The Galen Center will be lit up in gold and cardinal red when USC women’s volleyball takes on its next two Big Ten opponents at home this weekend. The Trojans sit at No. 9 in conference rankings after last Friday’s nail-biter victory against Utah State and a tough loss against Nebraska on Sunday. 

The Trojans (9-3, 1-1 Big Ten) are looking to clear their heads and shake off the dust from their last match against Nebraska (13-1, 3-0 Big Ten). Graduate transfer outside hitter Ally Batenhorst, a former Nebraska Husker, was visibly emotional ahead of the game at Devaney Sports Center. 

Batenhorst is looking to take the Trojans to the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship — an experience she knows all too well after making it there with the Huskers last season. 

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USC is confident it can get there. 

“I think we’re prepared,” said senior setter Mia Tuaniga about this weekend’s matches in an interview with the Daily Trojan. “We had a pretty good test this past Sunday against Nebraska and I think we took a lot of learning points away from that and I’m excited to see how we apply those learning points and then get into it this weekend.”

The Trojans will face off against one of the highest-ranked teams in the Big Ten, Michigan (12-1, 2-0 Big Ten), first this weekend. After starting the fall with a spotless record of 9-0, the Wolverines took their first loss of the season in a match against ACC opponent North Carolina (12-1, 4-0 ACC). 

Michigan has been receiving praise for coming back from behind in several of its matches so far in order to claim its top spot in conference rankings. Sophomore setter Morgan Burke and graduate outside hitter Allison Jacobs have both recorded career-highs this season with 55 assists and 25 kills, respectively. 

In order to come out on top Friday, the Trojans will need to watch out for junior middle blocker Serena Nyambio, Jacobs and Burke. Nyambio currently leads Michigan in blocks, solo blocks and boasts a hitting percentage of 0.430. 

Both teams in the upcoming match have exceptional players eager to make statements early in Big Ten play. Fans can expect fierce clashes between these Michigan players and Trojans like Batenhorst, redshirt freshman middle blocker Leah Ford and Tuaniga. 

“They’re gonna come at us with a lot of fire,” said junior libero Gala Trubint in an interview with the Daily Trojan. “I think we just have to have a little bit of an edge, a chip on our shoulder and just know what we are, be a little prideful in who we are and what we do.”

Following a battle with Michigan, the Trojans will need to quickly turn their attention to Minnesota (8-4, 1-1 Big Ten). Up four spots from last week, No. 12 Minnesota is yet another powerhouse in the Big Ten. The Gophers won their match against the No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers (8-4, 2-1 Big Ten) Wednesday, Sept. 25 and lost against No. 10 Purdue (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) Saturday. 

With both matches taking place home at Galen Center, a packed crowd of Trojans will play a vital role in supporting USC. 

“Every time we have a home game, I think it’s really special,” Trubint said. “It gives us a little bit more excitement and joy to plan in front of our fans and make it worth their time coming out.”

USC will play Michigan at 7 p.m. Friday and Minnesota at 8 p.m. Saturday at Galen Center.