Nov. 17, 2008

(San Francisco) - USF Volleyball reentered 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 a program-best third time this season that San Francisco has been ranked in the top-25. Earlier this season, USF earned a program-high ranking of 22nd, before dropping to 25th and falling out of the polls last week.

The Dons (20-6 Overall, 10-2 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 17th, Pepperdine ranked 24th, and Santa Clara and Saint Mary's, both of which are receiving votes. San Francisco will take on the No. 24 Waves Saturday in the final weekend of conference play. The WCC is only one of three conferences to have five or more teams ranked or receiving votes in this week's poll. The other conferences are the Pacific-10 with six and the Big Ten with five.

Bison/AVCA Division I Coaches Top-25 Poll

2008 Poll #12: November 17, 2008

Receiving votes on two or more ballots:

New Mexico State, Santa Clara, Saint Mary’s, Tulane, Cincinnati, Iowa State, North Carolina, Florida International

USF VOLLEYBALL NOTES

SAN FRANCISCO SURPASSES WIN TOTAL FROM A YEAR AGO: Thanks to the victory over Portland two weeks ago, USF surpassed its win total from a year ago. The Dons currently stand at 20-6 overall, 10-2 WCC this season, while a year ago they finished with a 17-13 overall, 6-8 WCC mark. The 20 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 SET PROGRAM WCC WIN RECORD: Thanks to Sunday's victory, USF has set a program-record for conference victories. Currently, San Francisco boasts a 10-2 record in league play. The school record for WCC victories was nine, set in 1987 when USF fished with a 9-5 WCC mark and tied for a program-high third in the conference.

USF CONTINUES TO ROLL AT HOME: With a sweep this weekend, USF continues to be a threat when playing in the friendly confines of War Memorial Gym. Through the opening 12 weeks of the season, the Dons have amassed a school-best 14-1 record on the Hilltop. The lone loss at home this season was a 3-2 battle to Miami on Saturday, Sept. 13 as part of the 2008 Asics/Coca-Cola Invitational. In the past four years, San Francisco has posted a 41-16 record when playing at home, including going 7-3 during the 2006 campaign. The Dons have one more home match this season, a non-conference showdown with San Jose State on November 25.

DONS CONTINUE TO PLAY WELL AGAINST RANKED FOES: This season, the Dons have matched-up against ranked foes, or those receiving votes in the national polls, during eight contests, boasting a 6-3 record. The six victories shatters a program record, as prior to this season San Francisco had never defeated more than two ranked teams in a single campaign. Earlier this season, USF knocked off three ranked teams in as many weeks thanks to victories over San Diego, Pepperdine and Santa Clara. USF LOOKING FOR FIRST NCAA BID SINCE 2003: As the season winds down, the USF Volleyball team is looking for its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2003. During the 2003 season, the Dons posted a program-best 23-8 record to earn an at-large bid. San Francisco opened post-season play against Pacific, falling 3-0.