Sept. 4, 2010
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Behind an 11-kill performance from senior right side Ali Troost, the 25th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-20) win over visiting Gardner-Webb University Saturday afternoon at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Troost led all players with 11 kills on 18 attempts while only committing two attack errors to post a .500 hitting percentage. Troost also chipped in with four service aces. Ashton Basch also had a solid match for the Toreros, as she recorded eight kills and hit for a .538 clip. Freshman setter Rachel Alvey recorded a career-high 17 assists, while helping steer the USD offense to a .345 team attack percentage.
In the first set, San Diego (2-2) jumped out to an early 6-1 advantage as a Katie Hoekman kill ignited the run that was capped on a GWU attack error. The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-4) then began to chip away at the lead as they used a 7-2 run of their own to even the score at 8-8. The two teams then traded point-for-point over the next several volley's, until the Toreros used a 4-0 run that was sparked on a Kelsi Myers Kill and capped on a Hoekman kill to give USD some breathing room at 15-11. USD never looked back as they went on to claim the first set 25-17.
In the second set, GWU was able to keep things close in the early going and never fell behind by more than three, until the score was at 11-9 in favor of USD. An Ashton Basch kill then sparked a 7-3 Torero run that gave USD all the momentum in the set. San Diego then cruised its way to a 25-19 win to go into the break up two sets to none.
In the third and final set, the Runnin' Bulldogs had their best set of the match, as they surprised the Toreros by jumping out to a 7-3 lead. San Diego never panicked however, as they went on a 6-2 run of their won that was ignited by a Troost kill and capped on a Shelby Staab kill to even the score at 9-9. After the two teams then sea-sawed back and forth a bit over the next several points, a Troost kill then sparked a 5-0 run to give the Toreros a 16-11 lead. USD never looked back as they went on to claim a 25-20 win.
The Toreros will return to action on Saturday night, as they take on the No. 11 ranked California Golden Bears in the championship game of the USD Tournament.
