200920092009 USC MEN’S USCUSCUSC VOLLEYBALL MEN'SMEN'SMEN'S VOLLEYBALLVOLLEYBALLVOLLEYBALL MURPHY TROY HUNTER CURRENT LUKE MORRIS PAGE 40 RILEY McKIBBIN 2009 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 2009 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL2009 TROJANS Top Row (left to right): Strength and Conditioning Coach Brent Metz, Ian Wright, C.J. Schellenberg, Jon Hackett, Austin Zahn, Murphy Troy, Hunter Current, Steven Shandrick, Tony Ciarelli Middle Row (left to right): Student Assistant Athletic Trainer Annabelle Maman, Tri Bourne, Sean Dennis, Luke Morris, Matt Pavlovich, Matt Knutson, Jimmy Hirschmann, Steven Mochalski, Tucker Peleuses, Assistant Athletic Trainer Sue Lerner Bottom Row (left to right): Assistant Coach Brad Keller, Assistant Coach Chuck Moore, Clay Knapp, Tyler Stevens, Riley McKibbin, Vince Altamura, Jeff Carlson, Andrew Pizula, Brad Keenan, Head Coach Bill Ferguson Missing: Volunteer Assistant Coach Rocky Ciarelli, Technical Coordinator Jonathan Scott, Administrative Assistant Cameron Green USC QUICK FACTS Location ........................................... Los Angeles, Calif., 90089 Head Men’s Volleyball Coach ............................... Bill Ferguson University Telephone ......................................... (213) 740-2311 Coach’s Telephone ............................................ (213) 740-3838 Founded .............................................................................. 1880 Record (USC and Overall) ................................. 25-32, 2 Years Size ............................................................................. 155 Acres Assistant Coaches .... Brad Keller, Chuck Moore, Rocky Ciarelli Enrollment .............................. 33,500 (16,500 undergraduates) 2008 Overall Record .......................................................... 13-16 President ....................................................... Dr. Steven Sample 2008 Conference Record/Finish .............................. 10-12 (8th) Athletic Director ...................................................... Mike Garrett 2008 Postseason Results ........... MPSF Tournament 8th place Colors ............................................................ Cardinal and Gold Letterwinners Returning/Lost .............................................. 12/7 Nickname ........................................................................ Trojans Starters Returning/Lost ......................................................... 3/3 Home Court .............................. Galen Center (10,258 capacity) Men’s Volleyball SID .......................................... Tim Tessalone Press Row Phone .............................................. (213) 821-1840 ................................ (213) 740-8480 office, (213) 725-3572 cell ConferencePAGE 39........................ Mountain Pacific Sports Federation ................................ (310) 540-7052 home, (213) 740-7584 fax This 2009 USC Men’s Volleyball media guide was produced by Tim Tessalone. Photos by Figge Photography, Dan Avila, Patrick Gee and Don Liebig. Printed by Prographics. 2009 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 2009 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEASON OUTLOOK “We’re ready to be relevant again on the national scene.” But Ferguson feels confident in his 2009 Trojans, despite their youth. So says third-year USC men’s volleyball head coach Bill Ferguson Seventeen of the 23 players are underclassmen (including 9 freshmen), about his 2009 Trojans. and there are only 3 seniors. It’s been a while since the storied USC program has caused a stir on “We have a great mix of what I call ‘young veterans,’” he said. “We the collegiate landscape. During the 15-year span from 1977 through 1991, have an experienced sophomore class and a competitive group of the Trojans appeared in 11 NCAA Final Fours, winning 4 NCAA titles and newcomers. I feel like we’ve turned the corner to fielding a team that is self- finishing second 6 times and third once. motivated and mature beyond its age.” In the 17 seasons since then, USC has never Headlining the returnees is 6-8 sophomore advanced out of its conference tournament. outside hitter Murphy Troy, who might also play Ferguson feels like a return to the Trojans’ glory opposite hitter. The 2008 All-American honorable days is just around the corner, perhaps even coming mention pick has been a starter from the moment he as soon as 2009. stepped on campus and should contend for All- “We now have a roster that expects to compete American first team notice this season. He led USC for conference and national championships, and to in aces (35), was second in kills (430) and third in win them,” he said. “We’re past our goal from my first digs (144) last year while hitting .287 and adding 65 2 years of just getting into the conference tournament. blocks. He ranked 19th nationally in points (4.83) and We’re ready to take the next step.” tied for 19th in aces (0.34) in 2008. He also was a key And if the Trojans’ performances in the fall of member of the USA Junior National team that won 2008 are any indication, Ferguson might be prescient. a bronze medal at the 2008 NORCECA Junior USC captured a pair