Amber Tatsch.

Women's Volleyball

Toreros Outlast Mustangs in a Barn Burner

Aug. 27, 2011

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Four different players recorded double-digit kills and three players had a double-double, as the 20th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team out lasted the Cal Poly Mustangs, 3-2, Saturday morning in a non-conference match at the Fresno State Tournament.

With the 25-22, 17-25, 25-12, 21-25, 16-14 win, the Toreros remain perfect to start the season at 2-0. With the loss, the Mustangs fall to 1-1.

Junior outside hitter Amber Tatsch recorded a team-best and career-high 17 kills, while also racking up 11 digs to help pace the Torero offense. Both Chloe Ferrari and Katie Hoekman had 14 kills apiece with Ferrari chipping in with 10 digs to record her first double-double of the season. Carrie Baird was the final USD player to record double-digit kills, as she had 12. Sophomore setter Rachel Alvey recorded her first collegiate double-double with a career-high 60 assists to go along with 10 digs. C'era Oliveira led the team's defense with a season-high 25 digs. As a team, USD hit .230 for the match.

The Toreros managed to rally back in the first set to take the early momentum with a 25-22 win. The Mustangs raced out to a 4-1 lead, but a Ferrari kill snapped the momentum and put USD on a 4-0 run to pull even with Cal Poly at 5-5. After the Mustangs built up a five-point lead at 14-9, San Diego went to work, as a Tatsch kill ignited a 7-0 run, which gave USD 16-14 lead, and all the momentum. However, Cal Poly managed to keep things close, and pulled back even with USD at 20-20, but the Toreros dug deep and refused to give in, as they outscored the Mustangs 5-2 down the stretch to grab the first set.

In the second set, it was all Mustangs, as they jumped out to an early 10-3 lead and never really looked back, as they caught the Toreros out of sync. Cal Poly went on to even the match up at one set a piece with a 25-17 win.

Out of the break, USD was hitting on all cylinders, as they used a Cal Poly attach error to ignite a 8-3 run in the opening moments of the frame. USD never took its foot off the gas, as they then used a 7-2 run to grab a double-digit lead at 15-5. USD then cruised its way to a 25-12 win to grab a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Mustangs then bounced back and were able to force a fifth and deciding set by defeating USD 25-21 in the fourth set. In the early going, it was a back and forth affair, as Cal Poly grabbed a few point lead, then USD would keep to within two points, and even tied things up a few times. Then with the score knotted at 13-all, the Mustangs put together an 8-2 run to take control of the momentum and grab a 21-15 lead. USD could not recover, as the Mustang held on to win.

In the fifth and deciding set, San Diego was forced to rally back with their backs against the wall. Cal Poly had match-point at 14-11 and seemed to have all the momentum on their side. But the savvy Toreros refused to go away, as a back-to-back Baird kills got the Toreros energy level up and cut the lead down to one. Then a block assist by Shelby Staab and Alvey evened the score with a block, and a Baird kill gave USD match-point at 15-14. Alvey and Staab then doubled-up again on a block to give USD the 16-14 win.

The Toreros will return to action later this evening, as they play the host Fresno State Bulldogs in a 7 p.m. non-conference match.

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Players Mentioned

Rachel Alvey

#8 Rachel Alvey

Setter
5' 8"
Freshman
Carrie Baird

#11 Carrie Baird

Outside Hitter
6' 1"
Sophomore
Chloe Ferrari

#2 Chloe Ferrari

Middle Hitter
6' 1"
Freshman
Katie Hoekman

#9 Katie Hoekman

Middle Hitter
6' 1"
Freshman
C

#5 C'era Oliveira

Libero
5' 5"
Freshman
Shelby Staab

#16 Shelby Staab

Middle Hitter
6' 4"
Sophomore
Amber Tatsch

#7 Amber Tatsch

Outside Hitter
6' 1"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Rachel Alvey

#8 Rachel Alvey

5' 8"
Freshman
Setter
Carrie Baird

#11 Carrie Baird

6' 1"
Sophomore
Outside Hitter
Chloe Ferrari

#2 Chloe Ferrari

6' 1"
Freshman
Middle Hitter
Katie Hoekman

#9 Katie Hoekman

6' 1"
Freshman
Middle Hitter
C

#5 C'era Oliveira

5' 5"
Freshman
Libero
Shelby Staab

#16 Shelby Staab

6' 4"
Sophomore
Middle Hitter
Amber Tatsch

#7 Amber Tatsch

6' 1"
Sophomore
Outside Hitter