Women’s volleyball drops first road match

No. 25 women’s volleyball fell to Arizona in five sets on Wednesday night in Tucson (25-23, 18-25, 22-25, 25-17, 15-7) to drop its first match on the road.

Trevor Sochocki | Daily Trojan
No road magic · Sophomore outside hitter Alyse Ford had seven digs, but it was not enough on Wednesday as USC lost its first road match.

In the fifth and final set, the Trojans fell behind 7-1 and never recovered as Arizona took the set 15-7.

Freshman outside hitter Khalia Lanier led the Trojans with 18 kills and 11 digs, while sophomore outside hitter Alyse Ford recorded 15 kills and eight digs.

The Trojans are now 15-9 overall and 7-6 in the Pac-12. They are 5-1 on the road.

With the match even at a set apiece, the Trojans took the lead with a win in the third set as Lanier dropped three spikes, fueling a 4-1 run to give USC a 25-22 win. Senior middle blocker Elise Ruddins and junior outside hitters Nikki Withers combined for a block to end the set.

But USC couldn’t close it out in the fourth set. The Women of Troy went on a 4-0 run to take a 9-8 lead, but the Wildcats put up a run of four in five points to jump ahead 14-12. They finished the set with a 13-5 run to even the match at two sets apiece and force a fifth set.

The Trojans dropped the first set 25-23 despite leading 17-12 and jumping out to a 5-1 lead. Ford delivered a spike to put USC ahead 7-3. The Trojans fended off one 3-0 run by the Wildcats, but not another surge. Arizona won 6-straight points to go ahead 18-17 and held off USC to claim the first set.

USC responded in the second set, answering an early pace set by the Wildcats this time. Arizona opened ahead 5-1, but the Trojans won eight of the next nine points to take the lead. The teams went back and forth before USC jumped ahead for good 20-13 following strong work from senior middle blocker Elise Ruddins and junior opposite Brittany Abercrombie. USC claimed the second set 25-18, with Ford’s seventh spike sealing the deal.

Next up, the Trojans will take on Arizona State on Friday in Tempe.