No. 1 USC Wins in Volleyball

Four players contributed double-digit scoring as the top-ranked USC women’s volleyball team defeated 15th-ranked Loyola Marymount, 30-16, 30-22, 30-16, in the second round of the NCAA Division I tournament in front of 1,213 Saturday night at the Lyon Center.

The Trojans (31-0) extended their winning streak to 43 matches. They are one win shy of tying the NCAA record set by Penn State in 1990. Loyola finished with a 26-7 record.

Bibiana Candelas, April Ross, Katie Olsovsky and Emily Adams all posted double figures. Candelas led with 15.5 points with five blocks and 13 kills, while hitting .500. Ross had 14.5 points, a match-best 14 kills and 13 digs. Adams and Olsovsky each had 12 points, nine kills and five blocks.

USC’s size and depth was too much for Loyola Marymount. The Trojans out-hit (.431 to .126), out-blocked (12.5 to 5.5) and out-dug (54 to 35) the Lions.

USC advanced to the West Regional semifinals at Lincoln, Neb., and will face No. 24 Texas A&M; on Friday.

“I’ve been a coach for 14 years and that is by far the best team I have ever played against,” Loyola Coach Steve Stratos said. “They’re well-coached, they’re huge and I wish them the best. We had a great season and I’m proud of our athletes.”

Said Trojan Coach Mick Haley: “That was an extremely fine job by our team tonight against a very good team. We are excited for the next round and looking forward to playing Texas A&M; in front of the great crowd Nebraska will attract.”

UCLA defeated UC Irvine, 30-24, 30-28, 30-22, in the second-round match at Pauley Pavilion. Brittany Ringel led the Bruins (23-8) with 14 kills. Kelly Wing had 18 kills for the Anteaters (24-10).

The Bruins will join USC in the West Regional semifinals. They will play Nebraska.

*

On its fourth trip to the Division II women’s volleyball championship, North Alabama won the title, beating Concordia-St. Paul, 30-24, 30-28, 30-22, at Cal State San Bernardino.

All-American Yana Ninova led the Lions (33-7) with 22 kills, giving her 80 in three matches. All-American setter Ashley Moffitt, the nation’s leader in assists per game (14.5), had 47 assists.

Jill Kalvik led the Golden Bears (32-4) with 10 points and five block assists.

*

In the quarterfinals of the Division I men’s soccer tournament, defending champion UCLA lost to Indiana, 2-1, at Drake Stadium.

The Bruins finished with a 20-2-1 record. The Hoosiers improved to 15-3-5.