Box Score SAN FRANCISCO – It took 11 points of game action before senior
Valentina Zaloznik touched the ball. But when she got her first opportunity, she pounded down a kill to put the San Francisco volleyball team up 8-4 in the first set of action against Fordham in the San Francisco Invitational.
By the time the match concluded with a 3-0 sweep for the Dons at War Memorial Gym, Zaloznik netted a school record attack percentage of .929, compiling a match-high 13 kills on 14 attempts. The native of Ljubno ob Savinji, Slovenia also added five total blocks, four digs and three aces in USF's dominant performance over the Rams.
"I feel like to be on every game, just to get it all out, that's all that matters," Zaloznik noted on the overall team performance. "I think the last two games, we really did that. We hustled for every ball, we were loud and I feel like that makes the change in the game. I feel a little responsibility for the team because it's my senior season, but it's a good pressure. Of course, I'm just determined to leave the best mark possible here and to leave a good legacy. We want to make the NCAAs so we're all just working toward that goal."
"I think last night she didn't have the greatest offensive game, and she came back today and we wanted to establish her early," head coach
Gilad Doron said. "She was working hard out there. She got three aces, five blocks, four digs. She's probably the most complete middle in the nation and she's going to be a big factor of who we are this year. When she is effective it's contagious for everyone else."
After the lone tie in the first set was seen at 1-1, the Dons reeled off six straight points with
Anja Segota at the serve. Zaloznik's first ace of the day put the score at 12-6 in favor of the home team. The Dons built the lead to 10 points as
Katarina Pilepic's ace off a powerful serve made it 20-10 and forced Fordham to call a timeout. The Dons went on to take the set 25-13 and USF continued its momentum with a 25-11 second set win.
Jessica Keenan closed the set from the service line as USF scored the final nine points heading into halftime.
The Dons kept their play at a high level into the third, dominating both offensively and defensively as the team recorded a 25-13 victory to close the match and earn the sweep. Earning its second three-set victory in as many days, USF's 2-0 start is the first 2-0 start since the 2006 season.
Along with Zaloznik's solid outing, Segota and Pilepic finished with 10 kills each and an attack percentage over .500. Setting duties were divided between
Kiara McKibben and
Jurja Vlasic, as the junior from Zagreb, Croatia, saw her first action of the season. McKibben tallied 22 assists and Vlasic added 14. Freshman
Kim Gutierrez held down the defensive position of libero, notching double-digit digs for the second straight match.
"When you see the hitting percentage you see it's good," Zaloznik said of her record-setting performance. "But you need to look behind it. It's great passing and great setting and that's what makes my job easier. Today was just on point."
After an early evening match between Fordham and SMU, the Dons square off against Georgia at 7 p.m., to close out the two-day Invitational.
