By: Rob Anderson

Result OMAHA, Nebraska. — Senior All-Americans Kendra waiting And Norah Sister had double-doubles as No. 11 Creighton Volleyball beat No. 20 USC in four sets before a nationally televised audience Thursday night to open the Creighton Classic.

Creighton (4-0) lost the first set 25-23, ending its nation-leading 41-set home winning streak before winning the final three sets 25-17, 25-23 and 28-26. The Bluejays extended their school-record home winning streak to 17 straight games and have now beaten USC four times in a row after losing their first six tries against the perennial West Coast power.

Ava Martin and Sis both had 16 kills to lead CU, with Sis adding 10 digs for her first double-double of the fall. Elise Goetzinger had 10 kills and four blocks, the highest of the game, while Maddy Bilinovic added a season-high 20 digs. Wait did her best, finishing with 43 assists and 12 digs while giving CU a .250 hitting percentage on the night. The Jays totaled 56 kills, 56 digs, seven blocks and six aces.

USC was led by Adonia Faumina with 15 kills, while Ally Batenhorst, who transferred from Nebraska, had 12 kills. Gala Trubint scored the most points of the game with 22 digs, Tyrah Ariail had seven blocks and Mia Tuaniga provided 41 assists and put up several long service runs. The Trojans had 56 kills, 55 digs, four aces and 10.5 blocks.

Creighton led 11-8 early in the first set before Tuaniga went on a 6-0 service run to give USC the lead for good. The Bluejays got within 14-13 and 24-23 before a kill by London Wijay tied the set for USC. Faumuina had six kills and Ariail had five blocks in the opening game for USC, which hit .324.

Creighton never trailed in the second set and tied the match, going on a 10-1 run to break free from a 14-13 lead and take control. CU posted a .343 batting average in the set, including four kills from Martin, while Bilinovic made seven strikes.

USC built up a 13-9 lead in the third set and only gave it up when Martin and Kiara Reinhardt combined for a block as Creighton took a 20-19 lead. Another Trojans attack error followed by a kill from Martin put CU ahead 22-19. USC fended off a set point before a Goetzinger kill put CU ahead 2-1. Martin made five kills in the third set and helped limit the Trojans’ offense to .125 hitting.

Creighton led 6-2 and 12-8 at the start of the fourth set, but USC responded by tying the score at 12-12, forcing the Bluejays to take a timeout. USC led 20-18 before a kill by Jaya Johnson and a solo by Goetzinger tied the score at 20-20. USC again extended a two-point lead to 24-22, but CU saved both by winning a two-pointer at 24-23 and extending the set on a blocking error before USC again ran into the net after an attack to make it 24-24. After Creighton fended off a third set point on an attacking error by USC at 25-24, the Jays finally took advantage and won the game after back-to-back kills by Sis and Martin. USC made 10 attacking errors, four service errors, three blocking errors and scored two aces in the final, while Sis boasted five kills in the final.

The Creighton Classic continues on Friday when USC faces Kansas State at 4 p.m. Admission is free for all fans. Creighton then hosts Kansas State on Saturday at 2 p.m.

More to follow …