USC dominant offensive performance shatters Long Beach State dream of perfect season

And just like that the perfect season evaporated for No. 1/1 Long Beach State.

No. 11 USC hit a near season-high .493 as it upset previously undefeated Long Beach State 25-21, 25-21, 25-17 on Saturday in Los Angeles.

All three of USC’s starting pin-hitters finished with double-digit kills and at least a .500 attack percentage playing in front of a sold-out home crowd at the historic North Gym.

Opposite Ryan Moss ended with a match-high 14 kills and had one error on a .563 attack percentage. In addition, outside attacker Jack Wyett had 13 kills and hit a team-best .579, while outside attacker Gianluca Grasso contributed 10 kills on a .500 attack percentage.

Long Beach State, which entered the match in the nation hitting .440, was held to a season-low .216 attack percentage. This was the first time this season that the defending NCAA champions did not hit more than .300 in a match.

With the loss, the 49ers end their nation-best 23-match winning streak that dated back to last season. No. 2/2 Hawai’i now is the only remaining undefeated team in the nation.

All-American opposite Kyle Ensing led Long Beach State with nine kills but was held to a .158 attack percentage in the loss. Each of the 49ers’ three starting pin-hitters hit less than .175 against the Trojans.

This is the first time since 2013 that USC has defeated the No. 1 ranked team.