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After its 21-match winning streak was snapped yesterday, the USC sand volleyball team kept its season alive with a win over Stetson University. The Women of Troy are now two wins away from a national championship.
The Women of Troy (21-2) came into American Volleyball Coaches Association national championship tournament as the top-seed in the country.
USC received a bye in the first round of the tournament as the No. 1 seed along with Pepperdine, the No. 2 seed. No. 3 Florida State beat No. 6 Stetson, and No. 4 Hawaii beat No. 5 Florida International University in the first round. Florida State earned a matchup with Pepperdine in the winners’ bracket of round two and Hawaii advanced to play USC in the winners’ bracket, while Florida International and Stetson fell to the losers’ bracket.
The Rainbow Warriors were able to upset the Women of Troy in the second round, avenging a loss to USC on March 19 and advancing to the tournament semifinals. Pepperdine also advanced to the semifinals after beating Florida State.
The Women of Troy survived the losers' bracket and defeated Stetson to qualify for the semifinals. USC takes on Pepperdine this afternoon. Florida State beat Florida International in the other losers’ bracket matchup and advanced to face Hawaii in the other semifinals.
Once the tournament pool is cut down from six teams to four teams, the tournament will become single-elimination rather than double-elimination.
Pepperdine and USC are set to do battle at 12:00pm CT. The AVCA tournament is being held in Gulf Shores, Ala. The national championship match will be held tomorrow.