries over into what comes next. [Read more 🡒]