USC Comes Back to Beat UCLA in Women’s Volleyball

In what the Trojans were calling a “must-win” game, the USC women’s volleyball team beat UCLA, 12-15, 15-10, 17-15, 15-13, Tuesday night before a rowdy crowd of 900 in the Campus Gym at USC.

The Trojans, who are ranked No. 15, kept coming from behind to turn back the Bruins, who are ranked No. 5.

It was the last regular-season match for both teams, and it was especially important for USC to do well in order to obtain a high seeding in the regional tournament.

“We had to win this; we absolutely had to win this,” USC Coach Chuck Erbe said. “The thing I liked is that every player knew we had to win tonight.”

The Bruins won the first game but allowed the Trojans to hold the lead twice. UCLA went ahead, 4-1, but USC, on the strength of freshman Megan McAllister’s serving, came back to take the lead briefly at 6-5. It remained close until Ann Boyer served for four straight points to give UCLA a 12-10 lead.

The Bruins won the game point on Wendy Fletcher’s serve.

UCLA got off to another 4-1 lead in the second game, but USC tied it at 4-4.

Again, with McAllister serving, the Trojans reeled off five straight points. The Trojans had little trouble holding that lead for the rest of the game.

The Trojans won the third game, a close one, and it seemed as if the momentum had shifted. “We just dug in and started serving hard,” Christine Brigman said.

The Bruins then took a 10-4 lead in the final game--but couldn’t hold it.

Fletcher led the Bruins with 18 kills. Antoinette White and Nancy Hillman led the Trojans with 21 and 20 kills, respectively.