Oct. 12, 2017 Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. â€" The 18th-ranked Torero volleyball team (13-4, 6-1) gave Gonzaga (11-8, 6-1) their first conference loss of the season Thursday evening, sweeping the Bulldogs 3-0 inside the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Jayden Kennedy's team-high 15 kills led the Toreros to a 25-18, 25-20, 25-21 win.
Aside from Kennedy's 15 kills, Addie Picha had nine kills on a .615 hitting percentage while Lauren Fuller had eight. Kristen Gengenbacher had another double-double, dishing out 37 assists and collecting 13 digs. Lizzy Tardieu added a team-high 15 digs. As a team, the Toreros had a hitting percentage of .230 and held the Bulldogs to a .192 clip. USD had eight service aces with four coming from Gengenbacher.
In every set the Toreros built up a comfortable lead only to see the Bulldogs rally to make things interesting down the stretch. In the first set the Toreros were up 20-10 and then the Zags went on a 6-1 run to close the gap to five points (21-16).
In the second set, the Toreros were up 23-14, but couldn't close the Zags out and they went on a 5-0 run before USD eventually won 25-20. Both teams struggled offensively in the third set. USD hit .109 and Gonzaga hit .132.
Gonzaga was led by Alyse Whitaker's 12 kills and Payton Mack added 10. Tiyana Hallums had a team-high 15 digs.
The Toreros are back in action Saturday at noon when they host the Portland Pilots.
