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Women Of Troy Beat New Mexico, Improve To 4-0

Shotgun Spratling |
September 4, 2010 | 12:51 a.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Mick Haley talks to his team during break. (Shotgun Spratling)
Mick Haley talks to his team during break. (Shotgun Spratling)
HONOLULU -- A strong defensive front can be demoralizing to an opponent in any sport. The USC women’s volleyball team (4-0) showed that Friday night as it utilized 11 blocks to break the spirit of the New Mexico Lobos (2-3) en route to a straight set sweep (25-19, 25-19, 25-20) in its Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic opener at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Juniors Lauren Williams and Alex Jupiter led the way offensively and defensively for the No. 10 ranked Women of Troy. Both recorded double digit kills and were forces at the net, rejecting a number of Lobo shots.

“Alex didn’t do quite as well attacking, but she did great blocking,” coach Mick Haley said. “She really took No. 4 [Ashley Rhoades] and shut her down, particularly in that second game.”

In the second set, USC was holding onto a 17-16 lead. Behind a pair of blocks by Jupiter, the Trojans recorded four consecutive points to pull away from the Lobos. A final Jupiter block and a service ace by junior Kendall Bateman sealed the set.

The final set started as Williams’ party. She and Sara Shaw combined for a pair of blocks, and Williams finished a pair of kills to help the Women of Troy open up an early 8-3 lead. USC stayed in control throughout the set with another Williams block and a kill by Shaw to complete the sweep.

Williams recorded six assisted blocks while Jupiter had three solo blocks. Bateman was once again solid in the middle of the Trojans’ lineup, dishing out 32 assists, recording nine digs and adding a solo block and a pair of assisted blocks.

“[Bateman, Jupiter and Williams] worked their tails off in the offseason,” Haley said. “They were all dedicated. They were in the weight room, in the practice gym doing extra.

Haley said the extra work the juniors and senior Zoe Garrett put in has already showed dividends.

“All the spring and summer work has really paid off so far this year. Their physical conditioning is much better.”

USC’s conditioning will be tested over the next two nights as they take on Michigan State and No. 4 Hawai’i, two teams that defeated the Trojans last season.

“We’d like to get another shot at these guys and see if we can’t do better this time,” Haley said. “But we’ve got a lot of freshmen and that might be the neutralizing factor. But we’ve got to play them and see what happens.”

On Saturday, Michigan State will provide a challenge at the net with the largest front line USC has faced this season.

And there will be no love lost in the tournament finale Sunday when the Women of Troy take on the host Rainbow Wahine, who have ousted USC from the second round of the national tournament the last two seasons.

Both games are slated to begin at 5 p.m. HST.

To reach reporter Shotgun Spratling, click here.



 

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