COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP: USC CRUSHES HOFSTRA, FACES NO. 20 GOPHERS.

USC opened first-round action of the NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament with an easy three-game sweep of Hofstra at the Lyon Center on Friday night.

The Trojans disposed of Hofstra 15-0, 15-9, 15-8 and secured a spot in tonight's second round against Minnesota.

Janae Henry led USC (21-8) with 15 kills, Jennifer Pahl added 10 kills and Tracy Lindquist contributed 41 assists.USC coach Jerritt Elliott was pleased with how the Trojans came out of the gate.

``We were clean and crisp and really focused,'' Elliott said. ``If the kids come out like this tomorrow, we will be OK.''After shutting out the Flying Dutchwomen in the first game, the Trojans appeared flat in Game 2. Hofstra tied the match at 6-6 before USC pulled away.

``Our goal all year has been to respond to things when we make a mistake,'' Henry said. ``We're getting better at it.''

USC will be making a bid for its third consecutive appearance in the Sweet 16 when it takes on Minnesota.

The Gophers finished second in the Big Ten, and Elliott expects tonight's 6 p.m. match to be close.``We're not looking ahead,'' Elliott said. ``They took second place in a tough Big Ten Conference.``They've played in tough matches and we've played in tough matches, too.''

Minnesota 3, Sacramento State 0: Nicole Branagh had 23 kills to lead the Gophers (26-8) to a 15-9, 15-10, 15-10 victory over the Big Sky champion Hornets (22-10).

Minnesota, which finished 15-5 in the Big Ten and is ranked 20th in the nation, also received 64 assists from Lindsey Berg.

The Gophers have never lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Sacramento State was led by Tasman Dwyer with 15 kills.

-Bryan Rodgers

Pepperdine 3, Arkansas State 0: Pepperdine gets a rematch with Michigan State tonight after the Waves (25-3) continued their strong play, eliminating Arkansas State 15-3, 15-2, 15-5 in an NCAA Central Region first round match at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Last season, Pepperdine upset Michigan State in five games in East Lansing, Mich. This time, it's here at 7 p.m.

Outside hitter Melissa Snow had 10 kills and seven digs. Lisa Borom added nine kills and six digs for the Waves.

Pepperdine fell behind 2-0 in the first game and battled back, scoring 11 straight points in one stretch to take the first game. Arkansas State (28-7) were able to come within two, 6-4, in the third game on a kill by Royal graduate Nikki Guerra. But the Indians never got closer as the Waves scored 10 straight points.

Susanne Snipes led Arkansas State with six kills.

Michigan State d. Cal Poly SLO: Sarah Gustin had 27 kills to lead the Spartans (21-12) to a 10-15, 15-10, 15-10, 15-13 victory. Village Christian graduate Errin Benesh had four kills and eight digs for SLO.

-Rob Moscato 

UC Santa Barbara 3, Loyola Marymount 1: Calabasas graduate Brooke Niles (10 kills) and Westlake graduate Brooke Rundle (51 assists, three kills) helped the Gauchos (28-5) earn a 15-5, 15-11, 14-16, 15-5 second-round victory over the Lions (20-11). Hart graduate Candace Boller had nine kills for LMU.

Elsewhere: It was a good night for the Pac-10. In other matches, Stanford, ranked No. 2 in the nation, defeated Santa Clara 15-9, 15-6, 11-15, 15-5, and Arizona had a surprisingly easy time in its upset of Texas, defeating the Longhorns 15-8, 15-6, 15-7.

Long Beach State, the defending national champion, swept Florida A&M 15-6, 15-10, 15-1.