In multiple respects:
- First 4-set loss, 23-25, 25-22, 11-25, 18-25 (no 3-set losses)
- Worst set (11-25 in Set 3) of the season.
- Worst composite score, Gophers 77, Trojans 97, of the season, and
- Out-played in every aspect.
I warned Readers that USC was better than their #22 rating. And I warned Readers that the shorthanded Gophers might not have much left in the tank, playing back-to-back matches on the road. But I did not know how short handed. I said, in my account of Friday’s night match vs UCLA, that Hanson was essentially A.W.O.L.; what I did not know when writing that, was that Hanson was playing while ill. And likely not at 100% tonight either. And Acevedo, who came off the bench to help the Gophers take Set 5 from UCLA, contributed little against Southern Cal. I’ve written before about knowing an old VB coach who often said, “A volleyball team is only as good as their Leftside Hitters.” This weekend, with Wooker not dressed, Hanson under the weather, and Acevedo unable to pick up the slack, we were not very good.
Individually, Lydia Grote was the only consistent bright spot of the match, following last night’s 13-kill match vs UCLA with 16 against USC. After the disastrous Set-3, Coach Cook pulled Acevedo, moved Grote to Leftside, and plugged in Crowl at Opposite. I was dismissive of Crowls contribution in the victory over UCLA, but she was one of the few bright spots of the match, with 4 kills in 1 set, vs 2 kills in 3 sets for Acevedo. But for most of the match, Grote was our only weapon – and the Trojans knew it. My unofficial stats:
- Grote 16 kills,
- Hanson 9
- Shaffmaster and Crowl 4 a piece,
- Awoleye and Minatee 3 a piece. Not enough balance!
Acevedo has been especially weak in serve-receive, so Cook replaces her with our D.S., Thibault when she’s back row. But I think I overrated Thibault, she’s no better than Acevedo.. The other surprise was a rare appearance by Engemann in Set-3, who got 2 kills in a set and a half. All in all, we were lucky to get a split in our L.A. weekend.
NEXT UP are Indiana on Friday at 6:30, BTN+ and Maryland, Saturday, 5:00, BTN, both games at the Pav. The Gopher need to sweep these home matches. Be nice to have Wooker back.