A few nights ago, on October 5, USC volleyball pulled off a stunner against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Before heading into the Trojans’ turf, the No. 12 squad had been full of confidence, especially after a hot streak in the Galen Center. But as soon as they hit the court, it was clear this was going to be the Trojans’ night. USC swept the four-set match with a force that left the Gophers with no space to breathe. The crowd in the Galen Center was absolutely electric. And the emotional cherry on top? Mia Tuaniga and Adonia Faumuina shared a heartwarming moment after the match. But hold up; the drama didn’t stop there!

Fast forward to Sunday, October 13, when the same Galen Center had to host the Battle of LA, where the UCLA Bruins were about to lock horns against the USC Trojans. The Bruins had come with stunning form (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten). To thwart their challenge, the Trojans needed all-out support from the fans. And you know what? They got it—and the result? A double win that had everyone cheering from start to finish.

USC volleyball earns a milestone in the Battle of LA

On Sunday, every effort of the Bruins fell short in front of the USC volleyball women’s team. After the game, the electronic scoreboard displayed that the home team had rallied for a five-set victory (25-16, 18-25, 19-25, 25-21, 15-11) against the Bruins. The guest tried to gain the upper hand in the middle of the game by winning the back-to-back sets. But the brilliance of names like Ally Batenhorst, Mia Tuaniga, and Adonia Faumuina never let the Bruins extend their feet in the game. However, another factor worked in tandem in giving the USC volleyball squad the needed edge, and that was the huge attendance of the fans. As per the update, 7,303 fans attended the Sunday night game between the Trojans and the Bruins. The magnificent number has registered several records in the history of the cross-town rivalry. 

The number stands to be the highest among all the matches the squads have faced to date. Furthermore, it is a huge number in terms of group matchups between archrivals. However, the Trojans have always performed better in their home matches. The data says that the victory on Sunday poses to be 213th in the home run of USC women’s volleyball. And with this victory, the Trojans are now three wins short of touching the Bruins number (65-68). Yet the loss has come to be a learning experience for the Bruins. According to Outside hitter Kiki Horne, the Bruins would put their effort into taking up the lessons from the game. But despite having a full house on Sunday, the Trojans faced defeat in a different match. 

Texas Longhorns still stand at the top 

In the current AVCA rankings, the Pennsylvania Panthers are reigning at the top of the list. Despite that, the squad has felt low in front of the Texas Longhorns’ record. Last month, Texas A&M entered the Reed Arena to derail the same state rival, the Texas Longhorns. The game had been expected to be a nail-biting affair because of the tales of their rivalry. Ultimately, the Longhorns dismantled the Aggies in the four-set game (3-1). And on the other side, the famed Reed Arena witnessed 9,236 fans cheering their preferred teams. 

The crowd turnout was nothing short of epic, setting the record for the highest headcount in a regular-season game at any level in state history. And the Reed Center? Well, it’s got the potential to pack in even more fans for these high-energy showdowns. So, if it ever challenges Nebraska’s record of 92,000, don’t be shocked. In fact, it’s looking like breaking that record could be the next big thing on the horizon. USC volleyball might just be keeping a close eye on that one. For now, though, watch this space—big things are coming!