The No. 8 USC men’s volleyball team (19-8) beat out No. 6 BYU (17-10) in five sets (25-17, 20-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-13). In five-set matches this year USC is 8-2, setting the school record for most five-set wins. This was also Head Coach Bill Ferguson’s 150th win, who is in his ninth year at USC. With this quarterfinal win, USC will face No. 2 UC Irvine next Thursday in Irvine.

This victory could not have been much sweeter for the Trojans. It was a great moment of revenge after being knocked out by BYU in last year’s first round of the MPSF tournament. 

USC came out of the gates firing on all cylinders in the first set. After breaking the match open with a 5-1 lead, the Trojans rode their lead all the way to a win in the first set. Recently, USC has not been having such explosive starts, but as evident in many aspects, this team turns it on when it really counts. 

One thing that has remained consistent for the team throughout the season has been their ability to focus on one point at a time. Ferguson compared his team’s approach to each point to a movie reel of an old film.

“It’s moving, but there’s each individual little frame,” Ferguson explained. “We look at each point like an individual movie frame.”

USC maintained their focus and intensity throughout the majority of the game. The only troublesome spot was towards the end of the fourth set when BYU snapped a four-point lead, 18-22, with six consecutive points to shift the momentum in their favor. 

Even though they dropped the fourth set, Ferguson was minimally worried about having his team play a fifth set. Time and time again, he has brought up how resilient his team is in the fifth set. 

Junior outside hitter Alex Slaught played quite the solid defensive game against the Cougars. He had a bit of an up-and-down match with regards to hitting, but Slaught was responsible for the match-winning kill. And, when it comes to five-set matches, Ferguson has all of the confidence, according to Slaught: He’s “the best guy in the country” with a hitting percentage of over-500 in fifth sets.  

“Nobody has been in more five-set matches this year than us,” Ferguson told his team after the fourth set. “No body has won more than us.”

SEE MORE: USC Sweeps CBU For Home Court Advantage

Slaught led the team with 21 kills and one ace. Freshman outside hitter Larry Tuileta put up 18 kills and senior opposite Cristian Rivera put up 14 kills. Sophomore middle blocker Andy Benesh also had a fantastic game against the Cougars with seven kills. 

Of Benesh, Ferguson pointed out that he is a “competitor,” a “stud" and has “great instincts.” 

“He looks like Opie,” Ferguson joked. “But he’s nasty.”

In the fifth set, senior middle blocker Robert Feathers came alive. Ferguson shared about how senior setter Micah Christenson and Feathers worked together to get some key points against BYU, especially because the Cougars seemed like they counted Feathers out of the match.

“Robert brings so much to the tables in intangibles,” Ferguson mentioned. 

To say that the victory against the Cougars was special would be an understatement. 

“For us to come out and really get at them was huge in our book,” Feathers commented.

Overall, the Trojans played an amazing game. They showed heart, grit, intensity, and the want to win. If they can carry that momentum and mindset through the rest of the MPSF tournament, they have a great shot at taking home the title. 

USC is confident about heading out to Irvine to face the Anteaters. 

“We’re comfortable, but if we let them have any room,” Feathers said. “We’ll have trouble with them.”

Ferguson is just as confident about facing UCI. He recognizes that they’re “an unbelievable team,” but he is excited about the opportunity to play them at Irvine.

“It’s in the heart of Trojan Nation,” Ferguson mentioned. “It’s a place where we feel comfortable playing.”

USC will continue their run in the semifinal game against UCI at 7:30pm in Irvine on Thursday, April 30th. 

Reach Staff Reporter Jodee Sullivan here and on Twitter here.