The long-awaited season debut for USC women’s volleyball finally commenced Saturday, and it was done in sweeping style — literally. 

A straight-set win against No. 7 Arizona State (2-1) marked not only a major upset for No. 15 USC (1-1), but also provided momentum going forward against No. 10 Creighton University (2-1) the following day.

While it looked to be enough at the start, it ultimately would not carry over as the Bluejays took down the Trojans in four sets on Sunday. Even with the second match loss, USC went home with a ranked victory and two games of over 40 kills and 40 assists, a good sign for the rest of the season.

Ultimately, the road trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the State Farm Showcase can be considered a success as the Trojans showed their potential against top-ranked squads.

A Trojan season-opening sweep against ASU

USC’s first win of the year was a complete team effort. The Trojans averaged a .301 hitting percentage across the three sets, including an incredible .384 hitting percentage in the first two. USC won the match 25-23, 25-21, 25-22 for its first sweep of the 2026 season.

Much of the success on the court came from redshirt junior outside hitter London Wijay and sophomore opposite hitter Abigail Mullen. The duo each had double-digit kills and at least five digs and 14 points in the sweep.

Wijay, arguably USC’s top player this year, kickstarted a rally in the third set, which ended with five straight points to officially secure the win. USC was down 22-20, but her kill lit a flame underneath Head Coach Brad Keller’s squad as the team fought back to win the set and secure the sweep in comeback fashion.

She added a game-high five blocks in pursuit of another incredible season after last year’s, when she was an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention.

If Wijay isn’t the Trojans’ best player, then Mullen certainly makes a case for that title. Mullen earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and was named the Trojan Invitational Most Outstanding Player as part of a highly successful freshman season. She looks to replicate her first-year success in her sophomore season, which she has already started to do.

Mullen has complemented Wijay and redshirt senior outside hitter Adonia Faumuina perfectly. Mullen’s 6-foot-3 stature elevates her above the other two, which helped her record 10 kills and block four shots in Saturday’s win.

USC loses in four sets to Creighton

With one upset already secured, the next battle was against perhaps an even better squad. While Creighton was ranked one spot below ASU at the time, it had already defeated No. 14 Purdue (0-1) on Friday, posing as a major threat in women’s volleyball in 2026.

The Bluejays continued to assert their dominance this season with a 23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-19 win over USC. While the Trojans kept the match close and even won the first set, they were overpowered with three unanswered set wins in what ended up being a very successful weekend for Creighton.

The first set was dominated by USC, as it totaled seven more kills than Creighton — 18 to 11. After that, however, it was all Bluejays, and the Trojans’ hitting percentage of just .188 in the last three sets highlighted their struggles.

Despite the loss, Wijay and Mullen were just as locked in as the day before, with 13 kills and at least two blocks each. The two look to be a force of nature this season alongside Faumuina, who had nine kills and three blocks.

Another player with a strong opening to the match was junior setter Lilli Etter. After recording 36 assists in the game against the Sun Devils, Etter upped it to 40 against Creighton, seemingly securing her spot in the starting lineup for good.

Two successful years at Boise State University have led her to a top-ranked Trojan squad, where she will look to have a big impact each night, just as she did in the State Farm Showcase matches.

With the weekend officially behind USC, it next faces a tough matchup against No. 9 Texas (2-2) in the first-ever Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week. The Trojans will travel to the Lone Star State in an attempt to bring home their first win over the Longhorns since the 2007 NCAA Regional final in December of that year.

USC will face Texas in one of the Challenge Week inaugural matches on Wednesday at Gregory Gymnasium at 6 p.m.