Junior Alexis Olgard had a big night Thursday. (Shotgun Spratling/Neon Tommy)

After traveling on the road for the past four games and finishing with a 3-0 sweep against Colorado, the Trojans came home hungry for another win against the Cardinal, whom they lost to earlier this season. But with 44 digs (second to the university record of 45 digs in a match) by junior libero Natalie Hagglund and 12 kills and 10 digs by junior middle blocker Alexis Olgard, the Trojans came back strong Thursday to shatter Stanford’s 22-game winning streak.

The Women of Troy started off the match leading the entire time, tying with Stanford only once at 13-13. Stanford made mistakes at critical times, such as doubling sets and serving into the net to help the Trojans win the first set, 25-19. Hagglund’s outstanding performance in the back row solidified the Trojans’ defense in all four games, establishing the foundation for the USC offense that penetrated the Cardinal defense. With Hagglund in the back row, freshman outside hitter Samantha Bricio scored back-to-back points on the net, as well as from the service line. 

“We didn’t try to overpower Stanford,” said head coach Mick Haley. “We tried to play within our game and be patient, and not worry if we don’t get a kill every time. I thought we did a heck of a job.” 

Heading into the second set, the Cardinals and Trojans were neck-and-neck, but the Trojans fought harder to come out on top. With Olgard’s dominant presence at the net defensively and offensively, the Trojans were strong in attacking and blocking from the middle. Senior opposite hitter Katie Fuller pushed the second-set lead to 24-20. Game point. With a crucial offensive error by Stanford, the Women of Troy finished the game at 25-20. Though the Trojans led 2-0, the crowd and the players knew the match was far from over for the top-ranked team.  

The third game was truly a test of endurance and stamina, whicg ended with a Cardinal victory of 29-27. USC headed into game point first at 25-24, only to let Stanford back in three times, and eventually let Stanford take the win. Tying at 25-25, 26-26 and 27-27, the gym’s morale resembled a pendulum swinging back and forth from Stanford to USC—filled with anxiety as to whether the top-ranked team would go home losing in a three-game sweep or if it could come back with a win and aim for a five-game match. To the Cardinal’s advantage, USC let them back in for another chance at taking home the victory as the teams headed into the fourth game. 

The fourth and final game was full of rallies back and forth, but again with Hagglund’s defense in the back row, USC’s offense was brought back from the dead in many crucial times. Junior outside hitter Sara Shaw shined in this fourth match with back-to-back kills that came in critical times to boost the energy on the Trojans’ side of the net. The last kill came to freshman outside hitter Samantha Bricio to finish the match at 25-22, knocking the top-ranked team off its clean record.

“It’s pretty cool to think of today’s game as a national championship game because that’s what we’re striving for, and playing the No. 1-ranked team is like that. Winning [against Stanford] gives us a lot of confidence and reassurance that we can do it,” said Hagglund. 

Optimistic and all, the Women of Troy need to leave today’s win behind and focus on their match against California (14-13, 8-9 Pac-12) Friday at 7 p.m. PDT in the Galen Center. 

“We have to be pleased with ourselves, but we need to leave the match in the locker room. It’s a brand new day…I think we’re maturing and I believe we’re growing up,” added Haley.

Reach Staff Reporter Elisa Ting here or follow her here.