Sept. 16, 2011
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Behind Carrie Baird's double-double, and Chloe Ferrari's 10 kills, the 17th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 win over UC Santa Barbara Friday evening in the first match of the USD Invitational at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
With the 25-15, 25-18, 25-15 win, the Toreros improve to 11-0 overall, and they extend the best start in program history. With the loss, the Gauchos fall to 5-5 overall.
Baird led all players with her 11 kills on 21 swings, while only committing two errors to post a .429 attack percentage. Baird also chipped in with 11 digs to post the matches lone double-double. Ferrari was the second player to record double digit kills as she racked up 10 kills on 18 swings, while committing no errors to post a .556 attack percentage. Rachel Alvey posted a near double-double as she recorded 40 assists, and picked up nine digs, while helping steer the USD offense to a .275 team attack percentage. Kandiss Anderson led the team's defense with a match-best 16 digs.
In the first set, a Gaucho service error got then ball rolling for the Toreros as they raced out to a 5-1 lead to grab the early momentum. After the Gauchos pulled back to within two at 6-4, a Amber Tatsch kill ignited a 5-1 San Diego run to give USD a 11-5 lead, and this forced UCSB into a timeout. The two teams then began to trade point-for-point over the next several volley's, until USD used 7-3 run midway through the frame to take a commanding 21-12 lead. USD never looked back as they then cruised their way to a 25-15 win.
In the second set, the Toreros again came out firing on all cylinders, as they grabbed the early momentum with a 5-1 run to open things up. USD then quickly built up their lead to six at 11-5. The Gauchos would manage to pull back to within two at 15-13, as they went on a 8-4 run which in turn forced the Toreros into a timeout. Out of the break, a Tatsch kill then sparked a 7-3 USD run, which gave the Toreros back all the momentum and a 22-16 lead. USD then eased their way to a 25-18 win.
In the third and final set, San Diego picked up right where they left off, as they opened the frame with a 5-0 run, which allowed them to keep all the momentum of the match. USD never lost control of this set, as they hit a match best .379 in the frame, while completing the sweep with a 25-15 win.
The Toreros will return to action on Saturday at 12 noon, when they continue play in the USD Invitational with a non-conference match against George Washington University. USD will then conclude play later that evening in a 7 p.m. match against Indiana.
