When BYU senior opposite hitter Jonathan Charette wasn't blocking the ball with his face, he was serving BBs.

BYU -- last in the MPSF in services aces -- had six against USC and forced the Trojans out of their offense with a barrage of hot serves.

"We served great, maybe the best we've served all season," BYU head coach Shawn Patchell said. "We served aggressively and got a good team out of system."

Charette was part of that serve attack. USC got off to a good start in Game 1 and led 12-8 on a combo block from Jimmy Killian and Hunter Current. It was 15-13, Trojans, when Charette stepped to the service line.

"I felt relaxed out there," Charette said. "USC was ahead, but it was early in the game so I knew I could serve lights out."

Charette blasted two lefty rockets that USC couldn't handle and middle blocker Russell Holmes slammed both overpasses straight down to tie the match at 15-all. A hitting error by the Trojans gave BYU a 16-15 lead and an ace by Charette made it 17-15. From that point, BYU wasn't challenged. Charette even contributed a block where the ball ricocheted off his face and fell on the USC side for a point and a 25-19 advantage.

"As long as the ball goes down," Charette said with a shrug.

The Cougars won it 30-26 at second match point on a kill by Holmes.

BYU (17-4 MPSF, 22-4 overall) took the lead in Game 2 at 5-4 on a tandem block by Ivan Perez and Holmes. A kill from Perez, and combined block from Charette and Trent Sorensen and a service ace from Yamil Perez made the score 9-6 and BYU was never threatened. Sorensen scored the game winner on a set from Yamil Perez for the 30-24 victory.

Game 3 was a blowout by volleyball standards: The Cougars led 10-5 on a kill from Charette and then ran off to a 22-12 advantage on a USC hitting error. The Trojans (10-11, 13-14) staged a mild comeback -- or maybe BYU lost interest -- but could get no closer than five points. At second match point, Sorensen pounded the ball to the floor to end the match with the 30-25 win.

"We got them out of their offense and that allows us to block better," Charette said. "USC runs a very fast offense and we didn't get to see that because we served so well."

Holmes led BYU with 10 kills in a balanced attack: Sorensen had nine, Ivan Perez and Charette eight each and Andrew Stewart contributed seven. Charette also had three block assists and a solo block.

Another big story for the night was the return of Yamil Perez to the starting lineup as the setter. Last year's AVCA Newcomer of the Year suffered an injury before the season started and once he returned, couldn't break back into lineup. But Perez played well in the two-match series against Hawaii last week (BYU won both) and with Reed Chilton sick and Brian Congelliere nursing an injury, Patchell called on him. Perez responded with 37 assists and BYU hit .455 in Game 2 against USC.

"He's healthy and earned the start," Patchell said. "He was very aggressive against Hawaii and our offense was very good. He's our guy. You have to go with the hot hand and he's the hot hand."

Tonight's second meeting against USC will be the last regular-season home match for five BYU seniors: Charette, Congelliere, Holmes, Sorensen and Ivan Perez. But Charette hopes it won't be his last match in the Fieldhouse. If Northridge beats Long Beach State tonight, the Cougars will host the MPSF semifinals and finals April 24 and 26.

"It will be cool to say thank you," Charette said of Senior Night, "but I'm not really seeing (tonight's) match as the last one for me here."

• Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it