USC Has Easy Time in First Round

The USC team swept Morgan State, 15-2, 15-7, 15-7, in front of an announced 523 at the Lyon Center in a first-round match of the NCAA Pacific Region women’s volleyball tournament Friday.

The No. 7 Trojans, who improved to 22-5, will play host to San Diego (26-3) tonight at 7 in a second-round match.

It was the first NCAA Division I postseason appearance for Morgan State (25-10) in any sport.

Although the Trojans swept, USC Coach Lisa Love expected more of her players.

“We did not perform as well as we could have. We need to pick it up a notch against San Diego,” Love said. “Opening a tournament, you don’t always step up to the plate with your best guns--it was a typical first-round performance.”

Middle blocker Jasmina Marinkovic and outside hitter Jakaria Stewart’s eight kills led the Trojans.

San Diego advanced by beating Kansas State (20-13) in its first-round match at the Lyon Center. The Toreros won in four games, 11-15, 15-10, 15-7, 15-6.

The match will pit sisters Janice Mounts, a setter for USC, and LaManda Mounts, an outside hitter for San Diego against each other. Janice Mounts had 28 assists Friday.

In another Pacific Region first-round match, Loyola Marymount swept Hawaii, 15-7, 15-7, 15-4, in front of 785 at the Long Beach State Pyramid to advance to the second round.

Loyola Marymount (22-6) was led by Sarah Noriega’s 21 kills and Tracy Holman’s 37 assists.

The Lions will play top-ranked Long Beach State (30-1) at the Pyramid tonight at 7:30.

Hawaii ends its season at 25-7.