20072007 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL USC Men's Volleyball C.J. Schellenberg New Head Coach Andrew Vernon Bill Ferguson Matt Mosko Jimmy Killian Luke Morris Juan Figueroa USC's Returning Starters PAGE 35 At The Galen Center New Home Of The Trojans2007 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 2007 USC MEN’S2007 VOLLEYBALL USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL NUMERICAL ROSTER No. Name Ht. Wt. Pos. Yr. Hometown (Last School/High School) 1 C.J. Schellenberg 6-7 210 OPP So. Pacific Palisades (Loyola) 2 Tim Kraics 5-10 180 LIB So.* Oldfield, NY (Ward Melville) 3 Sean O’Connor 6-5 185 MB So.* Carlsbad (La Costa Canyon) 4 Troy Tokuhama 5-6 140 LIB Fr. Honolulu, HI (Iolani) 5 Joey Dykstra 6-4 190 OH Fr. Hermosa Beach (Redondo Union) 6 Matt Pavlovich 6-4 210 OH So. San Clemente (Santa Margarita) 7 Luke Morris 6-2 170 LIB So. Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach) 8 Andrew Vernon 6-8 210 MB Jr. Joliet, IL (Joliet Township West) 9 Jonathan Hackett 6-8 200 OPP Fr. Rochester, NY (Brighton) 10 Hunter Haley 6-2 170 S So. Hermosa Beach (Mira Costa) 11 Gio Altamura 5-11 170 S Sr. Manhattan Beach (Mira Costa) 12 Brendan Skinner 6-5 190 OH Fr. Pacific Palisades (Oaks Christian) 13 Juan Figueroa 6-2 170 OH Jr. Levittown, Puerto Rico (Bayamon Military Academy) 14 Chris Roche 6-3 175 OH Fr. Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) 15 Chris Jones 6-6 190 MB Jr. Racine, WI (Washington Park) 16 Andrew Biernat 6-3 180 S Jr.* Hidden Hills (Pierce JC/Crespi) 17 Matt Mosko 6-7 230 MB Sr. Westlake Village (Viewpoint) 18 Jimmy Killian 6-4 205 S Jr. Los Angeles (Loyola) 19 Hunter Current 6-8 195 MB Fr. San Jose (Bellarmine Prep) 20 Matt Anderson 6-5 205 OH Jr.* Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach) 21 Matt Hillier 6-3 205 MB So.* La Canada (Pasadena CC/Loyola) -- James Wilkes 6-5 200 OH Jr. Las Vegas, NV (Lewis/Bishop Gorman) Head Coach: Bill Ferguson (first year) Captains: Gio Altamura, Jimmy Killian Assistant Coaches: John Hawks (first year), Brad Keller (first year) *Used up redshirt year Volunteer Coach: Blake Robinson (first year) Technical Coordinator: Brandon Crisp (fourth year) 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) ......................................... First Year Size ............................................................................. 155 Acres Assistant Coaches ...John Hawks, Brad Keller, Blake Robinson Enrollment .............................. 33,000 (17,000 undergraduates) 2006 Overall Record .......................................................... 11-18 President ....................................................... Dr. Steven Sample 2006 Conference Record/Finish .................................7-15 (9th) Athletic Director ...................................................... Mike Garrett 2006 Postseason Results ..................................................... NA Colors ............................................................ Cardinal and Gold Letterwinners Returning/Lost .............................................. 11/2 Nickname ........................................................................ Trojans Starters Returning/Lost ......................................................... 5/1 Home Court .............................. Galen Center (10,258 capacity) Men’s Volleyball SID .......................................... Tim Tessalone Press Row Phone .............................................. (213) 740-7590 ................................ (213) 740-8480 office, (213) 725-3572 cell Conference ........................ Mountain Pacific Sports Federation ................................ (310) 540-7052 home, (213) 740-7584 fax This 2007 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. 2007 TROJANS Top Row (left to right): Matt Mosko, Jonathan Hackett, C.J. Schellenberg, Andrew Vernon, Hunter Current Third Row (left to right): Chris Jones, Sean O'Connor, Brendan Skinner, Matt Anderson, Jimmy Killian, Student Trainer Jack Kirck Second Row (left to right): Technical Coordinator Brandon Crisp, Hunter Haley, Andrew Biernat, Matt Pavlovich, Matt Hillier, Joey Dykstra, Assistant Trainer Sue Lerner BottomPAGE Row (left 34 to right): Assistant Coach John Hawks, Head Coach Bill Ferguson, Juan Figueroa, Gio Altamura, Luke Morris, Troy Tokuhama, Assistant Coach Brad Keller Missing: Chris Roche, Tim Kraics, James Wilkes, Assistant Coach Blake Robinson 2007 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 2007 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEASON OUTLOOK There are some exciting “new” things about the 2007 USC men’s Ferguson. “He understands what we do and what the other team does. He volleyball program: a new head coach, a new arena, a group of talented provides tremendous leadership and intensity. Hunter is a great competitor newcomers. and lifts the level of competition in every practice. Andrew is a solid player