Ramblers don't go easily

Loyola (Chicago) takes USC to four games before falling, 15-10, 15-17, 15-12 and 16-14

By DAVID CISNEROS
Staff Writer

Tuesday night's men's volleyball match between No. 10 USC and No. 15 Loyola (Chicago) might go down as the 1999 freshman coming-out party .

Behind a career-high 29 kills from freshman outside hitter Brook Billings and a career-high 21 kills from freshman middle blocker Beau Rawi, USC beat Loyola at North Gym, 15-10, 15-17, 15-12 and 16-14.

The Trojans, who had dropped six of their last seven, stayed composed despite critical errors that let the Ramblers back in the game, and beat Loyola for the second straight time in a grinding match that lasted two hours and 45 minutes.

Rawi played spectacularly and efficiently, hitting an impressive .552, despite injuring his ankle in the fourth game. He even led the match in aces with four.

"Beau was just unstoppable in the middle," USC Head Coach Pat Powers said. "He played really well."

Sophomore Eli Fairfield also had a big match, recording 25 kills.

"It shouldn't have been this close," Rawi said. "They're a good team and this is a good win for us. But we should have taken it in three."

And for parts of the match, it looked as if the Trojans might take it in three. USC took the first game easily, and never trailed en route to a 15-10 victory. Backup middle blocker Tony Knopp started in place of usual starter, Omar Rawi.

But in the second game, the Trojans squandered an early 6-1 lead, allowing the Ramblers to tie with a 5-0 run. Behind a match-high 30 kills from outside hitter Dan Schultz, Loyola came back from a 12-9 deficit and scored the next five to lead, 14-12.

USC, on the verge of defeat, rallied and had the game in hand, 15-14, but was unable to notch the last point. Loyola went on to score the last three and clinch the game.

In game three, Powers started outside hitter Trevor Julian in place of Craig Dennis and yanked Knopp in favor of Omar Rawi. USC immediately jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but most of the game was a see-saw battle in which Loyola Head Coach Gordon Mayforth received a yellow card for profanity. The Trojans, who were awarded their 10th point because of the yellow card, pulled away to win, 15-12.

In game four, USC faced deficits of 9-6 and 12-9, but battled back behind a match-high 103 assists from junior setter Donald Suxho. Again, USC had the opportunity to put Loyola away with the score, 14-13, but was unable to do so.

But after a Loyola point, USC managed to score one more. And after a Loyola sideout, Billings emphasized his career day by rejecting Loyola's kill attempt to seal the final game, 16-15.

Many on the team agreed the victory was a good character win, especially after the team fell apart against No. 1 BYU last weekend.

"We didn't argue with each other," Suxho said. "We just kept calm."

Copyright 1999 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 136, No. 36 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999), beginning on page 16 and ending on page 14.