Oct. 18, 2008

Box Score

(Santa Clara) - Sarah Mandala's team-high 16 kills lifted USF volleyball to a thrilling 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-21 West Coast Conference victory over No. 18 Santa Clara Saturday at the Leavey Center. The victory was the first for the Dons (15-4 overall, 5-0 WCC) against the Broncos (12-5 overall, 4-3 WCC) in Santa Clara since 1989. The win also matches the best league start in program history at 5-0, which was also accomplished by the 1987 USF squad.

After dropping the first set to Santa Clara, San Francisco came out firing in the second, hitting at a .407 clip. For the contest, the Dons hit .272 while holding the Broncos to a .148 clip, including a -.027 hitting percentage in game three.

"I am proud of our team. We knew coming here it was going to be very, very tough," USF head coach Gilad Doron said. "Santa Clara is a very strong team, especially at home coming off a loss to San Diego. Our whole goal for the season is to play hard, stay together and believe. I have to give everyone on our team credit. Everybody contributed to this win today."

The match was a well fought contest. In sets two and three, the score was tied on nine separate occasions. During the fourth and decisive set, the score was tied 16 times with three lead changes.

Mandala led the Dons on the afternoon with 16 kills hitting at a match-best .542 clip. The sophomore opposite hitter also recorded three digs and three blocks for San Francisco. Senior middle blocker Alix Gombos also recorded double-digit kills for USF with 11 in 23 swings for a .391 hitting percentage, while also adding four blocks - three solo.

Senior middle blocker Carly Babin and senior outside hitter Addie Webster each recorded seven kills. Babin added a match-high seven blocks, including four solo, while Webster posted an assist and a dozen digs for the Dons.

Senior setter Darcy Carroll dished out 29 assists with five digs, a block and two kills. Sophomore setter Alaina Sully posted 16 assists for USF, while junior libero Haley Carroll recorded 18 digs and two aces.

"I told the girls after the match, it's not what other people think about us, it's what we think about ourselves and what we can achieve together," Doron said. "The more we improve and the more we play as a team, the better we will be. Hopefully this is just the beginning for us."

Senior middle blocker and two-time All-American Anna Cmaylo led the Broncos with 15 kills on .306 hitting, while Krista Kelley hit 10 kills with a pair of digs. Cmaylo had eight kills on .444 hitting after two sets before the Dons shifted Babin to counter. Babin responded with four blocks - two solo in the final two sets.

USF will return to the friendly confines of War Memorial Gym this week as it hosts Loyola Marymount and No. 14 Pepperdine. The Dons will be looking to improve on a program-best 10-1 home record when action starts Thursday at 7:00 PM against the Lions.