NCAA VOLLEYBALL / WEST REGIONAL : USC Defeats Arizona, Meets Stanford Next

USC left Arizona Coach David Rubio with a favorable impression as the Trojans swept his Wildcats out of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament Thursday night.

“If they pass that well, Stanford will lose,” Rubio said.

USC advanced to the West Regional final with a 15-7, 15-9, 15-7 victory over Arizona and will face the host Cardinal tonight at 7.

Second-ranked Stanford (29-1) eliminated Arizona State, 15-8, 15-3, 15-6, behind junior Cary Wendell, who posted match highs of 14 kills and 30 assists.

“I’ve felt like we’ve been on a collision course with Stanford for a while,” USC Coach Lisa Love said. “We’re going to have to tie our digging shoes on tight.”

Since 1984, USC is 9-2 against teams other than Stanford in the postseason but 0-6 against the Cardinal. And playing Stanford, which beat USC in both regular-season matches, in Maples Pavilion is a daunting task.

“We’ve been an exceptional sideout team the last month,” Love said. “A lot of it has to do with our passing.”

Senior Meika Wagner led USC (.358 team hitting percentage) with 18 kills in 31 attempts. Senior Lauri Yust added 13 kills and five blocks.

USC (22-7) jumped ahead, 6-0, in the second game, but Arizona (17-10) rallied to within two points three times. A block from Wagner and kills from Kilee Hughes and Vesna Dragicevic sealed the game.

USC opened a 6-0 lead in the third game, but allowed Arizona to even the score, 6-6, before coasting home.