Nov. 3, 2008

(San Francisco) - USF Volleyball remains ranked in this week's national Bison/AVCA Division I Coaches Top-25 poll that was released Monday. The Dons currently check in at 25th. This week marks the second straight week that San Francisco has been ranked in the top-25, marking a program first. Last week, USF earned a program-high ranking of 22nd.

The Dons (18-5 Overall, 8-1 WCC) are one of five West Coast Conference programs to earn a top-25 rank or receive votes in the poll. Joining USF in the polls is San Diego ranked 14th, Santa Clara ranked 22nd, Pepperdine ranked 24th, and Saint Mary's, which is receiving votes. San Francisco will take on the No. 14 Toreros Saturday in a conference showdown for first place in the standings. The WCC is only one of four conferences to have five or more teams ranked or receiving votes in this week's poll. The other conferences are the Pacific-10 with eight, the Big X and Big XII, both with six.

Bison/AVCA Division I Coaches Top-25 Poll

2008 Poll #10: November 3, 2008

Receiving votes on two or more ballots: Long Beach State, New Mexico State, UAB, Saint Mary's, Tulane, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Middle Tennessee, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Colorado, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Arizona, Clemson, Northern Iowa, Cal Poly

Bold indicates 2008 opponent

 USF VOLLEYBALL NOTES

USF WRAPS UP OUTSTANDING OCTOBER:The Dons finished October with a stellar 7-1 WCC mark. USF won the opening six matches of the month to make up the majority of a 10-match win streak that dated to September 20. For the month, San Francisco hit at an impressive .275 clip, while holding opponents to a .219 average. Senior middle blocker Carly Babin led the Dons with a .402 hitting percentage with 3.06 kills per set, five service aces, 21 digs and a team-high 40 blocks. Sophomore opposite hitter Sarah Mandala recorded a team-high 100 kills (3.12) during October, while senior middle blocker Alix Gombos hit at a team-high .450 clip with 87 kills. Senior outside hitter Addie Webster recorded 93 digs and 79 kills for USF, while junior libero Haley Carroll continued her strong campaign with 144 digs (4.50) and eight service aces. Senior setter Darcy Carroll dished out 282 assists for USF while recording a squad leading 13 service aces.

DONS, TOREROS TO BATTLE FOR FIRST PLACE: When USF and USD meet on the court on Saturday, it will be a battle for first place in the conference as the Dons and Toreros are currently tied in the top spot. Both teams boast an 8-1 league record. San Francisco handed San Diego its lone league loss of the season on October 11 as the Dons prevailed 3-1. USF's lone loss came Thursday at Gonzaga. The champion of the West Coast Conference will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Dons earned a program-high third place finish in WCC play during the 1987 season.

SAN FRANCISCO SURPASSES WIN TOTAL FROM A YEAR AGO: Thanks to the victory over Portland Saturday, USF surpassed its win total from a year ago. The Dons currently stand at 18-5 overall, 8-1 WCC this season, while a year ago they finished with a 17-13 overall, 6-8 WCC mark. The 18 victories mark the third best in school history, while the school record is 23 wins. USF won 18 matches in the 2005 campaign and 23 in the 2006 and 2003 seasons. The 2003 campaign marked the first and only time, in San Francisco history that the Dons were selected to partake in the NCAA Tournament.

DONS CREEPING UP ON PROGRAM WCC WIN RECORD: Thanks to a sweep of Portland on Saturday, USF is one win shy of tying a program record for conference victories. Currently, San Francisco boasts an 8-1 record in league play. The school record for WCC victories is nine, set in 1987 when USF fished with a 9-5 WCC mark and tied for a program-high third in the conference.