University Southern California Trojans
Men's Volleyball Plays Key MPSF Matches
February 29, 2000 | Men's Volleyball
Feb. 29, 2000
THE FACTS--The No. 4-ranked USC men's volleyball team (15-3 overall, 11-2 NCAA, 7-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Pacific Division) is faced with a crucial week of MPSF matches, first going to top-ranked Pepperdine (10-1, 8-1) on Tuesday (Feb. 29), then twice hosting No. 5 Hawaii (9-3, 5-2) on Friday (March 3) and Saturday (March 4) in the USC North Gym. All 3 matches start at 7 p.m.
RANKINGS--USC is ranked fourth in both the USA Today/AVCA coaches poll and the Volleyball magazine poll. Pepperdine is first in both polls, while Hawaii is fifth in both polls.
OPPONENTS--Pepperdine, which has won 5 straignt after losting to BYU (its only loss of 2000), is led by Andre Breuer (261 kills), Scott Wong (238 kills, 31 aces) and Brad Keenan (68 blocks). Pepperdine is 1 of only 2 MPSF schools (along with UCLA) to hold a series edge over the Trojans, 37-30. The Waves beat USC, 3-1, earlier this season in the finals of the UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational. Hawaii, which hasn't played since Feb. 18, has won 5 of its last 6 matches, including splitting a pair of home matches versus Long Beach State. The Rainbows are led by Costas Theocharidis (275 kills) and Clay Stanley (257 kills, 26 aces). USC holds a 24-19 leads over Hawaii (the teams split 2 matches in Honolulu last season).
LAST MATCHES--Defending NAIA champion Cal Baptist shocked USC by posting a 15-7, 13-15, 16-14, 15-9 victory on Wednesday (Feb. 23) at the school's Riverside campus. The Lancers, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA after starting their program just last season, won their seventh match in a row. USC lost its second straight, having previously fallen at BYU. Since the match was not against an NCAA opponent, the results don't count in USC's NCAA record. The Trojans played without Brook Billings and Eli Fairfield, the team's top two kill leaders, who were resting stress fractures in their legs. It was the third straight match that Billings was sidelined and Fairfield's first. For USC, Trevor Julian had 23 kills while hitting .410, Mark Dusharme added 21 kills and Beau Rawi had 17 kills. Cal Baptist outhit USC, .368 to a Trojan season-low .218, and had more blocks 19.0 to 7.0 and more aces, 13 to 9. On Friday (Feb. 25), Dusharme had 21 kills again while hitting. 679, both match highs, to lead USC to a 15-8, 15-5, 15-9 victory over NCAA Division III opponent UC Santa Cruz in the USC North Gym. Julian added 14 kills for the Trojans, while teammate Beau Rawi had 10 kills and 5 blocks. USC outhit (.367 to .011) and outblocked (13.0 to 8.0) UC Santa Cruz. The Trojans again were without Billings and Fairfield.
RETURN TO GLORY?--In the 15-year span from 1977 to 1991, USC was an annual contender for the NCAA title as the Trojans won 4 NCAA crowns, finished second 6 times and were third once. After an 8-year drought, USC is on the brink of returning to national prominence in 2000. Don't be surprised if this is the season that Troy makes its first visit to the NCAA Final Four since 1991.
VOLLEYBALL SCHOOL--Besides the 4 NCAA crowns (1977-80-88-90) that USC's men have won, the Women of Troy have captured 4 national volleyball titles. USC's women won the AIAW trophy in 1976, 1977 and 1980, and the NCAA crown in 1981. Incidentally, USC leads the nation in NCAA men's team titles in all sports, with 70 (plus 8 unofficial football crowns), and the women have added 15 national titles.
