USC Loses to Texas in NCAA Second Round

AUSTIN, Texas – The 19th-ranked and sixth-seeded USC women’s volleyball squad (22-10) was defeated by the third-seeded No. 13 Texas (20-6) in straight sets (26-24, 25-20, 25-22), resulting in their exit from the NCAA tournament’s second round at Gregory Gymnasium on Friday, Dec. 6.
 
KEY PLAYERS

• Sr. S Mia Tuaniga broke the school’s all-time record for assists, finishing the match with 25 and totaling 4,529 in her career. She also contributed four kills, two digs, and a service ace for a total of 5.0 points. Tuaniga’s seventh assist during the match propelled her past the previous record of 4,510 set by All-American setter Kendall Bateman (2008-11).
• Gr. OH Ally Batenhorst led the team with 17 kills, alongside three digs, a block, and a service ace. Her initial kill of the match marked her 1,000th career kill, including her time at Nebraska.
• Redshirt Jr. MB Tyrah Ariail added five kills and registered three blocks (two solo).
• Jr. LIB Gala Trubint paced the USC defense with 11 digs, marking her 70th career match in double digits.
• For the Longhorns, Madisen Skinner topped all players with 23 kills (6 errors, 49 attempts) and a .347 hitting percentage, achieving a double-double with 12 digs complemented by two blocks and a service ace. Jenna Wenaas contributed 13 kills on 21 attempts without an error, hitting .619. Averi Carlson amassed 40 assists along with four digs and four blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Trojans surged to a five-point lead early in the first set, maintaining dominance for most of it until the Longhorns rallied to equalize at 19-all, ultimately taking the set 26-24. Batenhorst led with four kills, with her first being her milestone 1,000th-career kill assisted by Tuaniga. Tuaniga ended the set with eight assists, becoming the new all-time leader for USC assists. USC accumulated 12 kills (6 errors, 34 attempts) with a .176 hitting percentage, while Texas recorded 17 kills (6 errors, 40 attempts) and hit .275.
• Batenhorst added five kills in the second set, yet USC managed only 10 kills, resulting in a 25-20 defeat with a hitting percentage of .097. Both teams recorded four blocks, but Skinner’s eight kills bolstered the Texas offense. UT hit .306 and secured 17 kills (6 errors) on 36 attacks. USC led by as much as three points at 12-9 but could not reclaim the lead after Texas surged ahead, seizing a 15-14 advantage and never looking back for a 2-0 match lead.
• The Women of Troy began the third set strong with a 5-1 lead, but Texas countered to take a 12-11 lead following two kills from Skinner and completed the match with a 25-22 victory. USC hit .195 with 14 kills, including eight from Batenhorst, closing the gap to just one point at 22-21. Texas enjoyed 17 kills for the third consecutive set and finished with a .368 hitting percentage, recording only three errors on 38 attacks.

MATCH NOTES

• USC’s all-time record against Texas stands at 5-6, with a 2-3 record in matches played in Austin. The Longhorns have prevailed in the last three encounters.
• USC’s postseason record now stands at 130-44, with an 84-37 record in NCAA tournament outings.
• The Women of Troy have an impressive 33-9 record in Texas, including 12-3 in Austin.
• Against teams from Texas, USC’s record is now 42-10.

For further details regarding the USC women’s volleyball team and access to the full schedule and results, kindly visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans can follow the Women of Troy on Facebook, X, and Instagram @USCWomensVolley.