Oct. 24, 2009

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. - Three University of San Diego volleyball players recorded double digit kills paced by junior right side Ali Troost's match-best 20 to lead the 22nd-ranked Toreros to a 3-1 West Coast Conference win over the University of Portland Saturday afternoon.

With the 26-28, 25-18, 25-14, 25-21 win, the Toreros improve to 14-4 overall, move to 6-1 in the WCC and run their winning streak to five. With the loss, the Pilots fall to 5-17 overall and 1-6 in the WCC.

Troost recorded her 20 kills on 40 swings, while committing four attack errors to hit for a .400 clip. Torey Ellick was the second USD player in double digit kills as she racked up 18 kills on 38 attempts, while committing six errors to post a .316 attack percentage. Freshman outside hitter Carrie Baird recorded 10 kills and had no errors to post a .500 attack percentage, and she also racked up 10 digs to post a double-double. Junior setter Kelsi Myers recorded 51 assists and added in 13 digs to post her fourth double-double of the season, while helping steer the USD offense to a .362 attack percentage.

In the first set, it was a close nit battle right from the get-go. Then with the score knotted at 11, a Jessica Clemens kill gave the Pilots back the lead. The Pilots and Toreros would record nine more ties for the remainder of the set, with both teams taking their turn with the lead, and neither team having a lead bigger than two. Finally with the score knotted at 26-26, a USD attack error and a Clemens kill gave the Pilots the win, 28-26.

In the second set, the early gong was an even battle. Then with the score at 5-4 in favor of the Toreros, a Ellick kill off a set from Myers ignited a 10-2 San Diego run that was capped on a Amber Tatsch kill to give the Toreros all the momentum and a 15-6 lead. The Toreros never looked back as they cruised to a 25-18 win to even the match at one set apiece.

In the third set, a Troost kill off a set from Baird sparked a 6-1 San Diego run to begin the frame. The Pilots didn't fade away, as they slowly began to chip away at the lead and eventually knotted the score at 9-9 on a Clemens kill. The two teams then traded point-for-point over the next several possessions, and finally with the score knotted at 11, a Troost kill ignited a 5-1 USD run that was book ended on a Troost kill to give the Toreros some breathing room. San Diego then closed out the set on a 9-2 run to take the lead at two sets to one.

In the fourth and final set, the Pilots gave San Diego a fight, as they held things close for a majority of the frame. Finally with the score knotted at 15, a Ellick kill then sparked a 5-0 USD run that was capped on a Ellick kill to give the Toreros a 20-15 lead. The Pilots made a late push as they pulled back to within three at 24-21, but a Baird service ace and a Troost kill ended the match to give San Diego the victory.

The Toreros will return to action on Wednesday when they host Pepperdine University in a 7 p.m. nationally televised WCC match on ESPNU at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.