COACH PAT POWERS--Legendary Olympic gold medalist, collegiate All-American and pro beach star Pat Powers returned in 1997 to his alma mater--which he led to the 1980 NCAA title as a player--to become the USC men's volleyball head coach and help bring the Trojans back to national prominence. Now in his fourth year, his career mark is 73-45. In 1997, his first season, Powers put USC back on track, with its first winning season since 1994 at 18-14. In 1998, his Trojans went 17-17 and missed the MPSF Tournament by just one win. Last year, the 24-12 Trojans advanced to the finals of the MPSF tourney and earned a No. 7 national ranking. The 6-foot-5 Powers is one of the greatest players in international volleyball history. He was a member of the U.S. National Team for nine years (1978-86) and started at outside hitter on a squad that won America's first-ever ?Triple Crown?: the 1984 Olympics, the 1985 World Cup and the 1986 World Championships.
DONALD SUXHO--The team's only senior is 6-5 captain Donald Suxho of >Albania, who is starting at setter for the fourth year. One of the premier setters in college, he is also a blocking force at the net and possesses a lethal jump serve. In 2000, he tops USC in aces (29) and assists (999), and is second in digs (82). He made the All-Tournament team at the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational (for the second consecutive year). He hit .600 with 10 kills against Penn State. He had 6 aces at San Diego State and 10 digs at UC San Diego. He hit .545 and had 9 digs at UCLA. He led USC with 4 blocks against UC Santa Barbara. He had 10 digs and 4 blocks at BYU. He had 4 aces and 7 digs at Cal Baptist. He had another 7 digs with 3 blocks versus UC Santa Cruz. He was named to the 1999 AVCA All-American first team when he led USC in aces (a USC season record 63), digs (199) and assists (1,871). He was second nationally in ace average in 1999 (.658, tops in the MPSF). He was an All-MPSF third teamer in 1998 when set a since-broken NCAA record for most assists in a match (129 versus Ohio State in 1997).
BROOK BILLINGS--USC sports perhaps the top young player in the game in dominating 6-5 sophomore opposite hitter Brook Billings, who is in the starting lineup for his second season and could be in line for All-American honors. In 2000, he leads USC in kills (264). In the finals of the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational against Pepperdine, he led USC with 23 kills and 9 digs. He followed that up by equalling a career-high with 39 kills (hitting .540) against Penn State. He had 20 kills and hit .500 versus Manitoba. He had 35 kills (hitting .434) at San Diego State and 23 at UC San Diego. He then had match highs in kills against Pacific (25, while hitting .588 with 5 digs) and Stanford (15). He was named MPSF Player of the Week for his performance at UCLA, getting match highs in kills (33) and digs (a career-high 17). He had a match-best 18 kills while hitting .462 against San Diego State. He was USC's co-leader in kills (20) versus La Verne and added a match-best 11 digs. He then missed USC's next 4 matches (UC Santa Barbara, BYU, Cal Baptist and UC Santa Cruz) while recovering from a stress fracture in his lower left leg, but could be ready to go this week. In 1999, he was the Asics/Volleyball National Co-Freshman of the Year and the MPSF Freshman of the Year as he led USC in kills with 640, the fourth most ever in a season by a Trojan (more than any USC freshman), while hitting .317. He was sixth nationally in kill average (6.17) and added 169 digs (second on USC) and 92 blocks (fourth on USC). He showed just how precocious he was during USC's final 4 matches of 1999 (all against Top 7 squads) when he had an amazing 30-plus kills in each outing (and he had 20-plus kills in the last 9 matches of 1999).
ELI FAIRFIELD--Back for his third year starting at an outside hitter spot is junior Eli Fairfield. In 2000, he is second on USC in kills (215). In the finals of the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational against Pepperdine, he had 17 kills and hit. 344. He had 10 kills, 5 aces and 6 digs in the first match against Penn State, then came back the next night to post 19 kills and 5 digs. He had 17 kills and hit .464 versus Manitoba. He had 25 kills at San Diego State. He then had 13 kills and 5 blocks against both Pacific (hitting .391) and Stanford(hitting .478). At UCLA, he had 19 kills and a career-high 15 digs. He had 26 kills and 15 digs, both match highs, against UC Santa Barbara. At BYU, he had a career-best and match-high 42 kills, plus 10 digs. He missed USC's matches against Cal Baptist and UC Santa Cruz while resting a stress fracture in his leg, but could be ready to go this week. For his performances against UC Santa Barbara and BYU, he was named the AVCA National Player of the Week. Last season, the 6-7 Fairfield was second on USC in kills (501) while hitting .283 and in aces (30) and fourth in digs (139) and blocks (83). He was a Freshman All-American in 1998.
