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Dons Fall To No. 24 Toreros 3-1
Oct. 8, 2009
(San Diego) - Three Dons , Sarah Mandala, Erin Bragg and Anna Berger, posted double-digit kills for the USF Volleyball team Thursday, but the Dons were unable to prevail, falling 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-17, 25-21) to No. 24 San Diego at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The game marked the first road West Coast Conference contest for USF of the season.
With the loss, San Francisco falls to 7-8 overall, 1-1 in WCC play, while the Toreros improve to 10-4, 2-1 in conference play.
Mandala paced the Dons' efforts with 13 kills, marking her 12th straight match with 10+ kills. The junior also added two service aces, six digs, a block and an assist. Bragg added 11 kills, as the sophomore middle blocker posted a .304 clip with a team-high four blocks. Berger recorded 10 kills on .308 hitting, adding an assist and a block.
The Toreros took the first set, thanks to taking an early lead and rolling with it. San Diego posted a .366 hitting percentage in the set, while holding the Dons to a .231 average. San Francisco held the Toreros close, knotting the score twice, until mid way through the set with USD went up by as many as six points. Bragg paced the Dons in the set with five kills.
San Francisco earned the second set, but was forced to battle with the Toreros for the point. Six times in the set, the score was knotted, while the lead changed hands twice. USF garnered the victory thanks to a 6-0 run midway through the set to go up 17-11 on USD. The Toreros were unable to rebound, and thanks to another small run, the Dons were able to avoid the three-set sweep.
USD came out of the intermission strong, posting a .519 hitting percentage in the third set. The Toreros held the Dons to just two of the final nine points to snatch the win and the advantage.
The Dons struggled offensively in the fourth set, hitting just .188. Mandala posted five kills in the set, while also recording of her service aces.
Four other USF players added double-digit efforts for the Dons. Junior Alaina Sully and freshman Leanna Ludes shared duties running the USF offsense, with Sully posted 20 assists and Ludes 17. Sully also posted four digs and an ace, while Ludes dug out six. Freshman Alycia Cox recorded 11 digs, two blocks and an ace for USF, while A2 National Team member, Haley Carroll posted 17 digs, three service aces and four assists.
San Diego was led by Torey Ellick with a match-high 20 kills on .515 hittting. Ashton Basch and Ali Troost each added a dozen kills for USD.
The Dons will resume WCC action Saturday as they take the short trip across the Bay to Moraga to face Saint Mary's. First serve against the Gaels, who are receiving votes in the national polls, is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will also mark the second DiG PiNK event for San Francisco this season.
