Coming off its final season in the Pac-12, the USC women’s volleyball team looks to improve from its 2023 campaign that saw the Trojans end with a 19-13 record. With a season-opening doubleheader against Pepperdine coming up this weekend, here is what to look out for in USC’s inaugural year in the Big Ten.

Headlining the squad is senior setter Mia Tuaniga. Tuaniga led the Trojans last season with 1,229 assists, which ranked fifth in the Pac-12 and 24th nationally. She also earned 2023 Pac-12 All-Conference and American Volleyball Coaching Association All-Pacific South Region honors. Her talent has continued to garner attention, as she was the sole Trojan named to the Big Ten Preseason All-Conference Team.

Sophomore outside hitter London Wijay is another player poised to make a big impact. Wijay will look to build on her promising freshman campaign where she ranked second on the team in points per set with 2.7 and kills per set with 2.42.

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“[Wijay’s] already elevated her game. She’s doing much better this year already, and she’s growing up fast,” said Head Coach Brad Keller.

The Trojans will also rely on some new faces, including graduate transfer outside hitter Ally Batenhorst. She brings elite pedigree as she spent three seasons at Nebraska, playing in two national championships, and she was the 2020-21 Gatorade High School Texas and National Player of the Year.

USC will also have four true freshmen fighting for playing time this season. Freshmen outside hitter Jadyn Livings and middle blocker Favor Anyanwu were both named to the 2024 Fab 50 by VolleyballMag.com.

Anyanwu had a historic career at Sachse High School in Texas, holding school records such as 454 blocks in her career, 167 blocks in a season and a 0.507 single-season hitting percentage — the highest-ever at Sachse. She was ranked the second-best prospect in the country, only behind outside hitter Izzy Starck, a Penn State commit.

A coaching change may also impact the outlook of the Trojans’ season. While Keller will enter his fifth season as head coach, the team made a major addition to the staff this spring, with Tyler Hildebrand joining as an associate head coach.

Hildebrand served as head coach at Long Beach State for two years, where he led the team to a 40-19 record over the two seasons. His experience is already providing a boost for the Trojans.

“He’s definitely just raised the IQ of the team … I think he’s made a really good and really positive impact on our team,” Tuaniga said.

The Trojans will get their first opportunity to make a statement in the Big Ten when they host Ohio State on Sept. 27 in their first Big Ten matchup. USC will enter its new conference’s campaign facing tough competition, including 2023 national runner-up Nebraska on Sept. 29.

Other Big Ten clashes to look forward to include match-ups with Wisconsin on Nov. 14, Purdue on Nov. 23 and Oregon on Oct. 9 and Nov. 17. The Trojans will also face Rutgers on Oct. 20 and Iowa on Nov. 29 for the first time in program history.

The Trojans will also get an early chance for revenge against Pittsburgh, the team that eliminated them from the NCAA tournament last season. The Trojans will face the No. 4 Panthers in their home opener on Sept. 11.

USC fans can expect a changed team when the Trojans step onto the court this season, with a lot of new talent and tactics.

“We have more people stepping into different roles, and more people coming into leadership spaces, which is great, and I think we’re starting to grow as a program,” Tuaniga said.

As they open the season, USC will need to improve its performance on the road, after going 5-11 away from home in 2023. The Trojans will have the chance to show they are a changed squad when their season begins with two non-conference games at Pepperdine on Aug. 30 and 31.

Sloane Morra contributed to this report.