Sept. 10, 2011

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Three different Toreros recorded double-digit kills, paced by Amber Tatsch's career-high 19 to help lift the 19th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Georgia Southern University at the Carolina Classic Saturday afternoon.

With the 25-22, 21-25, 25-15, 25-18 win, the Toreros claimed the championship of the Carolina Classic, and improve to 10-0 overall, which marks the best start in program history. With the loss, the Eagles fall to 3-8 overall.

Tatsch led all players with her 19 kills, while also recording eight digs. Carrie Baird was the second Torero double digit kills with 14 and Chloe Ferrari recorded 11 kills. C'era Oliveira led all players with 25 digs and Rachel Alvey recorded 54 assists in helping steer USD to a .193 team attack percentage.

In the first set, a Tatsch kill ignited a 7-3 San Diego run to open up the frame, which in turn forced the Eagles into a timeout. GSU then bounced back with a 9-5 run of their own to pull even with USD at 12-12. The two teams then sea sawed back and forth over the remainder of the set with both teams taking their turn with the lead. Then with the set knotted at 22-all, three consecutive Torero kills by Tatsch, Katie Hoekman and Shelby Staab sealed the first set win for USD.

In the second set, it was once again a close nit battle throughout, as both teams grabbed the lead and that flip flopped back and forth for a majority of the set. Then after USD pulled to within one of GSU at 22-21, the Eagles managed to score three straight points to win the set, and pull even in the match at one set apiece.

In the third set, San Diego found their stride, as they came out hitting on all cylinders and raced out to a 7-3 lead. The Eagles then battled back and went on a 6-4 run to pull back to within one at 11-10, but that is as close as they would get. A Ferrari kill then ignited a 14-4 run to close out the set and gave the Toreros a 2-1 lead in the match.

In the fourth and final set, it was close in the early going as the Eagles made a concentrated effort to pull even with USD again. However, with the score at 7-6 in favor of the Toreros, a Hoekman kill ignited a 7-1 run for the Toreros, which gave San Diego all the momentum and 14-7 lead. USD never looked back as they cruised to a 25-18 win.

The Toreros will return to action on Friday as they begin play in the USD Invitational, hosting UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m.