Dons Open Pacific Northwest Road Swing
SAN FRANCISCO VOLLEYBALL GAME NOTES - 9/28/11
AT GONZAGA; AT PORTLAND
DONS SOCIAL MEDIA HUB
THIS WEEK: San Francisco looks to continue its strong league start when it travels to the Pacific Northwest to continue West Coast Conference play. Week two begins Thursday night in Spokane, WA at Gonzaga with a 6:00 PM first serve from the Martin Centre. USF closes out its three-match road swing with a Saturday matinee at Portland. Match time against the Pilots is set for 1:00 PM at the Chiles Center.
THOSE STREAKING DONS: After sweeping No. 16 San Diego at home and seizing a 3-1 road triumph at Saint Mary's during the opening weekend of West Coast Conference play, San Francisco has now won 10 of its last 12 matches. It is the best string of success for the Green and Gold since posting a 10-match winning streak in 2008.
SERIES AGAINST THE BULLDOGS: Gonzaga (6-7, 0-2 WCC) leads 27-23. San Francisco swept the season series against the Zags last year for the first time since 2005.
SERIES AGAINST THE PILOTS: San Francisco leads Portland (6-9, 0-2 WCC) 30-20. Last season the Pilots swept the season series for the first time since 1998 and snapped a 15-match losing streak to USF in the series.
ON THE WEB: Week two of the 2011 West Coast Conference season will feature live scoring and live video coverage. Both features can be accessed via USFDons.com in the calendar menu.
DONS AMONG WCC TEAM LEADERS: San Francisco ranks among the top-four among West Coast Conference team leaders in three of the seven major statistical categories (as of 9/26/11). The Dons rate second in hitting percentage (.241), third in opponent hitting percentage (.154) and are second in aces (1.48).
YOUNG DONS MAKING A MARK: Five San Francisco underclassmen are ranked among West Coast Conference individual leaders so far this season (as of 9/26/11).
So. Joan Caloiaro: Assists (5th/10.02)
Fr. LIB Rebecca Kopilovitch: Digs (4th/4.12)
Fr. Opp. Vendula Strakova: Hitting percentage (10th/.281); Kills (3rd/3.44)
So. MB Malina Terrell: Hitting percentage (8th/.296)
Fr. MB Valentina Zaloznik: Hitting percentage (5th/.314); Aces (T-8th/0.33); blocks (T-3rd/1.11)
LAST WEEK FOR THE DONS: San Francisco continued to roll. The Dons opened the West Coast Conference season in dramatic fashion with a home sweep against defending league champion No. 16 San Diego. It marked the third time in four seasons that USF has defeated the Toreros at War Memorial Gym. San Francisco completed the perfect weekend with a gritty 3-1 victory at Saint Mary's. The Dons trailed big in both the first and fourth set but rallied for an impressive road triumph.
GOING THE DISTANCE: After playing just three five-set matches in 2010, San Francisco has played four in its first 15 matches of 2011. The Dons dropped heartbreakers to Arizona and Wichita State in Hawaii during the opening weekend before bouncing back for a five-set triumph against Memphis in the championship match of the Asics/Powerade Challenge. USF fell down 2-0 at Washington State before rallying to fall in five-sets to the Cougars.
NEXT UP FOR THE GREEN AND GOLD: San Francisco returns home to War Memorial Gym to open up a four-match West Coast Conference homestand, beginning Saturday, October 8 against ancient Bay Area rival Santa Clara. Match time against the Broncos is set for 1:00 PM.
