LOS ANGELES – Despite a season-high 24 kills from Jordan Ewert, No. 6 Stanford came up short at No. 9 USC, 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-22, 10-15, Friday, in the Galen Center.
USC (14-8, 5-4 MPSF) remained undefeated at home this season, while the Cardinal (14-9, 5-5 MPSF) dropped to 1-7 on the road. Stanford was without its star sophomore Jaylen Jasper, who was sidelined with an injury.
The Cardinal is now in fifth place in the MPSF standings, but just one game back in the loss column from third-place BYU (6-4) and fourth-place USC (5-4). The Cougars and Trojans will meet on Saturday at the Galen Center.
USC out hit Stanford .298 to .239 and held a 12.0-8.0 advantage in blocks. The Cardinal out dug the Trojans 41-38 and registered seven aces – its second-highest output of the season.
Ewert helped force the decisive fifth set, notching seven of his 24 kills in the fourth, including four of the Cardinal's final five points. The senior hit .346 for the match and collected eight digs and two aces.
Season-high 24 kills on .346 hitting for @sunshine__55 tonight against the Trojans.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/KSsYWz8Swh
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 30, 2019
Junior Eric Beatty led Stanford with three aces, and added nine kills, five digs and two blocks. Junior middle blocker Stephen Moye also tallied nine kills on .467 hitting to go with four blocks.
Junior setter Paul Bischoff finished with 47 assists, four digs and two blocks, while fifth-year senior libero Kyle Dagostino racked up a match-high 13 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Kyler Presho hit .500 with five kills to go with four blocks, including two solo.
?? Here's how the third set ended ??.
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 30, 2019
Watch on @Pac12Network.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/t5LInJLMRl
Eli Wopat started at opposite for the injured Jasper. The junior had just one kill in two sets played, but posted five digs and two blocks defensively. Sophomore JP Reilly started the third at opposite and played the remainder of the match, totaling five kills on 10 swings with two errors (.300).
JP Reilly getting in on the action!
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 30, 2019
Watch on @Pac12Network.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/3AgI7SdK89
USC was led by seniors Gianluca Grasso and Jack Wyett, who both hit .371 with 18 kills on 35 swings and five errors. Wyett finished with six digs and three aces, while Grasso recorded give digs and three blocks. Senior Ryan Moss chipped in with 15 kills, seven digs and five blocks for the Trojans.
Stanford returns to action on Saturday night as the Cardinal faces Concordia (Irvine) at 7 p.m. in CU Arena.