Oct. 30, 2008

Box Score

(Spokane, Wash.) - After dropping the opening two sets, the No. 22 USF Volleyball team battled to force a set five before eventually falling 21-25, 19-25, 29-27, 25-13, 15-10 to Gonzaga Thursday evening at the Martin Centre in Spokane. The loss to the Bulldogs (9-16 overall, 2-6 WCC) snaps a 10-match win streak for the Dons (17-5, 7-1 WCC) and marks the first loss in conference play this season for San Francisco. Prior to the match, USF had won its past 10 WCC matches including seven to open the first half of league play this year.

Down two sets heading into the intermission, the Dons battled through the third set to avoid the sweep. USF had five opportunities to secure the point but Gonzaga would not back down until Alix Gombos and Anna Berger recorded kills to seal the set victory for the Dons. In the fourth set, USF came out firing, hitting at a .500 clip while holding the Zags to a .087 average before Gonzaga exploded for a .400 clip in set five. In the final set, the Dons committed five errors that proved to be the difference in the contest.

"I thought we came out a little flat tonight," said USF head coach Gilad Doron. "We weren't as ready to rally as much as we have in the past couple of weeks. We had a tough time controlling the match early but eventually we got things settled and got things going. Unfortunately, we had several hitting errors in the fifth set that were the deciding factor. You have to give credit to Gonzaga, they came out and played well and played to win. Sometimes you have to experience the other side and unfortunately we had to tonight. Hopefully we can come out and play better Saturday at Portland."

Senior middle blockers Carly Babin and Gombos paced the USF offense. Babin posted a match-high 20 kills on .357 while recording a service ace, three digs and five blocks, two of which were solo. Gombos hit at a team-high .429 clip with two digs and a block.

Sophomore opposite hitter Sarah Mandala and senior outside hitter Addie Webster rounded out Dons with double kills with 15 and 14, respectively. Webster recorded her team-leading fourth double-double of the season adding a team-high 16 digs, as well as one block. Mandala added two assists, five digs and a pair of blocks - one solo.

Junior outside hitter Berger fell shy of a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs. Berger also recorded an assist, a service ace and three blocks.

Senior setter Darcy Carroll dished out 40 assists for USF while also adding a match-high four service aces and six digs. Sophomore setter Alaina Sully added 22 assists for the Dons and junior libero Haley Carroll posted 14 digs for San Francisco.

The Bulldogs were led by Layne Brosky and Elaina Renius. Brosky recorded a team-high 17 kills on a match-high .519 hitting for GU, while Renius posted 14 kills and five blocks.

The Dons will look to rebound Saturday when they travel to Portland. The match with the Pilots is scheduled for a Noon first serve at the Chiles Center.