USC Men’s Volleyball Opens Conference Play with Dominant Sweep Over Vanguard
COSTA MESA, Calif. - USC men’s volleyball kicked off its MPSF campaign in style on Thursday night, powering past Vanguard in straight sets (25-22, 25-17, 25-14) at the Freed Center for Leadership. The fifth-ranked Trojans, now 2-0 on the season, looked every bit the part of a top-tier squad, showcasing depth, efficiency, and control from start to finish.
Dillon Klein Sets the Tone
Senior outside hitter Dillon Klein wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s the offensive engine of this team. He led all scorers with 14.5 points, fueled by 11 kills on just 14 swings - good for a blistering .643 hitting percentage.
Klein added three blocks, two aces, and even chipped in a pair of assists and three digs, doing a little bit of everything in his 63rd career match with double-digit kills. When he’s locked in like this, USC’s offense runs like a well-oiled machine.
Clini’s Career Night
Junior outside hitter Kahale Clini got his first start of the season and made it count. He posted career highs across the board - seven kills, 15 attacks, a .267 hitting percentage, three blocks, and 9.5 total points. For a player stepping into a bigger role, this was exactly the kind of breakout performance USC fans were hoping to see.
Middle Attack Making Noise
The Trojans’ middle blockers were efficient and disruptive all night. Junior Thiago Zamprogno was nearly automatic, scoring 7.5 points with five kills on seven swings and adding three blocks and a service ace.
Redshirt sophomore Wesley Smith was just as sharp, hitting .625 with five kills on eight attempts and matching Zamprogno’s three blocks. When the middles are this active, it opens up the entire floor for the offense.
Supporting Cast Steps Up
Redshirt junior opposite Noah Roberts delivered a well-rounded effort with five kills, three blocks, five digs, and an ace. Sophomore libero Johnny Dykstra added four digs and two assists, while junior setter Caleb Blanchette ran the offense smoothly with 26 assists, three digs, and two aces. The balance across the board was a clear sign that this USC team isn’t just top-heavy - they’ve got depth at every position.
Stat Sheet Tells the Story
USC dominated the box score, hitting .468 as a team (36 kills on 62 swings) while holding Vanguard to a .130 mark. The Trojans led in every major statistical category - assists (33-25), digs (23-15), service aces (8-3), and blocks (8.5-2.0).
In the opening set, USC used five blocks to shut down Vanguard’s rhythm and held them to .138 hitting. The Trojans pulled away midway through the frame, highlighted by a key block from Klein and Smith that sparked a 14-9 lead. From there, they never looked back.
Set two saw more offensive firepower, with USC hitting .478 as Klein, Clini, and Zamprogno each notched three kills. Vanguard showed some fight but couldn’t keep up with the Trojans' efficiency.
By set three, it was all USC. Klein went a perfect five-for-five on attacks, and the Trojans hit a scorching .556 to close out the match. Vanguard was limited to a .038 hitting percentage in the final frame, struggling to find any consistent offense against USC’s block and back-row defense.
What’s Next
The Trojans return home to the Galen Center to take on 18th-ranked Princeton on Friday night. It’ll be another early test against a nationally ranked opponent, and the match will stream live on Big Ten Plus at 7 p.m. PT.
Notable Numbers
- USC improves to 4-0 all-time against Vanguard.
- The Trojans are now 37-20 in conference openers.
With a clean sweep to open MPSF play and multiple players stepping up in key roles, USC is sending a clear message: this team has the talent, depth, and focus to make serious noise this season.