SAN DIEGO – Katie Lukes recorded 10 kills but it was not enough for No. 23 San Diego to take down No. 16 USC, as the Toreros fell, 3-0, to the Trojans on Friday night in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
 
The Toreros (2-5) started well but were edged, 25-22, in the first set and could not slow down the Trojans (8-3) momentum the remainder of the match.
 
Lukes was excellent offensively with her team-high 10 kills. Roxie Wiblin registered nine kills and hit .273 on the night. However, the Toreros hit just. 129 on the night as a team and had trouble getting through USC at the net as the Trojans recorded 11 blocks.
 
USD also had trouble slowing down USC's, Khalia Lanier, who posted a match-high 15 kills and hit .289 on the night.
 
Kelli Barry led the Toreros with 12 digs, while Wiblin added 10. Addie Picha paced the Toreros with two blocks.
 
The teams opened with a streaky first set in which each side traded long scoring runs. USC went on a 4-0 rally to jump out to a 4-1 lead and USD responded shortly after with a 6-1 run to retake the lead, 11-10.
 
The Trojans reeled off a, 5-2, rally later in the match to take an 18-15 lead, only to watch the Toreros respond with a 5-2 run of its own to knot the set at, 20-20. USC secured the set with a 5-2 rally to win, 25-22.
 
The Trojans fed off the momentum of the first set and jumped out to an early lead in the second. USC held a 10-point advantage, 22-12, before finishing the set, 25-15.
 
The Toreros would not go down easy and gave the Trojans everything they could handle in the third. USD jumped out to a 6-3 lead and led as late as, 20-18. However, USC went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead and win the third, 25-20, securing the 3-0 decision.
 
USD will look to bounce back quickly with two matches on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. PT against Louisiana and concluding at 3 p.m. against Oregon State.