STANFORD, Calif. – Junior Jaylen Jasper reached the 20-kill plateau for the third time this season, but No. 12 Stanford dropped a 21-25, 25-19, 23-25, 21-25 decision to USC, Thursday, in Maples Pavilion.
Stanford (5-8, 1-3 MPSF) hit .391 as a team and out blocked USC (3-11, 1-4 MPSF) 9.0 to 6.5, but couldn't overcome a tough serving and passing night.
USC, which earned its first conference win of the season, registered 61 kills on .389 hitting and finished with eight service aces to just two by the Cardinal.
Jasper finished with 20 kills on .429 hitting and had four blocks and three digs. Freshman outside hitter Will Rottman added 11 kills on a .400 attack percentage, three digs and two blocks.
Stanford trailed 17-11 in the third set and fought all the way back to cut the lead to one at 24-23, but a USC block on Rottman gave the Trojans the pivotal third-set win. The Cardinal jumped out to a lead in the fourth, but a 6-0 USC run deflated Stanford's momentum.
Freshman Nathan Lietzke earned his second career start at setter and finished with 40 assists, five digs and two kills. Redshirt freshman libero Justin Lui had a match-high seven digs.
Junior middle blocker Kyler Presho hit .625 with five kills on eight errorless swings to go with two blocks and an ace. Senior outside hitter Eric Beatty also had five kills and added five digs and three blocks, while senior Stephen Moye chipped in with four blocks and two kills.
USC was led by Billy Fauntleroy, who had 23 kills on .500 hitting. Adam Flood and Brandon Browning posted 11 kills each for the Trojans.
Stanford wraps up a six-match home stand on Saturday against Concordia. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Maples Pavilion.