TREVOR JULIAN--Also returning for his third year starting at outside hitter is junior Trevor Julian. This year, he is second on USC in hitting percentage (.386), aces (25) and blocks (35, tied). He had 13 kills (hitting .530) and 3 aces against Penn State. He had 17 kills (hitting .414) with 5 aces and 6 blocks at San Diego State, then added 10 kills at UC San Diego. At UCLA, he had 15 kills and 3 aces. He hit .727 with 9 kills against San Diego State. He was USC's co-leader in kills (20) versus La Verne while hitting .467. He had 15 kills (hitting .417) with 5 aces against UC Santa Barbara. At BYU, he had a career-best 23 kills, plus 11 digs and 4 blocks. He led USC in kills at Cal Baptist with another 23 while hitting .410. He had 14 kills (hitting .375) with 3 blocks versus UC Santa Cruz. Last season, the 6-5 Julian was third on USC in kills (269), aces (24) and digs (154) in 1999, and also had 80 blocks.
BEAU RAWI--Beau Rawi, a 6-5 sophomore middle blocker, is USC's fifth returning starter. In 2000, he leads USC in blocks (64) and hitting percentage (.458). He made the All-Tournament team at the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational (he hit .313 in the final against Pepperdine). He had 6 blocks in the first match against Penn State, then had 11 kills (hitting .450) with 5 blocks the next match. Against Manitoba, he had 10 kills and hit .600. He hit .611 with 13 kills and had 6 blocks at San Diego State, then added 8 blocks at UC San Diego. Against Pacific, he hit .615 with 9 kills, then hit .714 with 12 kills and 5 blocks versus Stanford. At UCLA, he hit .448 with 16 kills and had a match-best 6 blocks. He hit .462 with 9 kills against San Diego State. He hit .524 with 16 kills against La Verne. At BYU, he had a career-best 25 kills (hitting .588) with 7 blocks. He had 17 kills at Cal Baptist. He hit .412 with 10 kills and added 5 blocks against UC Santa Cruz. He was second on USC in blocks with 114 in 1999, and also had 235 kills while hitting .358, 18 aces (fourth on USC) and 104 digs.
MARK DUSHARME--The only new starter in USC's lineup is 6-7 freshman Mark Dusharme, a 1999 Volleyball Fab 50 pick and 2-time All-CIF San Diego Section first teamer at Bonita Vista High in Chula Vista, Calif. In the finals of the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational against Pepperdine, he hit .615. He had 11 kills while hitting .430 against Penn State. He hit .615 with 8 kills versus Stanford. He hit .714 with 11 kills and 3 aces against San Diego State. He had 10 kills while hitting .455 against UC Santa Barbara. He had a career-best 21 kills at Cal Baptist while playing opposite hitter in place of an injured Brook Billings. Against UC Santa Cruz, he again had 21 kills and hit .679, both match highs. He was a member of the 1999 USA Boys Youth National Training team and the 1998 USA Youth National team, where he was named the ?Best Blocker? at the NORCECA Youth National Tournament. He's nearly back to full speed now after being slowed in fall workouts by injuries (back stress fracture, appendectomy), although he has missed some time in early-season 2000 matches.
