No. 16 Volleyball Rallies Past USC in Instant Classic

Thursday, November 7

Los Angeles, Calif.

8:00 PM

University of Utah

17-7,9-4Pac-12

USC

13-10,7-6Pac-12

Utah

Southern California

No. 16 Volleyball Rallies Past USC in Instant Classic

11/8/2019 12:15 AM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

Drews Sets Program Record With 33 Kills

LOS ANGELES – No. 16 Utah gutted out a thrilling road win at USC 3-2 (25-19, 31-33, 23-25, 26-24, 18-16) behind a program record 33 kills from junior Dani Drews in the Galen Center.

After having a lead early in the match, the Utes had their backs against the wall in the fourth as USC had match point at 24-22. Utah responded with a 4-0 run behind two Berkeley Oblad kills and Drews getting the final kill pushing the match to a fifth set.

In the fifth, the Utes built an early 7-3 lead and then an 11-7 lead, but the home-team Trojans never gave up tying the score at 12 and then had a match point at 14-13. Utah dug deep one last time saving their third match point, and then cashed in with a Drews kill to end the match 18-16.

Drews loves playing at USC as last year she set the Utah three-set kill record with 22 and stepped up time and again tonight breaking a program-record with 33 kills against the Trojans. It's her second 30-kill match this season giving her three in her career.

The first set was tight early, but Utah's offense was rolling and didn't slow down later in the set. With it tied at 10, the Utes went on a 6-2 run to go up 16-12. The Trojans couldn't cut into the Utes lead after that run as Utah took the first set 25-19. Utah hit .533 in the first set being led by Kenzie Koerber, who had five kills hitting .833 and Zoe Weatherington, who had five kills hitting .667.

The second set was where the match really started getting wild. The Utes were in control up 17-12, but USC got back in it eventually tying the score at 20. The team's traded points from there until USC finally edged out Utah 33-31 to tie up the match. USC had four set points before finally ending the set, and Utah had three chances of their own, but the Trojans escaped to tie the match.

USC controlled the third set, but Utah made them work late, holding off three set points. The Trojans finally got it done with a 25-23 victory to take a 2-1 lead.

The Trojans had all of the momentum, leading 22-18 looking to close the match out. Utah trailed 23-21 and went on a 7-1 run to push the match to a fifth set.

Like the rest of the match, nothing was easy in the fifth as Utah held off one more match point and finally ended it on Drews' 33^rd kill of the match.

Saige Ka'aha'aina-Torres matched her career high with 67 assists. It's the second time this season she has had 67 assists and before Ka'aha'aina-Torres hit that mark, no Utah setter had eclipsed 60 assists since 2010.

Koerber finished the match with 17 kills and Weatherington had 15 kills. Oblad was also in double-figure kills with 14 on the night.

Brianna Doehrmann led the team with 22 digs.

This was Utah's seventh five-set match in eight matches and their 10^th of the season. The win moves them to 17-7 overall and 9-4 in the Pac-12.

Utah has one more match in Los Angeles this weekend against UCLA on Saturday, November 10 at 6 p.m. MT. The match will be in the John Wooden Center.