Sept. 22, 2011
Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - The 16th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team saw its 13-match winning streak come to an end with a 3-0 setback to the University of San Francisco in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams Thursday evening at War Memorial Gym.
With the 25-18, 25-21, 25-20 loss, the Toreros fall to 13-1 overall, and saw their program-record 13-match winning streak come to an end. With the win, the Dons improve to 9-5 overall and move to 1-0 in the WCC.
San Diego's offense was led by Chloe Ferrari who recorded eight kills and hit for a .238 clip, while Amber Tatsch recorded a team-best nine kills. Rachel Alvey recorded 27 assists and Kandiss Anderson led the team's defense as she recorded 14 digs. As a team, USD hit .125.
The Dons were able to take advantage of a poor offensive night for the Toreros, as in the first set, the Toreros hit .027, while San Francisco hit .267. In the early going it was a close battle as both teams had their turn with the lead and neither team led by more than two. Then with the score knotted at 5-5, the Dons used a 5-1 run to gain some breathing room and get a four-point edge at 10-6. USD would then battle back and get to within two on a few occasions, but the Dons were able to hold on and claim the first set 25-18.
In the second set, the Dons raced out to a 7-1 lead to grab the early momentum, which forced the Toreros into a timeout. After the break in action, the Toreros caught some fire, as a USF attack error ignited a 9-3 San Diego run that was bookended on a Shelby Staab kill to pull San Diego to within two at 12-10. USD would eventually battle back to within one at 15-14, but that is as close as they would get, as the Dons then went on a 5-1 run to grab the momentum and take a 20-15 lead. USD could not recover as the Dons went on to claim the second set 25-21.
In the third and final set, it was a back and forth affair as USD and USF appeared to be trading point-for-point with both teams taking the lead and neither team having a lead bigger than two. Then with the score knotted at 13-all, the Dons put together a 5-0 run to grab the momentum and take an 18-13 lead. USD then put together a 5-1 run to pull back to within one at 19-18, but the Dons then managed to hold off the Toreros and out scored USD 6-2 down the stretch to complete the win with a 25-20 win.
The Toreros will return to action on Saturday as they head over to Santa Clara to take on the Broncos in a 1 p.m. WCC match.
