Epic vibes at the Galen Center! On October 13, 2024, USC Women’s volleyball snatched victory from the UCLA Bruins in the Battle of LA, and the showdown did not disappoint! The 16th-ranked Trojans (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten) snatched victory from their rivals in an absolute nail-biter, winning the five-set thriller (25-16, 18-25, 19-25, 25-21, 15-11). But let’s be real—the real MVP? That electric crowd. A record-smashing 7,303 fans packed the house, making it the biggest crowd ever for a USC vs. UCLA volleyball match. Talk about a show!

Not only was this the biggest group matchup turnout between these two schools, but it’s officially up there as one of the most hype-filled nights in the rivalry’s history. Trojans fans brought the noise, and USC kept the magic alive on home turf. This win marked their insane 213th home victory. And as for Mia Tuaniga? She’s feeling the love and gave a heartfelt shoutout about how much that energy meant to her.

Emotions run high for USC Volleyball

In a recent clip shared by USC Women’s Volleyball on X, fans got to see Mia Tuaniga getting real with reporters after the match. The tweet teased, “Hear what Mia had to say about all your support.” When asked, “What did today’s crowd mean to you?”, Mia didn’t hold back. She shared, “It meant a lot. I think in the fifth set, Coach Tyler made me take a moment and just soak it all in, and I was like, ‘Dang, Tyler, you’re gonna get me all emotional and everything.’

Mia continued, “And then Madison got a block straight down. I was like, ‘Dang, let me get lit, let me get lit.'” The crowd’s energy clearly fired her up, and it was one of those moments that went beyond just volleyball—definitely a night to remember!

And her game? Oh, you already know it was big time! Senior setter Mia Tuaniga led the charge, delivering 40 assists. She threw in six digs, and four blocks and equaled her season high with five kills (just one error in nine attempts). for a sterling.444 performance percentage. But let’s be real, it wasn’t just her show—USC’s squad energy and teamwork were totally on point, and that’s what brought the heat to take down their UCLA rivals.

Records set on the court, history made beyond it

Having previously beaten USC, UCLA came into the Galen Center ready to face off in what turned into one of the most thrilling five-set redemption matches. The Bruins (8-7, 2-4 Big Ten) recovered from a very slow start to win both the second and third sets and take a lead against nationally ranked Trojans (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten). But USC wasn’t about to let that slide! They won the next set and its final set ever before making a comeback to win 16-14 amidst a relatively historic crowd.

What a wild ride! USC started strong with a 25-16 win in the first set, but UCLA bounced back, taking the second 25-18. After snagging the third set 25-19, the Trojans had to fight hard. They came back to win the fourth set 25-21, pushing it to a fifth. Even when they fell behind, they went on a crazy 10-3 run to clinch the match 15-11. Batenhorst’s four kills in that last set helped the team shine with a .222 hitting percentage, making this win epic—especially with the crowd going wild!

Now, let’s talk about the stars of the show. Gr. Outside Hitter Ally Batenhorst was on fire with her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 13 kills and 11 digs for a total of 17 points. And guess what? Redshirt Fr. Middle Blocker Leah Ford crushed it, racking up 10 kills and seven blocks! Fr. Outside Hitter Jadyn Livings added her flair with nine kills, while Jr. Libero Gala Trubint held down the defense with 13 digs. The Trojans were on a roll, hitting an impressive .588 in the first set and flexing their teamwork with four service aces and three blocks. As USC continues its season, they’ve shown they’ve got the grit, the talent, and the crowd backing them to make some serious noise in the Big Ten.