Saturday, September 3
Los Angeles, Calif.
10:00 PM
Creighton University
2-3
2
at
3
Southern California
3-3
1
2
3
4
5
F
Creighton
27
23
22
25
10
2
USC
25
25
25
19
15
3
Marysa Wilkinson
Photo by: Wesley Winterink
USC Outlasts Bluejay Volleyball For Radisson Classic Title
9/3/2016 11:53:00 PM | Volleyball
Jays fall in five sets against national power
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Creighton and Southern Cal went toe-to-toe for nearly three hours on Saturday night before the host Trojans emerged with a five-set victory to win the USC Radisson Classic title in Los Angeles.
Scores of the match in favor of USC were 25-27, 25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 15-10. The win improves the Women of Troy to 3-3 on the year, while 22nd-ranked Creighton fell to 2-3 with its second loss of the day.
"I thought we battled hard," said Creighton head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth following the match. "Anytime you lose a five-game match you look back at opportunities and you have some disappointment, but I thought we did a lot of good things. Hopefully we can learn from it and continue to move forward."
The setback overshadowed career-high performances from a number of Bluejays. Taryn Kloth (23), Marysa Wilkinson (16) and Megan Ballenger (14) all had career-highs in kills, while Lydia Dimke dished a career-best 63 assists. Dimke, who added 13 digs, as well as Jaali Winters (10 kills, 22 digs) both had their third double-doubles of 2016 in a valiant effort.
Creighton won the first frame, saving a set point in the process. CU trailed 20-19 before five straight points brought the visitors four set points. USC would save all four, then score again to pull ahead 25-24. But CU would answer with the next three points, closing out the opening inning on kills by Wilkinson, Ballenger and Kloth. Kloth had six kills in the first set to lead all players.
USC controlled most of the second set, but did fend off a late scare by Creighton. The Women of Troy found themselves on the wrong side of a 22-21 score before scoring four of the next five points to earn the split heading into intermission.
USC dominated the majority of the third set and once again had to hold off a late charge from CU. The Trojans led 17-9, only to see CU get within one point at 19-18, 20-19 and 23-22. Each time USC got the needed sideout, and consecutive kills from freshman Khalia Lanier lifted USC to a 25-22 victory.
Creighton cruised in the fourth set, never trailing while winning 25-19. Kloth continued her strong play, getting to 22 kills with a winner on CU's third set point attempt.
The Bluejays went ahead 3-1 early in the final set, only to see USC reel off the next three points. The Jays never led again. Creighton saved one match point before a service miscue ended the marathon match.
Creighton finished with 70 kills, 82 digs, two aces and 10 blocks on .205 hitting. Kloth had a breakthrough night with 23 kills on 54 swings. Her 23 kills were seven more than her previous high, and her seven digs were also a career-best for the sophomore. Wilkinson's 16 kills were two more than her previous high, while Ballenger's 14 kills and nine digs were both highs for the freshman as well. Brittany Witt had a team-best 23 digs for CU and is now one of four players in program history with 10 or more digs in her first five career matches.
Both Wilkinson and Witt were named to the USC Radisson Classic All-Tournament Team. Wilkinson led CU in kills per set (3.18), blocks per set (0.64) and hitting percentage (.367) over the weekend. Witt topped CU with 49 digs (4.45 dps.) and four aces (0.36 saps.). Lanier was named MVP and was joined on the All-Tourney Team by USC teammates Taylor Whittingham, Elise Ruddins, UNI's Heather Hook and Kentucky's Leah Edmond. Creighton was awarded second-place via the tournaments tie-breaker system, with UNI third and Kentucky fourth.
Lanier led USC with 21 kills and 17 digs, while Niki Withers added 10 kills. Whittingham owned a match-high 27 digs in the contest. The Trojans had 61 kills, seven aces, 84 digs and 12 blocks on .191 hitting.
