Sept. 2, 2011
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SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Junior outside hitters Amber Tatsch and Carrie Baird, along with sophomore middle hitter Chloe Ferrari all recorded double-digit kills as they helped propel the 20th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team to a 3-0 (28-26, 25-18-25-21) win over Northeastern University Friday evening in a non-conference match at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Tatsch led all players with her 13 kills, while also racking up four total blocks and five digs, while Baird recorded 12 kills and hit for a .333 clip. Ferrari posted a double-double as she recorded 12 kills and had 11 digs, while also recording three blocks. Sophomore setter Rachel Alvey recorded 35 assists, and USD as a team hit .161 for the match.
The Huskies took advantage of a slow start for the Toreros, as they raced out to a 8-3 lead and appeared to have all the momentum on their side in the first set. Northeastern would eventually push that lead up to as many as seven at 14-7, but a Tatsch kill then jump started the Torero offense, as USD went on a 7-2 run to close the gap down to just two points at 16-14. After the Huskies managed to weather that storm, and went on to build up their lead back to four at 21-17, a Baird kill off a set from Alvey ignited a 6-1 San Diego run to give USD its first lead of the set at 23-22. USD would get to set-point three times before a Baird kill finally put the Huskies away and gave USD a 28-26 win.
In the second set, San Diego continued the momentum form the end of the first set and they jumped out to a 7-3 lead right out of the gates. The Huskies then managed to close the game down to three at 10-7, however a Baird kill then ignited the USD offense to a 6-1 Torero run that gave USD all the momentum and a comfortable 16-8 lead. The Toreros never looked back as they then eased their way to a 25-18 win.
In the third and final set, it was a close nit battle throughout the frame. Both teams took their turn with the lead in the early going and neither team had a lead bigger than three through the first half of play. Then after the Huskies tied things up at 10-all, a Northeastern service error sparked a 5-0 San Diego run that saw back-to-back service ace's by Alvey, and kills by Baird and Alaysia Brown to give USD a 15-10 lead. Northeastern battled with the Toreros almost even keel over the remainder of the frame before San Diego settled for a 25-21 win.
The Toreros will return to action on Saturday morning, as they play UC Riverside in a 10 a.m. match, then USD will conclude the USD Tournament with a 7 p.m. showdown against Missouri State University inside the friendly confines of the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
