Women’s volleyball set for Washington

The Trojans hope to extend their winning streak away in the Pacific Northwest.

By JOSEPH DOMINGOT

November 8, 2023

2023_11_03_ Women's Volleyball vs. Arizona (Joy Wang)-34

Women’s volleyball has fared very well at home and neutral sites, going a perfect 12-0. However, they have deeply struggled on the road, going 4-8. (Joy Wang / Daily Trojan)

After winning against Utah in Salt Lake City last week, the Trojans followed up with another win against Arizona Friday at home. USC also defeated No. 17 Arizona State in a three-set sweep at Galen Center. The Trojans play Washington next, a team USC narrowly beat back at home earlier this season.

With three consecutive victories against the Utes (10-14, 5-9 Pac-12), the Wildcats (6-19, 1-13) and the Sun Devils (22-4, 10-4), the newly ranked No. 25 Trojans (16-8, 10-4) look to increase the streak up to five games with a trip up to the Evergreen State.

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The season nears its closing stages with six conference matches left on the Trojans’ schedule in their last season as a member of the Pac-12.

“I am not really big on rankings,” said junior setter Mia Tuaniga in an interview with the Daily Trojan. “We’re 25, but we’re aiming for something different right now.”

Senior star outside hitter Skylar Fields recorded back-to-back games with 24 kills. She notched over 2,000 collegiate career kills, with over half — 1,091 — for the Trojans.

“[Fields] is an incredible player, incredible human and she is all about this,” said Head Coach Brad Keller. “We are very fortunate and grateful to have her be a part of this program.”

Tuaniga was also integral in USC’s home victory over ASU. Tuaniga recorded 32 assists on Sunday, as she also recorded 11 digs to reach her ninth double-double of the season.

The Trojans will travel to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies (14-11, 5-9). Washington has struggled in conference play this season, winning only five of its Pac-12 matches in 2023. The Huskies have specifically struggled recently, winning just one of their last five, with that win coming against UC Berkeley (15-10, 4-10) Friday.

Washington is coming off a four-set loss against No. 4 Stanford (20-3, 13-1) at Maples Pavilion. Despite equalizing the match at one set apiece, the Huskies could not keep up with the Cardinal Sunday. Stanford led in all major statistical categories in their victory Thursday.

In their previous matchup at Galen Center Oct. 22, the Trojans were more efficient with their hitting percentage and were more statistically dominant. USC recorded more kills, points, assists and blocks. Despite the game coming down to the wire, Washington notched more attempts, errors and aces in that matchup.

On that day, Fields led the Trojans with 23 kills and Tuaniga matched her career high of 17 digs in that outing, while also eclipsing her season high of 50 assists.

USC also has the upper hand in this historical matchup, as the Trojans have 44 total wins compared to the Huskies’ 33 all-time against one another. However, Washington is 21-19 against the Trojans all-time on its home court.

USC looks to extend its winning streak against the Huskies 7 p.m. Friday at Alaska Airlines Arena.

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