Huskies Fall At No. 21 USC In Four

Sunday, November 3

Los Angeles, CA

1:00 PM

University of Washington

17-5,7-5Big Ten

USC

16-6,8-4Big Ten

Washington

Southern California

November 03, 2024 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score PDF

By: UW Athletic Communications

SEATTLE – An undermanned Husky squad gave its all on the road and pushed 21^st-ranked USC to four sets, but saw its four-match win streak end at the Galen Center in front of 3,418 fans. Washington fell 11-25, 18-25, 25-21, 15-25 to drop to 17-5 on the season and 7-5 in Big Ten play.

The Huskies were missing two of their outside hitters, and the two hitters who primarily handle serve-receive, in Kierstyn Barton and Audra Wilmes. The Trojans took advantage of that and had 10 aces and put the Huskies into scramble mode on too many rallies today. Washington only found its offensive rhythm in the third set when it hit .278, but overall for the match the Dawgs hit just .061. USC hit .315 and improves to 16-6 and 8-4 in conference.

Kiune Fletcher led the Huskies with eight kills and hit .312. Madi Endsley also had eight kills and she had a season-high four aces, one off her career-high. Julia Hunt had six kills and four blocks. Senior Sophia Tulino made her first start of the season at outside hitter and had five kills and her first two aces of the year plus a team-leading eight digs.

The Trojans pulled away early and ran off with set one as the Huskies adjusted to the lack of Barton and Wilmes in serve-receive and struggled with hitting errors. Set two still saw USC in control but UW showed it was figuring things out.

NOT DONE YET!!

Dawgs show their grit and there's more to come! #PointHuskies @B1GVolleyball pic.twitter.com/xdVDte9bfa
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) November 3, 2024

The third set saw the Huskies claw back into the match, opening with a 7-2 run and then withstanding a late USC rally to extend things with a 25-21 win. Fletcher was on target in the third with five kills on seven swings without an error.

Washington held an 8-7 lead in the fourth set, trying to fight all the way back and force a fifth, but USC retook command with a 7-0 serving run that included a pair of aces and a couple Husky overpasses. The Huskies wouldn't get closer than five the rest of the way.

Up Next: Washington has a wild week in store as it travels to 15^th-ranked Minnesota on Thursday before coming right back home to host No. 2 Nebraska on Saturday, Nov. 9, in a match that could potentially be the first sellout in UW history.