USC Now 24-0 Against Northridge in Volleyball

USC’s dominance of Cal State Northridge in men’s volleyball continued Wednesday night as freshman Jason Mulholland helped the seventh-ranked Trojans sweep the Matadors, 15-9, 15-6, 15-10, at North Gym.

Mulholland, a 6-foot-7 outside hitter from Cambridge, Ontario, made 20 kills to help the Trojans improve to 24-0 against the Matadors.

“It does keep getting old that we haven’t beaten those guys yet,” said Coley Kyman, Northridge’s All-American middle blocker.

USC improved to 5-2, 3-1 in the Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Assn.

The first game was characterized by a long series of sideouts. For example, after USC took a 3-2 lead, Northridge did not tie it, 3-3, until the teams had changed serving honors eight times.

The 11th-ranked Matadors (1-3, 0-1) scored three consecutive points to take a 5-3 advantage, but the Trojans scored five of the next six points and led, 8-6.

USC scored twice on kills by Trent Pollard, once on a kill by Mulholland, another time on Chris Underwood’s service ace and twice on poor service returns by Northridge while Pollard was serving.

Moments later, a kill by Northridge’s Ken Lynch, a kill by Axel Hagar and a block by Hagar and Coley Kyman enabled Northridge to tie the score, 9-9.

Again the Trojans regrouped, reeling off back-to-back points on three occasions to win.

The first two points came on Mulholland’s powerful serve, Northridge unable to make the return.

“Our passing broke down in the first game,” Northridge Coach John Price said.

The second pair came on a Mulholland kill and a service ace by Underwood and the last two came off a block by Jason Perkins and an out-of-bounds dink by Matt Unger.

The Matadors took a 4-1 lead in the second game, but the Trojans moved ahead, 8-4, by scoring five consecutive points with Pollard was serving.

Mulholland scored two points on kills and the other three were the result of Northridge mistakes.

“At times when we needed to execute, we didn’t,” Kyman said. “We had breakdowns in passing, blocking and defense.”

After a series of sideouts and an exchange of points, USC scored six consecutive points to wrap up the match.

The Matadors fell behind, 4-0, in the final game and although they were able to pull within one point at 7-6, USC surged ahead 13-7.