Sept. 28, 2010

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Three University of San Diego women's volleyball players recorded double-digit kills paced by Carrie Baird's 13 to help propel the 24th-ranked Toreros to a 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-22) win over UC Riverside Tuesday evening in the final non-conference match before West Const Conference play begins this Thursday against Gonzaga University. >

Baird recorded a match-best and season-high 13 kills, while also recording seven digs. Amy Mahinalani DeGroot had a double-double with 11 kills and a match-best 22 digs, while Chloe Ferrari recorded 11 kills and hit for a .556 clip. Kelsi Myers recorded 44 assists in helping steer the USD offense to a .208 team attack percentage.

In the first set, it was a back and forth affair in the early going with the Toreros (9-4) holding the lead the whole way, but not by more than a few points. Then with the score at 9-8 in favor of the home team, a DeGroot kill off a set from Myers sparked a 5-2 San Diego run to give USD a 14-10 lead and the momentum. After UCR closed the gap to two at 14-12, a Baird kill then ignited a 7-2 Torero run that gave USD a commanding 21-16 lead, and the Toreros never looked back as they took set one 25-17.

In the second set, the Highlanders (1-14) shocked the Toreros and took advantage of several USD miscues as they raced out to a 10-3 lead, forcing the Toreros into a timeout. Out of the timeout, a Ferrari kill then jump started the Torero offense as they used a 13-3 run to regain the lead and the momentum with a 16-13 lead. The Highlanders refused to go away, as they hung around and pulled back to within one at 22-21 on a USD attack error. But the Toreros proved to be too strong as they closed out the set on a 3-0 run to go into the break up two sets to none.

In the third and final set, the Toreros jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, which forced UCR into a timeout. The Highlanders then began to chip away at the lead and would eventually tie things up at 14, 15 and again at 16, but then a Highlander service error sparked a 3-0 San Diego run that gave San Diego some breathing room. UCR would then remain close and pulled back to within one at 23-22, but a Baird kill and an UCR attack error gave the Toreros the win.

San Diego will return to action on Thursday when they host Gonzaga in a 7 p.m. WCC match inside the friendly confines of the Jenny Craig Pavilion.