The golden California sun dips low over Merle Norman Stadium, casting long shadows across the meticulously raked sand courts where beach volleyball is putting in its final practice before departing for Alabama. There’s a palpable energy in the air — part anticipation, part quiet determination — as the Trojans prepare to chase what no program has ever achieved: five consecutive NCAA Championships.

When Head Coach Dain Blanton took over the program in 2019, he inherited a team already accustomed to winning. Under former Head Coach Anna Collier, the Trojans (26-10) had captured two national titles, but Blanton, an Olympic gold-medalist and one of the sport’s most innovative minds, saw untapped potential. He didn’t just want to win championships; he wanted to redefine what excellence looked like in beach volleyball.

“We’re trying to make history,” Blanton said. “No one’s done what we’ve done so far with the four, and five in a row would be unbelievable. That’s what we’re trying to go for.”

Led by Blanton, along with Assistant Coach Emily Bowman, the coaching staff has prepared this team for every possible scenario. Their practice sessions have honed in on the minute details that separate good teams from champions — a standard Bowman knows well.

“It’s a blessing to be around people who are so focused and like-minded everyday,” Bowman said. “It’s a culture, a mindset, an attitude, and just being a part of that makes you be that way too. … Each team has its own individual culture, and they all find success within that.”

Having won titles as a player in 2022 and a coach in 2023-24, Bowman embodies the program’s philosophy of continuity. The roster reflects the same balance, blending veterans who’ve weathered multiple championship runs with talented freshmen facing NCAA Tournament pressure for the very first time. 

“As a coach, I see a lot more of the strategic and logistical side [compared to] when I was a player. … I was more just like, ‘go, go, go play,'” Bowman said. “And now I’m like, ‘Okay, let’s slow down, break it down … and see the bigger picture.’”

The Trojans’ journey to Gulf Shores has been anything but smooth. They opened the year against a brutal stretch of top-tier competition, dropping two of their first three matches. Losses to Loyola Marymount (35-6) and Stanford (31-8) in February served as early wake-up calls, but USC responded by grinding out wins when it mattered the most. The Trojans took down the Bruins (30-6) in a thrilling 3-2 battle, defeated TCU (28-5) and handed Florida State (25-12, 4-1 Coastal Collegiate Sports Association) a decisive 4-1 defeat.

While the top duo of junior Madison White and sophomore Zoey Henson has shown vulnerability at times, even going 1-4 in the recent MPSF Championship, their depth has been extraordinary. During the same tournament, junior Delaney Karl and graduate Ella Larkin compiled a 4-1 record on the fourth court while sophomores Madison Goellner and Kaileigh Truslow went a perfect 3-0 on the fifth court. 

However, the sun and competitiveness burn hotter in Gulf Shores, Ala., this time of year. The sand sticks to skin, salt hangs thick in the air and the pressure of the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship brings the ultimate weight. 

“You gotta always fight,” Blanton said. “It’s never over till it’s over. … We’re four duals away from [history].”

The NCAA Ttournament structure leaves no room for error: a single-elimination gauntlet where 16 teams become eight on Friday, four on Saturday, and by Sunday noon, only two remain standing for the championship showdown. 

If the seeding holds, USC’s road to the championship will be a series of grudge matches.

The Trojans’ first test will be No. 12 seed North Florida, a team they swept 5-0 earlier this season. The Ospreys are no pushovers, but the Trojans have dominated this matchup historically, holding a 4-0 all-time record. A win there would likely set up a quarterfinal clash with No. 4-seeded Loyola Marymount — a team that handed USC one of its most lopsided losses of the year, 4-1, before the Trojans repaid them with a 3-2 victory in April.

Beyond that looms UCLA, the top seed. The crosstown rivals have faced off three times this season, with USC holding a 2-1 edge after a 3-1 victory in the MPSF Tournament. The Bruins are the gold standard in beach volleyball, but the Trojans have proven they can go toe-to-toe with them.

If USC advances past UCLA, the final hurdle would likely be No. 3 seed Stanford — the team that has been its biggest obstacle this year. The Cardinal have beaten the Trojans three times in five meetings, including a 3-0 sweep early in the MPSF Tournament and a 3-2 win in the MPSF Cchampionship dual. Stanford’s consistent ability to exploit USC’s struggles on the court makes it a very difficult matchup, but if the Trojans can flip the script in Alabama, it would be the ultimate redemption.

“It did suck, but we know that we’ll get them next time. If we just go out there and play our game, we can beat anyone,” said sophomore team captain Ashley Pater. “It was tough in [the] MPSF [Championship], having to play three matches back to back, but it showed a lot of grit and passion from our team.”

Despite the sting of recent defeats, the Trojans are channeling their frustration into motivation, with players looking ahead to a potential rematch.

“[Stanford] definitely was a really heartbreaking loss, especially us not being able to put a point on the board for our team,” said freshman Kennedy Coakley. “I’m kind of holding on to that loss and remembering it for the next time we play to release it back on them.”

USC’s greatest strength is its balance — the group that thrives on the collective strength of its depth. The No. 1 duo of White and Henson — both recently named first-team AVCA All-Americans — anchors the team with consistency and leadership. Meanwhile, Pater and Coakley have been honored as AVCA second-team All-Americans.

“[Kennedy and I] are basically sisters. We love each other. So, I mean, every single day we get to play with each other, it makes our day,” Pater said. “Going to the NCAA, we just want to keep growing as a pair, and we’re going to go out there and play our game.”

The biggest X-factor remains the duo on court one. Henson and White have the talent to compete with any pair in the country, but their 1-4 record in the MPSF Championship raises concerns. If they can elevate their play to what Trojan fans have come to expect of them in Gulf Shores, USC becomes nearly unstoppable. If not, the Trojans will need their other courts to carry the load big time.

The answers will unfold grain by grain over three grueling days in Alabama, and as the first serve flies, the Trojans will write the next chapter in their remarkable story.

“We’re coming in hot into the NCAA,” Coakley said. “The lights, the camera, the fans — that’s what me and Ashley were born for. So, we’re super excited for that venue.”

USC will take on North Florida in the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 7 a.m. at Gulf Shores Beach in Alabama.