Sept. 17, 2009

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Five different University of San Diego women's volleyball players recorded double-digit kills paced by junior right side Ali Troost's career-high 23 in helping propel the 23rd-ranked Toreros to a thrilling 3-2 win over No. 18 UC Irvine Thursday evening in a non-conference match at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

With the 25-9, 25-15, 23-25, 22-25, 15-8 win, the Toreros run their winning streak to five matches, as they improve to 6-3 overall. With the loss, the Anteaters fall to 9-2 on the season.

Troost led all players with with her career-high 23 kills on 55 attempts, while only committing three attack errors to post a .364 attack percentage. Troost also recorded a double-double as she racked up 13 digs. Torey Ellick also had a outstanding performance as she tied her career-high with 18 kills, while hitting for a .316 clip. Freshman outside hitter Amber Tatsch recorded her second consecutive double-double, as she had a career-high 13 kills and recorded 10 digs. Carrie Baird also had a double-double as she recorded 10 kills and had a career-high 21 digs. And the final USD player with double-digit kills was Colleen Carlson, who had 12. Kayleen Webster recorded a career-high 28 digs in the match, while Kelsi Myers recorded a career-high 68 assists in directing the USD offense to a .299 attack percentage.

In the first set, the Toreros came out hitting on all cylinders, as they took advantage of a poor offensive attack form UC Irvine, who hit .000 for the set. San Diego raced out to a 12-2 lead, as a Tatsch kill off a set from Myers ignited the run and a Troost kill capped things off to give the Toreros all the momentum. USD never looked back as they dominated the Anteaters in the set.

In the second set, San Diego again took advantage of a poor Anteater offensive output, with UCI hitting .000 for a second consecutive set, thanks in large part to an outstanding USD defense. A kill by Troost ignited a 7-2 San Diego run that was capped on a Baird kill off a set from Myers to give USD the early momentum. The Anteaters would then begin to gain some composure, as they would pull back to within one at 12-11 on a USD attack error, but the Toreros would prove to be to strong to overcome, as a Carlson kill sparked a 5-2 USD run to give San Diego back all the momentum. The Toreros then eased their way to a 25-15 win.

In the third set, the Anteaters finally found their stride, as they turned around their dismal .000 attack percentage and hit for a respectable .279 clip. USD grabbed the early lead as they raced out to a 6-3 lead. After the two teams sea sawed back and forth over the next several points and with the score at 8-6 in favor of USD, the Anteaters went on a 6-0 run to take the lead. The Toreros didn't allow UCI to get too far ahead as they eventually tied things up on several occasions, but with the score knotted at 22, a Riley Cropper kill sparked the Anteaters on a 3-1 run to win the set.

In the fourth set, it was Irvine who jumped out to an early lead, as a Kari Pestolesi kill sparked a 8-2 run for Irvine. UCI would go on to build their lead up to as many as eight at 16-8, but San Diego regrouped and launched a comeback, as a Troost kill ignited a 4-0 run, which forced the Anteaters into a timeout. Out of the timeout, Irvine would go on a 3-1 run to regain some momentum, but a Troost kill then began a 6-1 run which brought USD back to within one at 21-20, but USD just could not get over the hump, as Irvine forced a fifth game with a 25-22 win.

In set five, San Diego would not be denied on their home court, as they continued their momentum from the end of set four, and jumped out to a 8-3 lead, before switching sides. San Diego never looked back as they were once again clicking on all cylinders and eased their way to a 15-8 win, to claim the match.

San Diego will return to action on Saturday as they host San Jose State in a 1 p.m. non-conference match to close out the USD Invitational.