JON RIVERA GERT LISHA CONNOR INLOW JACK WYETT 4 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS, 14 FINAL FOURS, 20 OLYMPIANS, 34 ALL-AMERICANS, 7 COLLEGE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR 2018 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 2018 USC MEN’S2018 VOLLEYBALL USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL NUMERICAL ROSTER No. Name Ht. Wt. Pos. Yr. Hometown (High School/Last School) 1 Jon Rivera 6-6 195 OP Sr. San Juan, Puerto Rico (Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola) 2 Mitch Haly 6-7 205 MB Fr. Corona del Mar (Corona del Mar) 3 Cole Paxson 5-11 165 L Fr. Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach) 4 Michael Chang 5-8 165 L Fr.* Irvine (Beckman) 5 Matt Douglas 5-10 170 L Jr. Pacific Palisades (Loyola) 6 Chris Hall 6-2 190 S Fr. Sherman Oaks (Notre Dame) 7 Gert Lisha 6-6 215 S Sr.* Naperville, IL (Naperville/Lewis) 8 Matt Faraimo 6-3 200 S So. San Diego (Cathedral Catholic) 9 Gianluca Grasso 6-2 195 OH Jr. Sao Paulo, Brazil (Andrews Osborne Academy/Orange Coast JC) 11 Billy Fauntleroy 6-7 200 OH-OP Fr. Winnetka, IL (New Trier) 13 Kyle Gear 6-8 205 MB-OP Fr. Rochester, NY (Gates Chili) 14 Noah Franklin 6-7 185 OH Fr. Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach) 15 Clay Dickinson 6-7 190 OH Fr. Corona del Mar (Corona del Mar) 16 Tyler Resnick 6-8 225 MB So.* Newbury Park (Newbury Park) 17 Aaron Strange 6-4 190 OP So. San Clemente (San Clemente) 18 Chris McBee 6-4 195 OH Fr. Palos Verdes Estates (Palos Verdes) 19 Connor Inlow 6-6 215 MB Jr.* Manhattan Beach (Mira Costa) 20 Jack Wyett 6-5 200 OH Jr.* Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach) 22 Lucas Lossone 6-8 190 OP So. Redondo Beach (Redondo Union) 23 Sam Lewis 6-10 200 MB Fr. Long Beach (Long Beach Poly) 24 Ryan Moss 6-8 225 OH Jr. Corona del Mar (Corona del Mar) *Used up redshirt year Head Coach: Jeff Nygaard (third year) Assistant Coaches: Gary Sato (third year), Todd Hollenbeck (third year) Volunteer Coach: Brian Schirripa (second year) Technical Coordinator: Justin Chang (first year) Athletic Trainer: Lisa Noceti-DeWit Strength and Conditioning Coach: Steve Novencido Director of Operations: Ryan Plunkett Team Captains: Connor Inlow, Jack Wyett Top Row (left to right): Noah Franklin, Billy Fauntleroy, Tyler Resnick, Ryan Moss, Sam Lewis, Kyle Gear, Lucas Lossone, Clay Dickinson. Second Row (left to right): Jack Wyett, Chris McBee, Jon Rivera, Gert Lisha, Connor Inlow, Mitch Haly, Aaron Strange. Third Row (left to right): Matt Douglas, Chris Hall, Gianluca Grasso, Matt Faraimo, Cole Paxson, Michael Chang. BottomPAGE Row 47(left to right): Athletic Trainer Lisa Noceti-DeWit, Technical Coordinator Justin Chang, Assistant Coach Gary Sato, Head Coach Jeff Nygaard, Assistant Coach Todd Hollenbeck, Volunteer Assistant Coach Brian Shirripa. 2018 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL 2018 USC MEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEASON OUTLOOK If the USC men’s volleyball team can show as much improvement in Lucas Lossone, a 6-8 sophomore whose mother played at USC, Year Three of the Jeff Nygaard Era as it did in Year Two, good things could emerged as the starting opposite hitter midway through 2017 (earlier, he be in store in 2018. had come off the bench as a middle blocker). The 16-match starter had In 2017, the Trojans went 14-14 overall to double their win total from 139 kills (hitting .259), 61 digs and 31 blocks last year. Nygaard’s 2016 debut season as head coach. USC, which tied for sixth “Lucas has embraced the challenge of becoming more consistently in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with an 8-10 mark, also advanced physical in his play,” said Nygaard. “He is thirsty to improve daily and he to the MPSF Tournament in 2017 after a year’s hiatus. shows the desire to have our team succeed.” Troy is hoping the momentum of the second half of last season carries Matt Douglas, a 5-10 junior who started 26 times at libero in 2017, over to the 2018 campaign. After dropping 7 of their first 9 matches last had a team-best 233 digs and only 37 reception errors in 590 attempts last spring, the Trojans finished strong by winning 8 of season. their final 10 contests. USC gave NCAA Tournament “Matt brings a lot of MPSF-level experience to participant Long Beach State 1 of its 4 losses of 2017 our team,” said Nygaard. “He also now understands and Troy also beat 4 other Top 10 teams. what it takes to get to the next level.” Although program stalwarts Lucas Yoder (the Five other