USC Women’s Volleyball Returns to Galen Center for NCAA Tournament With Momentum and History on Its Side
LOS ANGELES - The postseason is back in Southern California, and so are the Women of Troy. No.
14 USC (24-6, 15-5 Big Ten) is set to host the opening rounds of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament at Galen Center, marking the first time since 2018 that the Trojans will play NCAA tournament matches on their home floor. With a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten and one of 33 coveted at-large bids, USC earned the No. 4 seed in the Lexington Region and will square off against Ivy League champion Princeton (18-6) in Thursday night’s first round.
Also in the Los Angeles pod: fifth-seeded BYU (22-8) of the Big XII and Big West champion Cal Poly (25-7), who will face off in the other opening-round match. Winners will meet Friday for a spot in the Sweet 16. All matches will stream live on ESPN+.
Let’s break down what this all means for USC, a program steeped in tradition, riding a wave of momentum, and looking to make another deep postseason run.
Trojans Back in the Tournament-and Back at Galen
This marks USC’s 41st NCAA tournament appearance-sixth-most all-time-and its fourth straight under head coach Brad Keller, now in his sixth season at the helm. Keller, who has coached both the men’s and women’s programs at USC and UCLA, has built a steady contender in Los Angeles. His record now stands at 109-63 (.634), and this year’s squad may be his most balanced yet.
Hosting the first and second rounds is no small advantage. Since 2006, the Trojans are 20-4 in NCAA tournament matches at Galen Center and boast a commanding 230-63 (.785) all-time record on their home court. When the postseason lights are on, USC tends to show up big in front of its home crowd.
A Legacy of Postseason Success
Few programs in women’s college volleyball can match USC’s postseason pedigree. The Trojans own six national championships-three NCAA titles (1981, 2002, 2003) and three AIAW crowns (1976, 1977, 1980). They’ve appeared in 41 of the NCAA tournament’s 45 editions, missing only four times (1986, 1990, and the COVID-affected 2020-21 seasons).
Since the NCAA expanded the tournament to 64 teams in 1998, USC has advanced to 12 regional finals, made seven Final Four appearances, and won two national championships. The program’s all-time postseason record stands at 130-44 (.747), including 84-37 (.694) in NCAA tournament play.
Rolling Into December
USC enters the tournament red-hot, having won 13 of its last 14 matches, including a four-match win streak to close out the regular season. The Trojans swept Michigan State behind a double-double from freshman opposite Abigail Mullen and another double-digit team blocking effort.
They followed that performance by taking down Michigan in four sets, with outside hitter London Wijay posting 20 kills and 11 digs-her fourth 20-kill match of the season. Setter Reese Messer added a double-double of her own with 48 assists and 10 digs, guiding USC to its 10th match with a hitting percentage north of .300.
That kind of form, especially this late in the season, is exactly what you want heading into the tournament.
Big Ten Battle-Tested
In their first year as members of the Big Ten, the Trojans didn’t just survive-they thrived. A 15-5 conference mark landed them in a tie for third in one of the nation’s toughest volleyball leagues, and their individual talent didn’t go unnoticed.
Five Trojans earned All-Big Ten honors:
- London Wijay (OH) and Reese Messer (S) were named First Team All-Big Ten.
- Leah Ford (MB) and Taylor Deckert (LIB) earned Second Team recognition.
- Abigail Mullen (OPP) made the All-Freshman Team.
- Gala Trubint (DS) won the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for the second consecutive year.
The numbers back up the accolades. USC leads the Big Ten in total blocks (301.0) and blocks per set (2.76), with Ford pacing the league individually at 1.35 blocks per set.
Messer leads the conference in assists (10.78 aps), while Mullen ranks third in service aces per set (0.44). Deckert sits 10th in digs (3.28 dps), and Ford is also seventh in hitting percentage at .364.
This is a team that’s not just talented-they're statistically dominant in key areas, especially at the net.
First-Round History Is on USC’s Side
USC has made a habit of getting out of the first round. The Trojans are 35-5 in opening-round NCAA tournament matches, with the only early exits coming in 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 2016. Last year, they handled UT-Arlington in the first round before falling to Texas in Austin.
This year’s first-round opponent, Princeton, brings an 18-6 record and the Ivy League title into Galen Center. It’ll be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
There’s also a fun subplot: Princeton freshman outside hitter Sarah Hom is the daughter of former USC men’s volleyball All-American Lawrence Hom, who helped the Trojans win the 1988 NCAA title. A little Trojan blood will be on both sides of the net.
Poll Perspective
USC began the 2025 season ranked No. 21 in the AVCA Coaches Poll-the same spot they held to open 2024. The Trojans have been a consistent presence in the poll, appearing 557 times (sixth all-time), with 317 top-10 rankings and 47 stints at No.
- Since the poll’s inception in 1982, USC has finished in the top 10 eighteen times and claimed the top spot twice-both during their back-to-back title runs in 2002 and 2003.
What’s Next
The path to another deep run starts Thursday night against a Princeton team that won’t be intimidated. But with a loaded roster, home-court advantage, and a legacy of postseason success, USC is in a position few programs can match.
If the Women of Troy continue to block like they’ve been blocking, set like they’ve been setting, and swing with the kind of confidence they’ve shown down the stretch, they’ll be a tough out for anyone in the bracket.
This team isn’t just hosting-they’re hunting.