A four-game road trip to start the season in which the No. 16 Trojans took on three top-20-ranked teams saw mixed results, but with the squad finally coming back to Galen Center this weekend, things are looking to change.

USC (2-2) will face three former Pac-12 foes over the weekend in its first matchup against each of the squads since the Trojans left the conference after the 2023 season.

USC will play against Arizona (2-4) Friday, No. 23 Colorado (6-0) Saturday and Oregon State (4-2) Sunday, which is expected to be a competitive home-opening weekend for the Trojans and a chance for USC to make a name for itself.

Home opener against Wildcats

To kick off the 2026 season at home, the Trojans will face a struggling Wildcats team that has lost four straight after opening the year 2-0. In the Bluejay Invitational last weekend, Arizona won just four sets in three matches, all of which resulted in losses. 

Following a fairly successful 2025 campaign where the Wildcats were knocked out by No. 2-seeded Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Arizona entered the 2026 season hoping to return to the national stage once again.

However, the loss of Jordan Wilson, Arizona’s premier outside hitter who graduated after last season, has already loomed large this year.

Still, junior outside hitter Carlie Cisneros and a solid supporting cast will lead the way for the Wildcats. Cisneros enters her third season with Arizona and was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, posing as a possible threat to the Trojans. She is currently averaging just over seven digs and five kills a game.

Arizona faced a common opponent this season in No. 15 Creighton (4-2), which beat USC in four sets in the Trojans’ second match of the season, while the Wildcats battled in five sets but lost in what was an extremely competitive game.

The first home match of the year will see the Trojans try to restore a similar home-court advantage to last year, when the Trojans went 15-4 at Galen Center.

Top 25 matchup versus Buffaloes

After its bout against Arizona, USC will face an undefeated Colorado team Saturday night. The Buffaloes, who have lost just four sets all year in six matches, will without a doubt be the Trojans’ most difficult matchup in the three-game stretch.

Colorado is led by senior outside hitters Sydney Jordan and Ana Burilovic, who bring a combined eight years of experience to the court. Jordan, who has already established herself as a top-tier player this year, is averaging six kills a game, while Burilovic sits in sixth place for the most kills in Buffaloes history.

The two offensive powerhouses have complemented one another perfectly, as well as the rest of their team en route to a perfect start to the season.

USC lost the last match it played against Colorado in five sets three years ago, but still leads the all-time series against the Buffaloes, 20-4. At home, the Trojans have a much better record of 13-0 in the series, solidifying the home-court advantage at Galen Center.

The Trojans will take on the Buffaloes Saturday at 6 p.m. in the middle match of the weekend.

Beavers end weekend’s homestand

In the final match of the three, the Trojans will take on the final former Pac-12 foe, Oregon State.

The Beavers have found a lot of success so far this season, opening the year 4-2 and coming in on a three-game win streak. Before facing the Trojans, the Beavers will play Colorado and Arizona on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

In 28 matches last year, Oregon State went 19-9 but did not earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. This season, the Beavers will look to change that, and with the return of sophomore outside hitter Cheyenne Green, there is a definite chance.

Green played in just 19 matches last season, but in 2026, she is averaging just over six kills a game and about a block per game as well. Alongside Green is senior setter Jackie Matias, who is among the best setters in collegiate women’s volleyball.

Matias led the Beavers in assists last season with 641 and tied for the most service aces with 27. In 2026, she is currently up to 212 assists through six games, an extremely high mark for the senior.

Historically, USC has performed very well against Oregon State and even better at home, with a 24-2 overall home record against the Beavers. 

Before the Trojans take on the Beavers, USC will face Arizona on Friday at Galen Center at 7 p.m. in the team’s first matchup against the Wildcats in nearly three years.