The No. 4-ranked USC beach volleyball team is facing questions after a concerning Friday at the Death Volley Invitational, dropping consecutive duals to lower-ranked opponents. The Women of Troy (15-6) fell 3-2 to No. 11 LSU and then suffered another 3-2 defeat at the hands of No. 7 Florida State, marking their first three-match losing streak since the 2018 season.
The Trojans, a traditional powerhouse in the sport, entered the weekend with high expectations but stumbled against both the host LSU (16-6) and a Florida State (19-4) squad that had previously struggled against USC. The pair of losses raises red flags about USC's current form as the season progresses towards the postseason.
Against LSU in the day's opening dual, USC secured early leads thanks to victories from the No. 2 duo of freshman Kennedy Coakley and sophomore Ashley Pater, and the No. 3 pairing of junior Delaney Karl and graduate Ella Larkin. However, the Tigers rallied with three consecutive three-set wins to snatch the dual victory, marking the second straight 3-2 loss for USC in Baton Rouge.
The afternoon matchup against Florida State offered a chance for a quick turnaround, but the Seminoles proved to be a tough opponent. While Coakley and Pater continued their dominant run with another straight-set win, extending their streak to 11 matches, Florida State responded with victories at the No. 4 and No. 1 positions. The Seminoles ultimately clinched the dual with a three-set win at the No. 3 spot, ending an eight-match losing streak against the Trojans. A late three-set win for USC at the No. 5 position provided a second point, but it wasn't enough to avoid the team's third consecutive loss.
This three-dual skid is notable for a USC program that has consistently been among the nation's elite. Prior to this weekend, the Trojans had only experienced such a losing streak three other times in program history. The timing of this slump, with crucial matches and NCAA Championship implications on the horizon, will undoubtedly be a cause for concern within the program.
The bright spot for USC remains the stellar play of Coakley and Pater at the No. 2 position. However, the losses highlight potential vulnerabilities and a lack of consistency across the rest of the lineup against quality competition. Dropping matches to teams ranked below them will not only impact their overall record but could also lead to a further slide in the national rankings.
USC concluded play at the Death Volley Invitational on Saturday with a dominate 3-0 win over No. 8 Texas. Hopefully, halting this losing streak will help the Trojans regain momentum as they head towards the critical final stretch of the season. The results in Baton Rouge have undoubtedly injected uncertainty into the Trojans' national championship aspirations.