Creighton returns to action on Thursday at 7 pm when it hosts No. 4 Kansas at D.J. Sokol Arena. It'll be the first match in next week's Bluejay Invitational, which also includes TCU and Chattanooga.
Scores of the match in favor of USC were 25-27, 25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 15-10. The win improves the Women of Troy to 3-3 on the year, while 22nd-ranked Creighton fell to 2-3 with its second loss of the day.
"I thought we battled hard," said Creighton head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth following the match. "Anytime you lose a five-game match you look back at opportunities and you have some disappointment, but I thought we did a lot of good things. Hopefully we can learn from it and continue to move forward."
The setback overshadowed career-high performances from a number of Bluejays. Taryn Kloth (23), Marysa Wilkinson (16) and Megan Ballenger (14) all had career-highs in kills, while Lydia Dimke dished a career-best 63 assists. Dimke, who added 13 digs, as well as Jaali Winters (10 kills, 22 digs) both had their third double-doubles of 2016 in a valiant effort.
Creighton won the first frame, saving a set point in the process. CU trailed 20-19 before five straight points brought the visitors four set points. USC would save all four, then score again to pull ahead 25-24. But CU would answer with the next three points, closing out the opening inning on kills by Wilkinson, Ballenger and Kloth. Kloth had six kills in the first set to lead all players.
USC controlled most of the second set, but did fend off a late scare by Creighton. The Women of Troy found themselves on the wrong side of a 22-21 score before scoring four of the next five points to earn the split heading into intermission.
USC dominated the majority of the third set and once again had to hold off a late charge from CU. The Trojans led 17-9, only to see CU get within one point at 19-18, 20-19 and 23-22. Each time USC got the needed sideout, and consecutive kills from freshman Khalia Lanier lifted USC to a 25-22 victory.
Creighton cruised in the fourth set, never trailing while winning 25-19. Kloth continued her strong play, getting to 22 kills with a winner on CU's third set point attempt.
The Bluejays went ahead 3-1 early in the final set, only to see USC reel off the next three points. The Jays never led again. Creighton saved one match point before a service miscue ended the marathon match.
Creighton finished with 70 kills, 82 digs, two aces and 10 blocks on .205 hitting. Kloth had a breakthrough night with 23 kills on 54 swings. Her 23 kills were seven more than her previous high, and her seven digs were also a career-best for the sophomore. Wilkinson's 16 kills were two more than her previous high, while Ballenger's 14 kills and nine digs were both highs for the freshman as well. Brittany Witt had a team-best 23 digs for CU and is now one of four players in program history with 10 or more digs in her first five career matches.
Both Wilkinson and Witt were named to the USC Radisson Classic All-Tournament Team. Wilkinson led CU in kills per set (3.18), blocks per set (0.64) and hitting percentage (.367) over the weekend. Witt topped CU with 49 digs (4.45 dps.) and four aces (0.36 saps.). Lanier was named MVP and was joined on the All-Tourney Team by USC teammates Taylor Whittingham, Elise Ruddins, UNI's Heather Hook and Kentucky's Leah Edmond. Creighton was awarded second-place via the tournaments tie-breaker system, with UNI third and Kentucky fourth.
Lanier led USC with 21 kills and 17 digs, while Niki Withers added 10 kills. Whittingham owned a match-high 27 digs in the contest. The Trojans had 61 kills, seven aces, 84 digs and 12 blocks on .191 hitting.
Creighton returns to action on Thursday at 7 pm when it hosts No. 4 Kansas at D.J. Sokol Arena. It'll be the first match in next week's Bluejay Invitational, which also includes TCU and Chattanooga.
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Team Stats
CU
USC
Kills
70
61
Errors
28
26
Attempts
205
183
Hitting %
.205
.191
Points
82.0
80.0
Assists
67
57
Aces
2
7
Blocks
10.0
12.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
23
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB/RS
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH/RS
/ VolleyballMB/RS
/ VolleyballOH/RS
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
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