Sept. 13, 2008

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Behind a 16 kill performance from junior outside hitter Amy Mahinalani DeGroot, the 20th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team eased their way to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-16) win over the University of Southern Mississippi Saturday morning at the USD Tournament.

With the win, the Toreros improve to 7-1 overall. With the loss, the Golden Eagles fall to 7-2.

DeGroot led all players with her 16 kills on 40 attempts, while committing six errors to post a .250 attack percentage. Freshman Jillian Wolpman recorded a career-high eight kills and hit for a .583 clip, while Torey Ellick added in five kills. Kelsi Myers led the team with 19 assists, and Jessica Nyrop recorded 17 assists as they both helped direct USD to a .322 team attack percentage. Andrea Csaszi had a match-best 13 digs.

In the first set, the two teams were engaged in a sea saw battle in the early going with each team taking their turn with the lead, and neither team having a lead bigger than three. With the score knotted at 15-15, a Southern Miss ball handling error sparked a 10-4 San Diego run that was capped off on a USM attack error to give USD the 25-19 win.

In the second set, a Southern Miss attack error ignited a 10-3 San Diego run to begin the frame. After Southern Miss ended the run on a Sara Jane Dowden kill, a kill by Wolpman off a set from Nyrop sparked a 6-4 San Diego run that was capped on a Wolpman service ace to give USD a comfortable 18-8 lead, and the Toreros never looked back as they cruised their way to a 25-12 win.

In the third and final set, San Diego continued their momentum from set two and again jumped out to an early lead as a DeGroot kill off a set from Myers sparked an 11-5 San Diego run to start things off. The Toreros never let up as they eased their way to a 25-16 win to complete the sweep over the Golden Eagles.

The Toreros will return to action later this evening with a 7:30 p.m. match against Texas A&M University at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.