No. 4 Southern California beach volleyball didn’t waste any time making itself comfortable at home.
Playing its first matches of the season at Merle Norman Stadium, the Trojans rolled past CSUN and Pepperdine with unyielding 5-0 scores Friday, improving to 6-2 overall.
The Trojans dropped just two sets across 10 courts of action, flexing the depth that has made them a perennial title contender.
USC opened the morning against CSUN with clinical efficiency, sweeping four courts in straight sets.
At No. 2, junior Ashley Pater and sophomore Kennedy Coakley set the tone early with a 21-10, 21-10 victory over senior Tia Mendiola and sophomore Dylan Hall, finishing first and giving the Trojans a quick point.
Senior Alana Embry and sophomore Quincy Stephens followed with a 21-9, 21-14 win at No. 3, and graduate Kerry Keefe and junior Kaileigh Truslow handled business at No. 4, 21-16, 21-12.
Freshman Kyra Zaengle and sophomore Calinda Kok cruised at No. 5, 21-13, 21-11 to extend their hot streak from their perfect season opener.
The only three-set match came on court 1, where junior Zoey Henson and freshman Sarah Wood dropped the opening set before rallying past sophomore Hannah Heflin and junior Maleya Miles, 18-21, 21-16, 15-5, to complete the sweep. This was the first time Henson and Wood played at the No. 1 spot this season.
It marked the third all-time meeting between the programs, with USC remaining unbeaten against the Matadors.
The afternoon dual against Pepperdine saw multiple matchups go to extra points, but the Trojans were able to secure a clean sweep over the Waves.
Embry and Stephens were dominant again at No. 3, dispatching freshmaen Alice Jagielska and Sonia Mancuso 21-13, 21-15. Pater and Coakley responded from last weekend’s tough showing in Hawaii with a commanding 21-15, 21-17 win at No. 2.
At No. 5, Zaengle and Kok remained unbeaten as a pair, earning a 21-9, 24-22 victory. The pair is undefeated this season.
Keefe and Truslow provided the day’s drama at No. 4. After splitting the first two sets — including a marathon 26-24 opening frame — they closed out a 24-26, 21-13, 15-6 win to clinch another point.
Henson and Wood capped the sweep at No. 1 with a composed 21-16, 22-20 victory over sophomore Emma Eden and freshman Michaela Cyrani to maintain their perfect record.
The wins come a week after USC went 4-2 at the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic in Honolulu, where the Trojans fell to No. 1 UCLA and No. 6 Texas. Despite the team results, Henson and Wood were named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Pair and remain undefeated this season.
Back in Los Angeles, USC looked sharper and more settled. The Trojans improved their all-time record at Merle Norman Stadium to 95-11 since its opening. They are now 14-1 in home openers with the only loss to UCLA on Feb. 28, 2018.
USC continues the Battle for LA Saturday with matchups against No. 3 Cal Poly and Concordia Irvine.