Oct. 13, 2011
Box Score
MORAGE, Calif. - The 17th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team rallied back from a 2-0 deficit, to claim a 3-2 win over Saint Mary's College Thursday evening in a West Coast Conference match.
With the 19-25, 24-26, 26-24, 25-21, 15-11 win, the Toreros improve to 19-1 overall, move to 5-1 in the WCC and run their winning streak to six. With the loss, the Gaels fall to 8-11 overall, and drop to 2-3 WCC.
Amber Tatsch and Carrie Baird led the Torero offensive attack with 16 kills apiece, while Sandra Lozic (14 kills) and Chloe Ferrari (10 kills) were the other two Toreros in double digit kills. Tatsch and Baird also recorded double-doubles as Tatsch had 15 digs and Baird had 12 digs. Jianna Bonomi had a career-high 52 assists in helping steer the USD offense to a .194 attack percentage, while Kandiss Anderson led the USD defense with 28 digs.
In the first set, the Gaels were able to grab the early momentum, as they took the first set 25-19. SMC opened up the frame on a 5-1 run, which prompted the Toreros into a timeout. San Diego then responded with a 6-4 run to pull back to within two at 9-7. SMC would quickly build up a five-point lead and never let that go as they went on to claim the 25-19 win.
In the second set, San Diego opened up with a 5-2 run to grab the early momentum. A close nit battle then began as the Gaels closed the gap and eventually tied things up at 10-all. The Toreros would then begin to open the gap up to four at 20-16, but the Gaels then launched a 5-1 run to pull even with the Toreros at 21-all. SMC then went on to take a 2-0 lead with a 26-24 lead.
After the break, the Toreros responded well with their backs against the wall, as they rallied to claim their own 26-24 win. The early going of the set was an even battle as both teams took their turn with the lead and neither team had a lead bigger than two. Finally late in the set, the Gaels had a chance to pull off the sweep as they took a 24-23 lead, but San Diego would not be denied as a Tatsch kill followed by a Tatsch service ace gave the Toreros the win to force a fourth set.,
In the fourth set, it was again a close battle with the two teams each taking their turn with the lead in the early moments. Then with the Toreros leading 9-7, a Bonomi kill ignited a 7-2 Torero run that was bookended on a Ferrari kill to give USD a 16-9 advantage. The Toreros never looked back as they cruised their way to a 25-21 win to even the match and force a fifth and deciding set.
In the fifth set, the Toreros grabbed the early momentum as they opened up with a 5-3 run. USD would go to take a 10-6 lead, which forced the Gaels into a timeout. Then with USD up 13-9, the Gaels got back to within two at 13-11, which forced San Diego into a timeout. A Lozic kill and SMC attack error the completed the Torero comeback, with a 15-11 win.
The Toreros will return to action on Saturday as they host Loyola Marymount University inn a 1 p.m. WCC match inside the friendly confines of the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
