LOS ANGELES – Playing in its fifth match in eight days, Stanford came up short at USC, 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 23-25, Friday, at the Galen Center.
USC (3-8) hit .298 as a team and registered 16.0 blocks, holding Stanford (1-11) to a .165 attack percentage. The Cardinal finished with three aces, 26 digs and nine blocks of its own.
Freshman Luke Turner matched his career-high with 13 kills to lead the Cardinal. He also posted six digs and a career-high two aces. Freshman Kupono Browne added eight kills, two digs, two blocks and an ace, while freshman Aidan Peters had seven kills, seven digs and a career-high four blocks, including one solo.
Sophomore setter Nathan Lietzke dished out 35 assists and added two kills, two digs and a block. Redshirt sophomore libero Justin Lui finished with four digs.
Middle blocker Kyler Presho continued to be efficient for Stanford despite not getting many attempts. The senior hit .833 with five kills on six errorless swings to go with four blocks.
Sophomores Nathaniel Gates and Adam Chang split time at middle with Gates posting a kill and a block, while Chang had three blocks. Sophomore Will Rottman recorded five kills, three digs and a block in two sets played.
USC was led by Brandon Browning's 12 kills, while Vecas Lewin and Billy Fauntleroy each chipped in with 10. Dann Sutton Farrell had a match-high nine blocks for the Trojans.
Stanford and USC meet again on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Galen Center.