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Mandala Smashes 34 Kills As Dons Fall
Nov. 21, 2009
Senior Day Photo Gallery
(San Francisco) - Sarah Mandala posted 34 kills Saturday as the USF volleyball team dropped the season finale in five sets (25-19, 22-25, 23-25, 25-21,13-15) to Pepperdine at War Memorial Gym. Mandala's 34 kills marks a career-high for the junior and ties the second highest match total in program history.
The Dons finish the 2009 campaign with a 12-13 record, 7-7 in West Coast Conference play to finish tied for fourth in the league standings. Pepperdine finishes the regular season 16-11, 9-5 against conference foes.
Mandala recorded 22 of her 34 kills between the first and fourth sets. In each of the sets, the native of San Dimas hit 11 kills. The 34 kills ties the second highest total for a single match in program history, matching Jeanette Sargenti's 34 kills recorded against Portland in 1996. Mandala's total Saturday marks the highest total since Kristin Hasselberg recorded 33 kills in 2005. Mandala hit at a .348 clip Saturday while also adding an assist, an ace, five digs and two blocks.
On Senior Day on the Hilltop, seniors Anna Berger, Haley Carroll and Lauren Quach were recognized prior to the match. Berger and Carroll also posted double-digit efforts, including 28 digs from Carroll. Carroll finished her career in the Green and Gold with 2,091 career digs, marking the highest total in USF and WCC history. Berger recorded a dozen kills in her San Francisco finale.
Carroll also recorded four service aces. Carroll finished her career ranked second in the all-time USF record book with 148 career aces.
Freshman Erin Kilroy fell just short of a double-digit outing with nine kills, while also added a dig and two block assists. Sophomore Erin Bragg earned six kills, while Alycia Cox posted four.
Alaina Sully and Leanna Ludes shared time running the San Francisco offense, with 33 and 26 assists, respectively.
Bragg posted six blocks - four solo, two assists - and Hadley Simmons earned four as the duo were staples for the USF defensive efforts.
For the afternoon, the Dons hit at a .244 clip, including hitting over .300 in two sets. In the first set, the Dons hit .306 before bettering the feat with a .395 average in the fourth set. Pepperdine hit .306 in the contest, including a .455 average in the second set.
The Waves were led by Kim Hill with 21 kills and three blocks. Rachel Grochmal added 15 kills, and Victoria Adelhelm and Lilla Frederick posted 11 and 10, respectively.
