Nov. 19, 2009
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Behind a 16-kill performance from senior middle hitter Torey Ellick and a double-double by junior right side Ali Troost, the University of San Diego women's volleyball team eased its way to a 3-0 win over the University of Portland Thursday evening in a West Coast Conference match at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion.
With the 25-19, 25-15, 25-7 win, the Toreros improve to 17-7 overall and move to 9-4 in the WCC. With the loss, the Pilots fall to 6-22 overall and 2-11 in the WCC.
Ellick recorded her match-best 16 kills on 27 swings, while only committing three attack errors to post a .481 attack percentage. Troost recorded 10 kills on 30 swings, while hitting for a .233 clip, and she recorded 13 digs to post a double-double. Carrie Baird led the Toreros with 14 digs, while Kelsi Myers racked up 32 assists in helping steer the USD offense to a .272 team attack percentage. As a team, USD posted a season-high 11 service aces.
In the first set, San Diego grabbed the early momentum, as with the score knotted at 2-2, a Amber Tatsch kill ignited a 6-1 Toreros run that was capped on a Ellick kill off a set from Myers to give San Diego a 8-3 lead, and forcing the Pilots into a timeout. Portland then reeled off three straight points out of the timeout, before a Tatsch kill sparked a 5-1 San Diego run that was bookended on a Portland attack error to give the Toreros a 13-7 lead. San Diego never looked back as they went on to claim the first set 25-19.
In the second set, the Pilots managed to hold things close over the first half of the set. Then with the score knotted at 9-9, a Portland attack error ignited a 10-2 Toreros run that was capped on a Ellick kill off a set from Myers to give the home team a comfortable 19-11 advantage. The Toreros kept the pedal to the medal and went on to claim the second set by a 25-15 win.
In the third and final set, San Diego overpowered the Pilots as they took advantage of a -0.65 Portland attack percentage ad hit for a .379 percentage themselves. A Baird kill began the set and a Colleen Carlson service ace capped off a 8-1 San Diego run right out of the gates. After the Pilots took back a pair of points, a Ellick kill then sparked a 12-1 USD run to give the Toreros all the momentum and a 20-4 lead. USD then eased its way to a 20-7 final to complete the sweep.
The Toreros will return to action on Saturday as they close out the regular-season with a 1 p.m. WCC match against Gonzaga. The Toreros will also be honoring its senior class of Kayleen Webster and Torey Ellick in a pre-match ceremony.
