This Weekend's Matches 
Friday, September 13

Yale (0-3) vs. Villanova (5-1), 1:30 p.m. ET  Live Stats | Watch (Pac 12+)

Yale (0-3) at No. 20 USC (2-3), 10:30 p.m. ET  Live Stats | Watch (Pac 12+)

Saturday, September 14

Yale (0-3) vs. Howard (2-6), 8 p.m. ET  Live Stats

Trojan Invitational

Yale faces another "Power 5" conference  opponent -- No. 20 USC -- along with Villanova and Howard as part of the Trojan Invitational in Los Angeles.  The match against the Trojans marks the fourth opponent from a Power 5 conference.  Last weekend, the Bulldogs competed against Indiana (Big Ten), Oregon State (Pac 12) and Oklahoma (Big 12) at the Hoosier Invitational in Bloomington, Ind.

Bulldogs Return to Galen Center

Yale returns to the Galen Center for the first time since facing then-top-ranked USC in a 2011 NCAA Tournament first-round match.  The Bulldogs, who lost 3-0 to USC that night, won their third Ivy League title in four years in 2011 and finished the season 18-7 overall and 12-2 in Ivy League play.  Yale has won the Ivy League title nine of the last 15 years.

Last Time Out

Yale took at least one set in each of its three hard-fought losses last weekend at the Hoosier Invitational.   The Bulldogs took Oklahoma to five sets, and lost to Oregon State and host Indiana in four sets.  

Nemeth Named All-Tournament 

Senior Rebekah Nemeth was named to the Hoosier Invitational All-Tournament team last weekend and earned a spot on the Ivy League Honor Roll for her efforts.  Nemeth set a career-high and tied a match-high with 18 kills against Oklahoma last Friday.  She followed up with a team-high 12 kills against Indiana last Sunday. 

Family Connection

Yale first-year Maile Somera's mom, Nancy, was a member of the USC Volleyball team from 1985 to 1988. 

Scouting the Opponents

Villanova -- The Wildcats have opened the season 5-1, including a 3-0 weekend most recently at the Bryant Invitational.  Villanova defeated North Dakota, Marist and Bryant. Senior libero Regan Lough was named to the Big East Honor Roll for the second time and piled up a total of 53 digs to average 5.88 digs per set last week, good for second in the conference. 

No. 20 USC -- The Trojans have played five teams to open the season that finished 2018 in the NCAA RPI's top 25.vThe Trojans return two AVCA All-America outside hitters: Sr. Khalia Lanier was a first-team choice in 2017 and Jr. Brooke Botkin was second team in 2018.  USC's sophomore setter Raquel Lázaro was the 2018 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and earned AVCA All-America honorable mention.

Howard -- The Bison have started the season 2-6, including a five-set loss to Columbia  on Sept. 6.  Senior Kira Porter and juniors Jurnee Tipton and Fola Wilson were all named to the MEAC preseason team.  Howard was also picked to win the MEAC Northern Division.