Jan. 14, 2003

USC men's volleyball first-year head coach Turhan Douglas has nowhere to go but up in 2003.

That's because Douglas, who was a Trojan assistant the previous three seasons, inherits a team that is coming off the program's worst season since 1972 (the pre-scholarship era of USC volleyball). Last year, Troy went just 6-22 overall and finished 11th in the 12-team Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

But he'll have plenty of experienced players to work with in 2003 as he attempts to return the Trojans to national prominence. USC has won four NCAA championships, finished second six times and was third once, but the Trojans haven't been to the Final Four since 1991.

Despite losing two starters-prolific outside hitter/opposite hitter Brook Billings, a 2000 All-American first teamer who had 2,075 career kills while starting for four seasons, and opposite hitter/middle blocker Beau Rawi, who started 75 matches in his career-plus three-year starting libero Greg Burden, Douglas returns 15 players from last year's squad, including 10 who saw significant action (all 10 have starting experience).

Douglas likes the team he was handed.

"We're young, but we're talented and we're on the right track to becoming an outstanding team," said Douglas. "No doubt, we'll be the underdog in every match and we'll be overlooked, but that could be to our advantage. We're a lot better than what people have seen in the past.

"Last year was a painful experience. We don't want to go through that again. I'm proud of how our players have responded to that challenge. You see it in their work ethic. I'm pleased with their development so far. Of course, we still have a ways to go, but we're progressing. And our seniors have really done a terrific job of stepping it up and leading the team."

Senior Miles McGann, at 6-5, has been USC's setter the past two years (he had 805 assists in 2002). But he will be challenged by 6-7 sophomore J.T. Gilmour, who started 11 times last spring and had 366 assists.

"Both of our setters have improved drastically from last year," said Douglas. "Miles is setting phenomenally right now, better than ever. And J.T. is right on his heels."

Josh Day, a 6-5 senior, returns at middle blocker, where he has started the last two seasons. He led USC's regulars in hitting percentage (.329) and blocks (86) last year and was second in kills (194).

"Josh has really matured as a player now," said Douglas. "He has stepped into a senior leadership role in a big way."

Competing for the other middle blocker spot are sophomores Phil Small, the tallest player (6-11) in USC history, 6-10 Chris McKniff and 6-8 Jeff Bailey. Each started some matches last season in the middle (20 by Small, 5 by McKniff and 2 by Bailey). Small had 62 blocks.

"There's real good competition between these players," said Douglas. "They're young, but they have loads of upside."

Mark Dusharme, a 6-8 senior with 54 career starts at middle blocker and opposite hitter, likely will start at an outside hitter spot.

"We're expecting big things from Mark in 2003," said Douglas. "Right now, he's playing at the best level he's ever been at. He's very dominant at the net. He'll see a lot of sets this year."

Among the players fighting it out at the other outside hitter spot will be two juniors-6-3 Peter Jordan and 6-9 Marcus Gilmour-and 6-4 soph Blake Tippett. Jordan started 13 times last year at libero, getting 90 digs. Gilmour, J.T.'s older brother, has tremendous potential, but he has been bothered by knee injuries in his Trojan career and has seen only limited action. Tippett, who was a member of the 2002 USA men's junior national team, started 4 times at opposite hitter and outside hitter in 2002 and also saw action at libero.

"Peter is a real steady player, both passing and hitting," said Douglas. "And he is experienced. Blake showed some nice things last year and could figure in the rotation, as could Marcus, if he stays healthy."

The opposite hitter job could go to 6-6 junior Ian Gallagher, who started 13 matches at outside hitter last year.

"Ian is our most physical player," said Douglas. "He's a great athlete and has worked real hard to be at his best this year."

The other returning squadmen have limited USC experience: 6-7 junior outside hitter Phil Peterson, 6-4 sophomore outside hitter Charley Witt, 6-2 sophomore opposite hitter Owen Hanson and 5-10 redshirt freshman libero Evan Burden. Peterson (a part-time starter at San Diego State in 2000) saw brief action last year, Witt has yet to play while slowed with a foot injury, Hanson also has not seen action yet at USC and Burden (Greg's younger brother) redshirted in 2002.

USC's three new freshmen could have an immediate impact: 6-4 outside hitter Derek Otte and a pair of Brazilians in 6-5 opposite hitter Thiago Barbosa and 6-2 libero-outside hitter Joao Grangeiro. Otte, a two-time All-CIF first teamer who made Volleyball magazine's Fab 50 list, joined Tippett on the 2002 USA men's junior national team. Grangeiro was a member of Brazil's junior national team that won the 2001 World Championship, while both he and Barbosa played on several Brazilian state championship club teams.

Troy might field the tallest roster in the country, with seven players at least 6-7.

"We should be a good blocking team," said Douglas. "But really need to improve our passing (USC averaged 1.8 reception errors a game in 2002). I'm counting on our new liberos to beef that up. If so, our offensive attack can be threatening."

Although Douglas is a familiar face to the returning Trojans, they will be directed by an entirely new set of assistant coaches. Douglas' staff consists of Donald Suxho, who was the 2000 National Player of the Year while setting for USC, former Pierce Junior College women's coach Nabil Mardini and ex-prep and club coach Mark Cruz.

"Our players have a lot of respect for my assistants and they've learning so much from them," said Douglas.

By the way, Douglas already has exhibited his head coaching ability at USC. When then-head coach Pat Powers missed USC's home match against BYU in 2001 to be with his ill mother, Douglas stepped in and directed the Trojans to a 3-1 upset over the top-ranked, undefeated Cougars.

That could be a good omen as Douglas tries to get USC to bounce back in 2003.