Post by bigfan on Mar 8, 2006 16:53:58 GMT -5
Volleyball looks to stop skid at 3
The men's volleyball team hosts Penn State tonight, who enters the match with a 10-game winning streak.
The No. 14 USC men's volleyball team returns to action tonight, hosting No. 8 Penn State at 7 p.m. in the North Gym.
The nonconference match marks only the second time that USC (8-11) has hosted Penn State (11-4), and the first since 1987. The Trojans hold a 14-5 all-time record against the Nittany Lions but have lost the last three contests between the teams.
The Trojans have not played since Feb. 28, when they fell to No. 4 Hawaii for the second time in as many days. The Trojans have lost three in a row, and seven of their last eight matches. The Nittany Lions have won 10 in a row.
"We played the highest caliber of teams (during the losing streak) and we played them tough," USC coach Turhan Douglas said. "That can only help you get better. It's bad and it's good: We fought and it made us a little bit tougher."
The week off allowed the Trojans to recover physically from the team's demanding schedule, Douglas said.
"We worked on healing. We let the guys have a couple of days off," he said. "We let them get treatment in the training room. It seemed to help us some."
Trojan sophomore middle blocker Andrew Vernon benefited particularly from the break. Though healthy enough to play, he is still recuperating from off-season surgery on both his knees, Douglas said.
In practice on Monday, the Trojans focused on serving. USC has struggled on serve thus far this season, averaging 4.1 service errors and 0.9 aces per game.
"We're placing a major emphasis on serving in all practices. Our plan is to see a high turnaround," Douglas said.
The Trojans play three matches in four nights, tonight facing the Nittany Lions and then hosting UC San Diego on Friday and No. 6 Long Beach State on Saturday; both weekend matches will be played at 7 p.m. in the Lyon Center.
The men's volleyball team hosts Penn State tonight, who enters the match with a 10-game winning streak.
The No. 14 USC men's volleyball team returns to action tonight, hosting No. 8 Penn State at 7 p.m. in the North Gym.
The nonconference match marks only the second time that USC (8-11) has hosted Penn State (11-4), and the first since 1987. The Trojans hold a 14-5 all-time record against the Nittany Lions but have lost the last three contests between the teams.
The Trojans have not played since Feb. 28, when they fell to No. 4 Hawaii for the second time in as many days. The Trojans have lost three in a row, and seven of their last eight matches. The Nittany Lions have won 10 in a row.
"We played the highest caliber of teams (during the losing streak) and we played them tough," USC coach Turhan Douglas said. "That can only help you get better. It's bad and it's good: We fought and it made us a little bit tougher."
The week off allowed the Trojans to recover physically from the team's demanding schedule, Douglas said.
"We worked on healing. We let the guys have a couple of days off," he said. "We let them get treatment in the training room. It seemed to help us some."
Trojan sophomore middle blocker Andrew Vernon benefited particularly from the break. Though healthy enough to play, he is still recuperating from off-season surgery on both his knees, Douglas said.
In practice on Monday, the Trojans focused on serving. USC has struggled on serve thus far this season, averaging 4.1 service errors and 0.9 aces per game.
"We're placing a major emphasis on serving in all practices. Our plan is to see a high turnaround," Douglas said.
The Trojans play three matches in four nights, tonight facing the Nittany Lions and then hosting UC San Diego on Friday and No. 6 Long Beach State on Saturday; both weekend matches will be played at 7 p.m. in the Lyon Center.
