Grace Frohling Hit

Women's Volleyball

Second Half of Conference Play Begins

No. 22 San Diego will travel to face Pepperdine and LMU

No. 22 San Diego (15-4, 8-0 WCC)  •  Pepperdine (10-9, 6-2 WCC) •  LMU (12-8, 6-2 WCC)
Firestone Fieldhouse (3,104)  •  Malibu, CA  |  Gersten Pavilion (4,156)  •  Los Angeles, CA 
TV (Pepp)  •  ESPNU | Live Stream (LMU)  •  WCC Network | Live Statistics  •  USDToreros.com
Social  •  Facebook.com/USDVolleyball  •  Twitter.com/USDVolleyball  •  Instagram.com/USDVolleyball

SAN DIEGO—No. 22 San Diego will travel to Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount this weekend to begin the second half of WCC play.
 
The Toreros (15-4, 8-0 WCC) will look to extend a 13-match winning streak when they face the Waves (10-9, 6-2 WCC) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. PT. USD will take on the Lions (12-8, 6-2 WCC) for the first time this season on Saturday at 12 p.m.
 
Thursday's match will be televised on ESPNU with Paul Sunderland and John Dunning on the call. Saturday's match will be streamed via the WCC Network and live statistics will be available for all matches on USDToreros.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Toreros defeated No. 9 BYU (25-18, 20-25, 25-19, 17-25, 15-10) on Friday night at Smith Fieldhouse. It was the first conference loss at home for the Cougars since Oct. 27, 2017, also against the Toreros (3-1).
 
• The win extended a 13-match winning streak for USD and gave them sole possession of first place in the WCC.
 
• Senior setter Anna Newsome directed the Toreros to a .288 mark against the Cougars, who have held their opponents to a .168 average this season. Newsome registered her sixth double-double of the year, collecting 49 assists and 13 digs to earn WCC Player of the Week.
 
• Newsome helped four Toreros reach double-digit kills including Thana Fayad who collected a match-high 19 kills—one shy of her career high. Fayad added three blocks and one ace to finish with a match high 21.5 points.  
 
• Megan Jacobsen remains one of the most efficient threats at the net for USD. The senior middle turned in another strong performance, collecting 13 kills on 27 swings, hitting .370. Jacobsen added three digs to record 14.5 points for the Toreros.
 
• Grace Frohling and Katie Lukes also finished in double-digits, adding 12 and 11 kills respectively. Lauren Turner rounded out the attack for the Toreros, collecting 9 kills on 13 errorless swings to finish at a .692 clip.
 
• Libero Annie Benbow continues to pace the Toreros in the back court, collecting a career-high 22 digs in the match. Payton Douglass and Roxie Wiblin both chipped in eight digs for USD.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST PEPPERDINE
•  San Diego trails in the all-time series 32-40. The Toreros took a five-set thriller earlier this season, 21-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-27, 15-13. Four Toreros had career nights including Fayad (20 kills, 19 digs), Newsome (58 assists), Benbow (19 digs), Turner (6 blocks).
 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
• The Toreros lead the all-time series with the Lions 42-40. This will be the first meeting this season between USD and LMU. San Diego took both matches last season, winning 3-1 and 3-0.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
• San Diego re-entered the AVCA Division I Coaches' Poll this week at No. 22 after receiving votes for the previous six weeks. USD's highest ranking this season was 21st in the preseason poll.
 
• The Toreros sit at No. 29 in the NCAA RPI rankings, having faced three opponents in the top-10 and six opponents in the top-30.
 
OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY
• The Toreros are currently hitting .281 as a team on the season to rank 10th in the nation and first in the WCC. USD is collecting 13.89 kills per set to rank 22nd nationally and first in the conference.
 
• USD also ranks first in the WCC for assists per set (12.80) and 25th nationally.
 
• Megan Jacobsen ranks first in the WCC and 27th nationally with a .405 hitting percentage.
 
NEWSOME EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Anna Newsome was named the WCC Player of the Week (Oct. 21) for week eight after recording her sixth double-double of the season in a 3-2 victory at No. 9 BYU. The senior setter directed USD's offense to a .288 mark, collecting 49 assists and 13 digs, adding one ace.
 
• Newsome distributed the ball well, helping four Toreros to double-digit kills and added five of her own, hitting .556 with zero errors on nine swings.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Annie Benbow

#2 Annie Benbow

L
5' 3"
Sophomore
Payton Douglass

#3 Payton Douglass

L
5' 6"
Senior
Thana Fayad

#17 Thana Fayad

OH
6' 2"
Senior
Megan Jacobsen

#9 Megan Jacobsen

MB
6' 2"
Senior
Katie Lukes

#18 Katie Lukes

OH
6' 2"
Sophomore
Anna Newsome

#1 Anna Newsome

S
5' 9"
Senior
Lauren Turner

#19 Lauren Turner

MB
6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
Roxie Wiblin

#8 Roxie Wiblin

OH
6' 2"
Junior
Grace Frohling

#11 Grace Frohling

OPP/S
6' 5"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Annie Benbow

#2 Annie Benbow

5' 3"
Sophomore
L
Payton Douglass

#3 Payton Douglass

5' 6"
Senior
L
Thana Fayad

#17 Thana Fayad

6' 2"
Senior
OH
Megan Jacobsen

#9 Megan Jacobsen

6' 2"
Senior
MB
Katie Lukes

#18 Katie Lukes

6' 2"
Sophomore
OH
Anna Newsome

#1 Anna Newsome

5' 9"
Senior
S
Lauren Turner

#19 Lauren Turner

6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
MB
Roxie Wiblin

#8 Roxie Wiblin

6' 2"
Junior
OH
Grace Frohling

#11 Grace Frohling

6' 5"
Freshman
OPP/S