of pre-season tournaments, Championships. first winning the Can-Am Challenge by going 4-0 “Murphy is the real deal,” said Ferguson. against top Canadian colleges (becoming the first “Although he’s already one of the best players in the NCAA team to go undefeated in the tourney since nation, he has a tremendous up-side. We’ll ride him 2003) and then claiming the Hawaii Fall Tournament this year.” with wins versus Hawaii and BYU. Another honors candidate is 6-8 junior Hunter “If the fall is indicative of what’s to come, we Current, a .340 career hitter who likely will start at should have a very successful year,” he said. “We middle blocker for his third season in 2008. Last now know how to win a tournament and string together year, he had 154 kills while hitting .343 and posted wins. In Canada and Hawaii, we faced everything a team-best 98 blocks. from blowing out inferior opponents to battling tooth- “Hunter is one of the better offensive middles in and-nail in order to win a match to bouncing back Murphy Troy the league,” said Ferguson. “He’s an experienced from a difficult loss.” performer and is coming off a great fall.” USC sandwiches two more trips to the Hawaiian Islands around its Luke Morris, a 6-2 senior, is in line to start at libero for his fourth year. always-challenging Mountain Pacific Sports Federation schedule, beginning He has 727 career digs, including 259 in 2008 when he tied for 11th its 2009 regular season at the Outrigger Hotels Invitational in Honolulu nationally in digs (2.43). (opening against defending NCAA champ Penn State) and then concluding “Luke is an experienced, instinctive player who passes well,” said league play with a pair of matches in the Warriors’ home arena. Ferguson. “He has worked really hard and put in a lot of time in the Progress has been steady at USC under Ferguson. In his first season weightroom, which led to him having his best fall showing ever.” in 2007, he guided the Trojans to their most overall (12) and MPSF (9) wins, Vernon’s replacement in the middle should be 6-8 sophomore Austin their highest MPSF finish (eighth) and their first MPSF tourney appearance Zahn, who started 17 matches in 2008. He hit .390 (tops among USC’s since 2001. As a point of reference, in the previous 5 seasons before regulars), with 85 kills and 60 blocks last season. Ferguson’s arrival, USC had won a combined total of 36 matches and “Austin should be one of the best middle blockers in the country in finished no better than 11th in the MPSF. 2009,” said Ferguson. “He had one of the best off-seasons of anyone on USC improved again in 2008 by going 13-16 overall and 10-12 in the the team. He was a leader on the court and in the weightroom.” MPSF for another eighth place finish and conference tourney berth (its first Taking over the setting job for Killian will be 6-2 Riley McKibbin, who back-to-back appearances since a 3-year streak from 1999 to 2001). saw action in 21 matches as the backup in 2008. He got his sophomore There were some historic wins along the way. In 2007, USC won at campaign off to quick start, as he was named the NCAA MVP at the pre- UCLA for the first time since 2000 (the 3-game sweep was its first over the season Can-Am Challenge. He has a strong Trojan background, as his Bruins since 1991) and also snapped a 12-match losing streak to Hawaii uncle and aunt played at USC (and his younger brother has signed with the (doing so in Honolulu, its first win there since 1999). Last year, the Trojans school in 2010). won both UCLA matches, the first time USC defeated the Bruins twice in “Riley is one of the best young setters in collegiate volleyball,” said a row since 1991 and the first Ferguson. “He’s a pure setter. time since 1990 that USC He’s a good floor leader, has recorded consecutive wins at outstanding natural instincts Pauley Pavilion. And USC had and is very competitive.” a 5-game victory at 2008 NCAA Several players are finalist Pepperdine (USC’s first competing to fill Figueroa’s victory in Malibu since 1999, outside hitter spot. And if Troy snapping a 9-match losing moves to opposite hitter, both streak there). outside jobs would be open. Several cornerstones Tony Ciarelli, a 6-6 true from last year’s squad— freshman whose parents outside hitter Juan Figueroa, played and coached the game, setter Jimmy Killian and had an impressive showing in middle blocker Andrew the fall and has an edge to Vernon, each a 4-year start on the outside. He was a starter—have graduated. prep All-American second Respectively, they own the team and All-CIF Division I first USC rally scoring era career team choice at Huntington records for kills (1,627), Beach (Calif.) High last assists (4,820) and blocks season, then was named MVP (362). Figueroa was a 2-time of the 2008 Junior Olympics All-American second teamer, 16-and-Under division and Killian was a 3-time USC placed second at the FIVB captain and Vernon hit .399 in Youth Beach World Hunter Current his career. Championships. Luke Morris PAGE 1 2009 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 2009 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEASON OUTLOOK “I’m excited about Tony’s prospects,” said The play of junior college transfer Matt Ferguson.