The energy and stakes were high on Thursday night as the match garnered the largest home crowd for a women’s volleyball match in Pauley Pavilion history.
USC nearly swept UCLA in the first match of the Pac-12 play, winning in four sets 25-22, 25-21, 29-27, 25-21.
The Trojans were on the verge of sweeping the Bruins in three sets until an out-of-bounds play was challenged and overturned in the favor of UCLA.
Both teams were neck in neck for the victory in the third set, but for different reasons. The Bruins were fighting to force a fourth set, while the Trojans were fighting to prevent one.
“We had opportunities to win and [UCLA] just touched the ball a little bit better and made that extra touch or play that allowed them to escape and get out of it,” head coach Brad Keller said about the final plays of the third set, in which UCLA escaped a sweep.
The Trojans were unsuccessful due to a series of seven service and attack errors and 18 kills from UCLA, who won the third set 29-27. USC recorded a total of 18 service errors in the match.
“We missed a lot of serves, we probably need to practice serving a little bit more and fine tune things a little bit more,” Keller said.
Despite a tight loss in the third, the Trojans regained control and won the fourth set 25-21, thanks in large part to graduate student outside hitter Skylar Fields, who led the team with 24 kills. USC recorded 62 kills, while UCLA only recorded 52.
“Anytime you have two rival schools getting after each other, it always adds just a little bit more to it,” Keller said.
The Bruin energy was high in Westwood, as the crowd was blue and gold with specs of cardinal.
Despite the low USC turnout at Pauley Pavilion, the Trojans brought their own energy. The Trojans kept their cool throughout the match, and were even dancing to the UCLA marching band in huddles.
“I always use that energy as a positive motivator,” freshman outside hitter Jordan Wilson said.
The “boos” were ear piercing and only got louder as the Trojans were up to serve.
“I always feed off the crowd’s energy, whether it’s good or bad,” Wilson said. “I always use that as motivation to push through. If they’re booing us, then like let’s prove them wrong.”
Wilson recorded 12 kills in the match, the third most for the Trojans on the night.
USC returns to Galen Center Sept. 24 to face Washington State in the second game of Pac-12 conference play.