Los Angeles, Calif. – The Red Flash men's volleyball team (5-12, 2-5 EIVA) dropped its first-ever match with USC (4-13, 1-5 MPSF) on Thursday night, 3-1.

Set One

·         The Trojans jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first set.

·         SFU slowed USC down and cut the lead to 12-9.

·         That was the closest the Red Flash could get, as the Trojans extended their lead to seven and did not led the Red Flash get closer than four.

·         USC finished the set on a 9-6 run to win by seven.

·         Michael Fisher (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led the Red Flash with three kills and Roman Szwabinsky (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) had three assists.

·         Final Score: USC 25, SFU 18 (USC leads 1-0).

Set Two

·         The Red Flash took the first two-point lead at 6-4.

·         A 4-1 run shortly after put SFU up 10-6.

·         After the Trojans tied it at 11, they used a 6-0 run to go up 17-11.

·         The Red Flash cut it to three at 19-16, but USC stopped the comeback there and won the set by seven.

·         Josh Blair led SFU with three kills and Szwabinsky added six assists.

·         Final Score: USC 25, SFU 18 (USC leads 2-0).

Set Three

·         SFU led 5-2 early, and eventually reached 10-5.

·         The Trojans chipped away at the lead, but the Red Flash continued to hold.

·         SFU pulled out to a 20-14 lead, but USC was able to cut it 22-20.

·         The Red Flash scored the set's final three points to win by five.

·         Fisher had six kills and Blake Liprando (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley HS) added six with three digs.

·         Szwabinsky added 12 more helpers.

·         Final Score: SFU 25, USC 20 (USC leads 2-1).

Set Four

·         The Trojans jumped out 6-2, but the Red Flash answered and cut it right back to two at 7-5.

·         USC reached a five-point lead, but SFU hacked away until they tied it at 17.

·         USC added another run, this time 8-1, for the set and match.

·         Liprando picked up three kills in the set and Thomas Leahey (State College, Pa./State College Area HS) made four block assists at the net.

·         Final Score: USC 25, SFU 18 (USC wins 3-1).

Box Score Notes

·         Michael Fisher (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led SFU with 11 kills. Blake Liprando (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley HS) totaled nine.

·         Roman Szwabinsky (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South) finished with 27 assists.

·         Thomas Leahey (State College, Pa./State College Area HS) had a game-high four block assists.

·         Kills: USC 44, SFU 33

·         Attack %: USC .330, SFU .140

·         Total Blocks: 4-4

Up next for the Red Flash is more west coast volleyball, as the team heads to Malibu to face #9 Pepperdine at 10:00 pm on Friday (3/6).