RESERVES--Providing depth at outside hitter are Ryan Thurlow, an experienced 6-2 junior, and 6-8 walk-on freshman Marcus Gilmour, USC's biggest player who has loads of potential. When Brook Billings was sidelined this year with a stress fracture in his leg, Thurlow started 5 consecutive matches. First, against La Verne, he had 16 kills. He posted 15 kills with 3 blocks against UC Santa Barbara. At BYU, he had 16 kills, 10 digs and 4 blocks. He had 13 kills at Cal Baptist. He had 6 digs versus UC Santa Cruz. He was a part-time starter in 1998 and appeared in 9 matches as a reserve in 1999. Gilmour was named to the 1999 Volleyball Fab 50 team and the All-CIF Division III first team at Santa Ynez (Calif.) High, which won the CIF Division III championship last season. Gilmour played on the 1999 USA Junior Nationals Boys 18-and-Under champion. He is just coming around after knee surgery this past fall and has yet to play in 2000. Josh Day, a 6-6 walk-on freshman, is a reserve middle blocker. This year, he hit .444 with 6 blocks at San Diego State, then hit .538 with another 6 blocks while starting at UC San Diego. He also started versus Pacific. He hit .500 with 6 kills while starting against La Verne. He came off the bench to hit .800 against UC Santa Barbara. He started at Cal Baptist and had 3 aces. He was on the 1999 Volleyball Fab 50 team and was an All-State first teamer at Kamehameha High in Honolulu, Hi. Suxho's backup at setter in 2000 is 6-2 redshirt freshman walk-on Dustin Avol, who did not compete at USC last year after attending prep powerhouse Mira Costa High in Manhattan Beach, Calif. He subs in occasionally as a serving specialist. He started against La Verne this season. But waiting in the wings while probably redshirting is highly-touted 6-5 freshman Miles McGann, a 3-time All-CIF first teamer (he was MVP of the 1999 All-CIF Division III team) and a Volleyball Fab 50 choice at Laguna Beach (Calif.) High. He was a 4-time All-American first team selection at the USA Junior Nationals (his team finished first twice) and was on the 1998 USA Youth National team.
LIBEROS--USC has a pair of players capable of ably filling the new libero position, a combination defensive and passing specialist: 6-0 sophomore Greg Burden and 5-10 redshirt freshman walk-on John Hinds. This season, Burden leads USC in digs (92). He had 9 digs against Pepperdine in the finals of the 2000 UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational, 7 digs against Penn State, 8 digs at San Diego State, 10 digs at UCLA, 9 digs against UC Santa Barbara and a match-best 21 digs at BYU. Hinds had 7 digs at UC San Diego, 10 versus Stanford and 9 at Cal Baptist. Burden is the more skilled passer, while Hinds is better on defense. Burden saw limited action in 3 matches last year at Troy, while Hinds sat out 1999 at USC after prepping at Santa Margarita High in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. Hinds played on the 1998 USA Junior Nationals Boys 18-and-Under champion. Hinds suffered a knee sprain in early January and will be sidelined several weeks.
NOTES--When USC upset top-ranked UCLA in 5 games on Feb. 4, the Trojans not only broke a 13-match losing streak to their crosstown rival, but it was USC's first regulation-match win over the Bruins since 1991, its first victory in Pauley Pavilion since 1990 and its first win in the Kilgour Cup after 7 losses...Before losing at BYU, USC was off to its best overall start, NCAA start and MPSF start since 1994...Also, before the BYU loss, USC was ranked first by Volleyball Magazine and second by the AVCA/USA Today. The last time USC was ranked No. 1 in any poll was the season-ending AVCA poll in 1991. The last time USC was ranked second in the USA Today/AVCA poll was March 1, 1994...Here's a rarity in the world of men's athletics. One of USC's assistant coaches is a woman, Laura Ames, who was the women's head coach at both Aurora (1993-95) and Benedictine (1996-97)...Beau Rawi's brother, Omar, started for USC's men's volleyball team in 1998 and 1999...Ryan Thurlow's father, Toby, lettered for USC's 1962 national championship football team and his grandfather, Leavitt, lettered in football from 1934 to 1936...Miles McGann's brother, Grant, played water polo at USC in 1997 and his cousin, Jeremy Laster, is a member of the USA national water polo team...Several dozen of Marcus Gilmour's relatives attended USC, including his mother and father.
