SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco women's volleyball team opened up its 2014 campaign in sweeping fashion, downing SMU 3-0 in the San Francisco Invitational Fridayevening.
 
The season-opening sweep is the first since 2006, as sophomore Katarina Pilepic finished with a match-high 13 kills on the night. Senior Anja Segota came away with the first Dons' double-double of the season with 12 kills and 15 digs. Kiara McKibben opened up her sophomore season with primary setting duties as she compiled a match-high 33 assists in the victory.
 
A trio USF players came away with gaudy dig numbers, as the Dons outdug the Mustangs 59-45. Freshmen Jessica Gaffney and Kim Guiterrez joined Segota with at least 13 digs apiece.
 
"The team played really well and the energy and the crowd was really good and it was a great event today," head coach Gilad Doron said after the match. "To open at home and get a win, it's not something that we have done recently.
 
"I was proud of the team. I thought we came focused, we played together, and we didn't get upset or distracted when things didn't go like we wanted them to. There were definitely times that we were challenged. In the first game, SMU was really pushing it and leading and we were able to make a few stops and play mature."
 
Last season the Dons and Mustangs met up for a five-setter that went the way of USF while in San Diego State's Aztec Invitational, and this season USF was determined to take a win in a season-opening home match, a first since 2004.
 
USF and SMU opened the dual in a tight battle, and a Pilepic kill off a ball from Gaffney knotted the score at seven apiece. The Mustangs edged out to a four-point advantage off an attack from Caroline Young with the score at 13-9 in favor of the visitors. USF stayed within striking distance and finally regained the advantage with McKibben at the serve. Segota picked up a point to make it 17-16 in favor of the Dons and Inbar Vinarsky's strike forced the Mustangs to take a timeout. USF rolled off the final six points of the set as Segota was serving for the Dons and two straight Pilepic points punctuated the 25-17 first-set victory.
 
The second set was also hotly contested, with no one able to break open a lead until late in the action. With the score tied at 17-all, SMU's Young put the visitors on top and Doron was forced to call a timeout. Pilepic brought the match to all-square out of the break, and the Dons nabbed the lead on the ensuing play. USF didn't relinquish their advantage again as they closed out the second 25-21.
 
The final set of the evening opened was an SMU point from Young, but that early 1-0 lead would prove to be their last advantage. USF strung together seven-straight points with Pilepic manning the service duties as the Dons built a double-digit lead as USF eased to a 25-16 victory to take the sweep.
 
USF enjoyed a .310 to .202 advantage in attack percentage, and the team held overall advantages in kills, assists, aces and digs. The only notable category that went the way of the Mustangs was blocks, as SMU finished with the 6-3 edge.
 
Tomorrow is a full day on the court of War Memorial Gym with four matches in the Invitational, so rest will be at a premium for the Dons.
 
"That's the challenge, but it's the same for all the teams," Doron said. "We're in preseason but we're at home so we get a chance to rest and be ready and hopefully take advantage of it."
 
Georgia and SMU open the day with first serve slated for 10:30 a.m. The Dons face off with Fordham at 12:30 p.m., and SMU and Fordham play at 5 p.m. The tournament nightcap will feature Georgia and USF at 7 p.m.