SAN DIEGO — Strong offensive performances from both
Amber Stivrins and
Kylie Pries on Saturday afternoon propelled San Diego volleyball (9-6, 5-0 WCC) to its fifth consecutive win, a dominant 3-0 sweep of Pacific on Alumni Weekend at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
The Toreros beat the Tigers by scores of 25-18, 25-14 and 25-21 to secure their fifth sweep of 2023 and their ninth victory in their last 11 matches as they remained undefeated in West Coast Conference play.
Stivrins was tied for the match lead with 12 kills while hitting a game-high .417, while Pries had 11 of her own while hitting at a .333 clip.
Leyla Blackwell continued to pace the USD defense on Saturday, setting forth a team-high three block assists that helped the Toreros hold the Tigers to a miniscule .099 team hitting percentage.
San Diego has now swept four of its first five WCC matches in 2023, and has dropped just one set so far in conference play. Saturday afternoon's win extended the Toreros WCC win streak to 23 matches, a stretch that dates back to September 22, 2023.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set - San Diego, 25-18
- San Diego struck first to begin Saturday afternoon's match when Stivrins found her mark for a kill.
- The graduate transfer tied the score at three with another kill, then a Tiger attack error gave USD the lead back at 4-3.
- Back-and-forth play ensued throughout the set's early stages, with no team pulling ahead by more than one point until Stivrins placed a deep tip to the left corner of the court to make it 14-12 in San Diego's favor.
- A Pacific attack error followed, giving the Toreros their largest lead of the set at 15-12 as the Tigers took a timeout.
- Blackwell and Pries made sure USD came out of the break in strong fashion, teaming up for a combo block that pushed San Diego ahead by four.
- Stivrins continued her strong opening frame down the stretch, recording a service ace that made it 19-13 and prompted another Pacific timeout.
- Haylee Stoner sealed the set with a pair of powerful kills, pushing San Diego ahead 1-0 in the match.
Second Set - San Diego , 25-14
- Blackwell got the second set started in style, notching a kill to make it 1-0 in her team's favor.
- Two kills from Stivrins, a Tiger attack error, and a combo block from Blackwell and Pries helped that lead swell to 5-0 before Pacific finally got on the board.
- After a kill from Pries and another error from the Tigers, Pacific took its first timeout of the frame while trailing by a 9-2 margin.
- The Toreros came out of the break on a 3-0 scoring run, creating a 10-point, 12-2 advantage courtesy of a combo block from Stoner and Pries and a pair of Tiger attack errors.
- USD's lead stayed at 10 down the stretch, prompting another Tiger timeout as the Toreros went ahead by a 17-7 margin.
- Another Stivrins service ace made it 23-9 in USD's favor before a Pacific attack error brought it to set point at 24-12.
- Stoner finished the set with a kill, giving her team a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
Third Set - San Diego, 25-21
- Saturday afternoon's third and final set began with back-and-forth play, resulting in a 7-7 tie before Pries put USD ahead with a kill.
- Stoner and Stivrins teamed up for a combo block to break another tie, then Kate Galvin notched a service ace to extend the San Diego lead to four, which led to a Tiger timeout.
- Pacific was within three throughout the set's midpoint, but another service ace from Bennett pushed the USD advantage to six at 22-16.
- After a kill from Blackwell brought it to match point, Pacific fought back with three straight points.
- Pries restored order after a late San Diego timeout, hammering home a kill to earn her team a 25-21 win in the set and a clean 3-0 sweep in the match.
TORERO TIDBITS
- Tercariol led the match in both assists (28) and digs (13).
- Stivrins had a match-high two service aces.
- In addition to her stellar defense, Blackwell added six kills while hitting .286.
- Allen had 10 digs, six assists, and a service ace.
- Stoner recorded the Toreros' lone solo block of the afternoon.
UP NEXT
The Toreros will continue WCC play on the road next week, traveling to Los Angeles for a match against Loyola Marymount. First serve on Thursday evening at Gersten Pavilion is set for 7:00 p.m.
