University of San Francisco (12-14, 5-9 WCC)
vs. Pepperdine (9-16, 4-9 WCC)
Thursday, Nov. 13 | 7 p.m. | War Memorial Gym
Live stream: theW.tv | Stats: usfstats.com | Tickets

vs. Loyola Marymount (20-5, 8-5 WCC)
Saturday, Nov. 15 | 1 p.m. | War Memorial Gym
Live stream: theW.tv | Stats: usfstats.com | Tickets

#WeAreSF

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San Francisco volleyball looks to get back to its winning ways in the friendly confines of War Memorial Gym where the Dons are 7-2 on the season. USF welcomes in two Southern California foes - Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.

What 2 Watch 4

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San Francisco's Valentina Zaloznik continues to be a dominant force for the Dons in her senior season, compiling 304 kills on .319 hitting and a team-high 113 blocks. Currently, her total blocks figure stands at 70th in NCAA Division I volleyball.

Offensively, Katarina Pilepic leads the squad in kills with 315 to go with 62 total blocks. Kiara McKibben took over primary setting duties in 2014 and has assisted on 923 scoring plays for the Dons, an average of 9.23 assists per set. 

Freshman Kim Gutierrez is leading the defensive charge, amassing 453 digs. Nationally, Gutierrez' tally is ranked 77th in the country. As a team, USF's 1,556 total digs leads the WCC.

Know the Foe

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Pepperdine enters the weekend with a 9-16 overall record, standing 4-9 in WCC action. The Waves are paced by a trio of women with over 200 kills. Jillian Bergeson's 252 kills leads the way for Pepperdine. Katie Messing reached the 1,000-kill plateau on Nov. 1, just the 17th Wave in program history to do so. Becca Strehlow directs the offense for the Waves, amassing 712 assists on the season to go along with a team-high 318 digs.

In the season's first meeting, the Dons crashed the Waves in Malibu with a balanced offensive attack and stout defensive effort. Three Dons notched double-doubles (Pilepic - 15 kills, 12 digs; Staengle - 13 kills, 10 digs; McKibben - 42 assists, 10 digs) and Kim Gutierrez added 27 digs in USF's 3-1 victory.

Loyola Marymount, USF's Saturday foe, stands at 20-5 on the season, with each of its losses coming in WCC action. The Lions are 8-5 against conference opponents, and enter the weekend riding a three-match winning streak. Caitlin DeWitt and Litara Keil lead the offensive charge for Loyola Marymount, wth 306 and 305 kills, respectively. Hannah Tedrow is tied for tops in the league in total assists with 1,052 and Kristen Castellanos anchors the defense with 365 digs. Keil, a force at the net, has compiled 103 blocks for the Lions.

In the first season meeting with the Lions, USF nearly pulled off an upset of then-No. 24 Loyola Marymount after forcing a fifth set at Gersten Pavilion, but couldn't capitalize.

Despite being held to .178 hitting offensively, the Dons were stout on the block, holding a 15 to 13 advantage at the net. Three women recorded at least six total blocks on the night (Pilepic - 7, Zaloznik - 6, Vinarsky - 6). 

USF Versus

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All-time vs. Waves: 7-52 • 4-25 at WMG
Current streak: W4
Last meeting: 10/18/14 (A) • W, 3-1; 25-23, 18-25, 25-19, 25-20

All-time vs. Lions: 16-44 • 10-19 at WMG
Current streak: L1
Last meeting: 10/16/14 (A) • L, 2-3; 17-25, 25-20, 27-25, 19-25, 10-15

Records Watch

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Senior Valentina Zaloznik is racing up the record books in myriad categories:
  3.    Total Blocks - 413
  T-6.     Aces - 107
  7.    Solo Blocks - 78
  7.      Kills - 1147

Single-season record books
  8.     Kim Gutierrez - 453 digs
  9.    Valentina Zaloznik - .319 pct.

*Zaloznik currently owns the sixth- and eighth-best season attack percentages (.341 - '13; .326 - '12)

Single-match records
After compiling 13 kills on 14 attempts with no errors, or .929, in USF's sweep of Fordham on Aug. 30, Zaloznik now owns the single-match record for hitting percentage. 

Last Time Out

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The season's road woes continued for the Dons, who played two five-setters in the Pacific Northwest, dropping both. USF's loss at Portland gave the Pilots their first win in WCC action. 

A Look Ahead

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USF hits the road for its last match away from the Hilltop of the season, facing off against travel partner Santa Clara Thursday at 6 p.m. Then, the Dons cap the 2014 campaign Tuesday, Nov. 25, against Pacific on Senior Day. Bid farewell to the Dons' two seniors, Anja Segota and Valentina Zaloznik.

Get Connected

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Fans can keep up on the latest in USF Athletics in a variety of ways. Follow USF Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ DonsAthletics
Follow USF volleyball on Facebook at www.facebook.com/University.of.SanFrancisco.Volleyball
Check out video of the Dons in action at www.youtube.com/usfdonsathletics