Perhaps the men's volleyball team could hear the Mission: Impossible theme music in the background as it took the court Friday night.

Its mission: to open the season with a victory over No. 1 USC, the defending national champion, in the semifinals of the Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne Invitational.

USC swept the Lions in straight sets, 15-6, 15-12, 15-8. The Trojans have now won 10 of their last 11 meetings with the Lions. In the consolation match, Penn State rebounded to defeat Ohio State in five sets, 15-10, 15-6, 12-15, 5-15, 15-10.

The Lions' best chance to take a game occurred in the second set. Penn State, trailing 9-10 and serving, could not convert two free balls.

"When you have the opportunity to do something, you've got to do it," assistant coach Mark Pavlik said. "We have to realize that we will have many opportunities to show that we are a disciplined team."

Junior setter Jim Schall said the team was not in awe of the Trojans, despite their lofty ranking.

"We didn't go in knowing we were going to lose," Schall said.

Bryan Ivie, last season's Asics Player of the Year, led the Trojans with 21 kills.

"They had all of their question marks answered," Pavlik said. While the Lions were just beginning their season, USC had already played Brigham Young, UCLA, and Stanford in a tournament last week.

"We have to work on staying in a tough match mentally, " Pavlik said. "With the experience we had, it was a disappointment."

In the consolation match, the Lions emptied their bench against Ohio State. The starters were strong in the first two games, winning 15-10,15-6. Then some of the younger players saw action, and were edged, 15-12. At one point, four first-year players took the court for the Lions. When the starters took the court for the fourth game, they were sluggish and lost, 15-5, before winning the rally game, 15-10. In the rally game, there are no sideouts and every hit over the net can be a point.

Senior outside hitter Charlie Bertran led Penn State with 20 kills. Middle blockers Ramon Hernandez, a freshman, and David Muir, a sophomore, added 15 and 14 kills, respectively. All three players were in the starting lineup Friday, along with senior outside hitter Jorge Perez, junior outside hitter Tom Gingrich, and senior setter Scott Miller.