Trojans return with some starting 3-year starting outside hitter led the nation in kills at experience to their names. There’s 6-8 junior outside 4.85 and points at 5.22 in 2017 while making All- hitter Ryan Moss (he also can play opposite hitter American second team and All-MPSF first team) and and middle blocker), who has 13 career starts, Andy Benesh (the 4-year starting middle blocker including 6 times as a middle in 2017 when he hit .330 was sixth nationally in hitting percentage in 2017 at with 53 kills and 23 blocks; 6-6 senior opposite hitter .429) have graduated, 12 players from last year’s Jon Rivera of Puerto Rico, who in his career has 22 roster return, including 4 starters and the libero. starts (mostly in 2016), 212 kills, 93 digs, 37 blocks However, there are just 7 upperclassmen on USC’s and 11 aces; 6-4 sophomore opposite hitter Aaron 21-player roster, including only 2 seniors. Strange (his sister starred on a pair of USC’s “We will be a young team this year, but I expect national championship beach squads), who started growth and improvement similar to what we have had 13 times in the first half of 2017 and ended with 95 the past 2 years,” said Nygaard. “For us, the kills, 65 digs and 27 digs; and 6-3 soph setter Matt challenge in 2018 will be cultivating experience. We Faraimo, who started twice last spring. will rely on contributions from many players who USC also welcomes back 6-5 junior outside don’t have much MPSF experience. We will improve hitter Jack Wyett, who returned to the program after as a team as they gain experience. a 2-year absence (he started once in 2015) and is “We had a very productive fall. The entire team Gert Lisha now a team co-captain. gained in physicality and volleyball IQ. Our players are devoted to the “Ryan has handled more than his share of adversity and come through process of attaining success and I expect that to continue throughout this it with strength, consistency and maturity,” said Nygaard. “I expect great season as we make our run to post-season play.” things from him and he expects even more. Jon is a passionate, hard- The returning starters, who own 124 career starts between them, are working veteran who gives his all for our team. Aaron can be unstoppable skilled. when he puts his game together. He is a physical specimen who is learning Gert Lisha, a 6-6 senior from Albania, returns as the starting setter. what consistency in his play can do for the team’s success. Matt is well- He started 12 matches in 2016 and 26 last year when he was second respected by his teammates and is learning how to be successful on and nationally in assists (10.85). He also was second among the Trojans in off the court the Trojan way. Jack is part of our team for all the right reasons 2017 in digs (124), blocks (44) and aces (15). and we’re glad to have him back. He’s a very physical player.” “Gert brings international experience and great passion to our team,” Also back from last year are 2 players who have yet to see action at said Nygaard. “He has a vision for where he wants to take his volleyball USC: a 6-8 sophomore middle blocker Tyler Resnick and 5-8 redshirt career and is working hard to attain it.” freshman libero Michael Chang. Resnick could be hampered by a Connor Inlow, a 6-6 junior middle blocker and 2018 team co-captain, shoulder injury in 2018. had 22 starts last year, hitting .409 with 93 kills, 27 blocks and 40 digs. “Tyler has earned our team’s respect with his hard work, growth “Connor earned the right to be a captain with his hard work and his mindset and ability to raise our team’s culture and performance,” said actions on and off the court,” said Nygaard. “He is the embodiment of the Nygaard. “Michael is a driven, team-oriented player who is a great role ideal Trojan.” model on and off the court.” Gianluca Grasso, a 6-2 Nygaard brought in a large junior outside hitter from Bra- and talented class of 9 fresh- zil (his parents played for the men, including 2 players—6- country’s national teams), 10 middle blocker Sam Lewis joined USC in late January of of Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High last season as a junior college (USC’s second tallest player transfer and quickly earned a ever) and 6-2 setter Chris Hall starting job. A 15-match start- of Notre Dame High in Sherman er, he posted 189 kills while Oaks, Calif.—who were start- hitting .268 and added 96 digs ers on the 2016 and 2017 USA and 24 aces. A back injury Boys Youth National Teams, could slow him early in the another—5-11 libero Cole 2018 season.