Match Notes

HONOLULU – The 11th-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team continues its hectic March homestand by hosting No. 13 USC for a two-match Mountain Pacific Sports Federation series, Friday, March 8 and Sunday, March 10 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Match times are 7:00 p.m. on Friday and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
 
For the first time this season, the Warriors (5-12, 4-10 MPSF) will play a team outside the Top 10. Last weekend, Hawai'i dropped both ends of a series to No. 8 Cal State Northridge in Honolulu. The Matadors were UH's seventh consecutive MPSF opponent currently in the top seven of the league standings.
 
The Trojans (4-9, 4-9) sit in 10th place in the MPSF standings, one spot ahead of UH in the loss column, and are coming off a five-set setback to Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif., on Sunday. USC is 2-4 in road matches this season, however, one of its wins was a straight set victory over No. 2 UC Irvine. The Trojans roster features five former Hawai'i high school products including starting setter Micah Christenson (Kamehameha-Kapalama), middle blocker Ben Lam (Punahou), and libero Henry Cassiday (Punahou).
 
After winning four of six matches during a three-week stretch against Pepperdine, Stanford, and UCLA, the Warriors have suffered series sweeps to UC Irvine and CSUN. UH is in a midst of four home series during the month of March which will also see Pacific and UC Santa Barbara come to the Stan Sheriff Center in the coming weeks.
 
Matches #18 & #19
Who: No. 11 Hawai'i (5-12, 4-10 MPSF) vs. No. 13 USC (4-9, 4-9 MPSF)
When: Friday, March 1 and Sunday, March 3
Time: 7:00 p.m. on Friday and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday
Where: Stan Sheriff Center; Honolulu, HI
Television Coverage: OC Sports (Oceanic Cable Ch. 16 and Digital Ch. 1016) will televise Friday's match live with Howard Dashefsky (play-by-play) and Chris McLachlin (color). Rebroadcast at 10:00 p.m.
Video Streaming: Live video streaming is available on uhstreaming.oceanic.com.
Radio Coverage: AM 1500 will broadcast Friday's match live with Blaine Kauwe calling the action. Sunday's match will air on ESPN 1420AM.
Audio Webcast: Sunday's match only on www.espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Tickets: Lower-level $11; Upper-level adult $8, Upper-level senior citizen $7; Upper-level student (4-HS) $3. UH-Manoa students receive admission with validated ID.
Promotions: Bud Light is the game sponsor on Friday and will distribute 500 bead key chains at the arena entrance and award great prizes throughout the contest. The student theme is "Ultimate Warrior Night" and free ti leaves will be distributed to the first 200 students. On Sunday, California Hotel and Casino is the game sponsor and will award a Vacations Hawaii Trip for Two to Las Vegas during the "Toss Your Way to Vegas" contest at the intermission between sets two and three. Register to compete at the sports marketing table inside Gate A.
Series Information: UH holds a 37-33 advantage over USC in the series which began in 1981. The Warriors also hold an 18-12 advantage in matches held in Honolulu. Last season, the Trojans swept the season series winning both matches in Los Angeles. The teams split the last three series in Honolulu (2007, '09, '11).
 
What's Next: UH will travel to new MPSF member Cal Baptist for a two-match series Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16.