Oct. 4, 2008

Final Stats

(San Francisco) - Three Dons recorded double-digit kills for the USF volleyball team Saturday as it defeated Gonzaga 25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 27-25 in West Coast Conference action at War Memorial Gym. Thanks to the victory over the Bulldogs (6-11, 0-2 WCC), the Dons (12-4, 2-0 WCC) won their fourth straight match and remains perfect in league play.

After sweeping the weekend series against Portland and Gonzaga, San Francisco opens WCC play at 2-0 for the first time since 1999, also against the Pilots and Bulldogs. The win also improved San Francisco to 10-1 when playing on the Hilltop.

After holding the Zags at bay for the first two sets, USF and Gonzaga battled through sets three and four. The lead changed four times in each of the last two sets, while the score was tied 11 times in game three and on 10 occasions in game four.

As a team, the Dons hit at a .283 clip, including hitting .319 in the decisive four set of the match. USF also hit over .300 in set one, when it hit .312 while holding Gonzaga to a .121 clip.

Senior middle blockers Caryl Babin and Alix Gombos, as well as sophomore opposite hitter Sarah Mandala all posted double-digit kills for USF. Babin headed the charge with a team-leading 15 kills with a .480 hitting percentage, while Mandala recorded 11. Gombos headed San Francisco's offense, recording 13 kills in 19 swings, for a .684 clip.

Babin and Gombos also led the defense with a team-high five blocks each, including a solo block by Babin. For the contest, USF recorded 11 team blocks. Junior libero Haley Carroll recorded out 16 digs for USF, while Darcy Carroll added 45 assists and eight digs.

Addie Webster added strong numbers for the Dons, recording nine kills, 11 digs and four blocks. Anna Berger also contributed for USF, posting seven kills, four digs and two blocks.

Gonzaga was led by Layne Brosky, who hit a match-high 17 kills, and Denise Van De Mortel, who provided the Zags with 49 assists.

San Francisco will return to action Saturday, October 11 when it hosts No. 16 San Diego. First serve with the Toreros is scheduled for 1 p.m. at War Memorial Gym.