Aug. 31, 2006
Box Score
IRVINE, Calif. - Kristen Carlson's 11th kill of the match lifted the 20th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team to a 3-2 win (30-28, 20-30, 25-30, 30-27, 17-15) over the UC Irvine Anteaters in the first game of the UCI Nike Invitational Thursday evening at the Crawford Center.
With the match on the line and USD leading 16-15 in the fifth and deciding game, the Toreros (4-1) turned to their senior left-handed outside hitter, Carlson, and she delivered with a laser strike from the left side of the floor for the kill, as no Anteater could dig the ball off the floor, giving USD their fourth win of the season.
Jessica Andersen led all Toreros in kills with 12, while Carlson was the only other Torero to register double digit kills with 11. Christie Dawson and Erin Wiskar chipped in eight kills a piece to help lead USD to victory. Jessica Nyrop had a match-high 53 assists and Laurel Abrahamson had a match-high four blocks. As a team, USD had a hitting percentage of .188.
UC Irvine was led offensively by Lauren Kellerman who had a match-high 18 kills, Trisha White added 12 kills and McCall Miller had 16 kills. As a team UCI had a hitting percentage of .239.
In the first match, the Toreros and Anteaters battled back and forth for the lead, but in the end, USD was too strong for the Anteaters to overcome, thus allowing USD to escape with a 30-28 win.
Game two was a different story as UCI was able to get out to an early lead and build on that momentum to fight off a late USD surge. The Anteaters dominated the game as they won 30-20.
Game three was back to the even draw with each team taking their turn leading the match, but UCI was able to pull away at the end and claim the 30-25 win, forcing USD to a must win situation.
USD responded in the fourth game when they came roaring back to take control of the match early. However, the Anteaters would not go away as they kept themselves in the game. The Toreros dug deep and were able to hang on and force a fifth and deciding game.
Game five was a battle again, as both teams had a chance to take home victory. UCI was leading 14-13, but the Toreros would not give in and allow the upset. USD took back the point they lost to again tie the game. UCI then retook the lead at 15-14, but USD would not allow the Anteaters to get that final point, as they scored the final two points to claim the win.
The Toreros will return to action on Friday as they continue play in the UCI Nike Invitational against the University of Michigan in a 4 p.m. match at the Crawford Center.