Then again, there are some stable “old” standards among this year’s who gives us good senior leadership and helps keep our practices very Trojans: a corps of veteran starters, a tradition of excellence. competitive.” The hope is that this mix of new and old helps return Troy to national USC returns one of the nation’s most dynamic outside hitters in prominence. springy 6-2 junior Juan Figueroa, who started the New head coach Bill Ferguson expects nothing last 2 years. He led USC in kills (477) in 2006 and less from a program that has won 4 NCAA titles while was third in digs (172) and aces (15) while adding 67 finishing second six other times and third once. blocks. He was seventh nationally in kill average Ferguson knows the Trojans’ history well, (4.68) last season and twice was named the MPSF beginning in the late 1980s when he served as a Player of the Week. linesman for many USC matches. He also was a “Juan clearly is our go-to guy,” said Ferguson. Trojan assistant coach in the late 1990s and, after a “He’s one of the top players in college. He’s a huge stint as one of the nation’s most successful club jumper and one of the better back row hitters out coaches, again last year. there. He’ll have more passing responsibilities this “I am keenly aware that this program was in 11 year. He’s very popular among his teammates and NCAA Final Fours in 15 years (1977-1991),” he said. has stepped up his leadership tremendously.” “That’s the standard we’re setting for the future of Also back from last year’s lineup is one of the this program, and it begins now. game’s top young opposite hitters, 6-7 sophomore “I don’t know exactly when we’ll be good, but we lefty C.J. Schellenberg. He was impressive in 2006 will be good. We’re bringing this program back.” while starting in his first year at USC, getting 271 USC has a bit of a climb to restore its glory. For kills (third on the team), 103 digs, 83 blocks and 14 the past 5 years, the Trojans have failed to finish in aces. the top 8 of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation “C.J. will be a huge part of what we do in 2007,” and qualify for the league tournament. said Ferguson. “He’s one of the best young opposite Although USC was just 11-15 overall last year hitters in the country and we’ll ask him to carry a big (and 7-15 for ninth place in the MPSF), those were load. Of all of our players, he made the most Troy’s best records and its best finish since 2001. improvement physically since last year.” Included were upsets over both of the 2006 NCAA Jimmy Killian Jonathan Hackett, a 6-8 freshman, will compete Championship finalists (UCLA and Penn State). with Schellenberg at opposite hitter. A 3-time A major boost to USC’s efforts of fielding an elite team is its new on- (2004-06) All-County first team selection at Brighton High in Rochester campus home, the state-of-the-art Galen Center. The 10,258-seat arena— (N.Y.), he was a member of the 2006 USA Men’s Junior National A2, 2005 with an adjacent practice court, locker room, weight room and coaches Youth National A2 and 2004 Youth National A2 Training teams. offices—is a dramatic upgrade from the old, cramped North Gym. “Jonathan is a big, young player with unlimited potential,” said Ferguson. “This is the best volleyball arena in the nation,” said Ferguson. “It was “He has a great arm and will give us valuable depth at the opposite position.” a long time in coming, but we now have a facility that will contribute greatly Both starting middle blockers from 2006—6-8 junior Andrew Vernon to our on-court success. It has already made an impact in our recruiting.” and 6-7 senior Matt Mosko—return and will compete with a talented USC also has some players capable of getting the program out of the newcomer for starting positions. Vernon, who appears to have recovered doldrums. The Trojans return 5 starters and their libero (and 11 lettermen) from lingering knee injuries after being in the starting rotation the 2 previous from 2006. seasons, led the Trojans in hitting percentage (.403) in 2006 and was third Troy’s 22-man roster, its largest ever, also features a number of other in blocks (85). He also had 151 kills, 17 digs and 6 aces last year. Mosko returning players who can contribute, along with 7 newcomers (including 6 moved back to the middle last year after spending 2005 as an opposite freshmen) who joined the Trojans to form one of the nation’s top recruiting hitter and led USC in blocks (124) and was second in hitting percentage classes. (.356) in 2006. He also had 179 kills, 14 aces and 29 digs last season. Co-captain Jimmy Killian, a 6-4 junior, is back at setter after starting “When he’s healthy, Andrew can be one of the best middle blockers the last 2 seasons. He has 2,280 career assists (1,300 in 2006). Last year, in the country, a potential National Team-caliber type of athlete,” said he was second on the Trojans in blocks (96) and aces (18) while adding 123 Ferguson.