#WeAreSF
After starting the 2014 campaign a perfect 5-0, the University of San Francisco volleyball team looks to stop a four-match skid as the team travels to compete at the Denver Invitational.Â
The Dons will open the weekend slate against the host Pioneers before competing against UTEP and Nevada to close out the non-conference portion of their schedule.
The Dons are coming off a 2013 season in which USF finished the year with a final record of 13-16, and a WCC mark of 9-9 to take fourth in the league.
What 2 Watch 4
San Francisco's Valentina Zaloznik continues to be a dominant force for the Dons in her senior season, compiling team-highs of 103 kills, 36 total blocks and 11 service aces. Katarina Pilepic  is second on the squad with 100 kills and 18 blocks.Â
Freshman Kim Gutierrez is leading the defensive charge, amassing 136 digs with a 4.25 dig per set average, third in the WCC. Kiara McKibben took over primary setting duties in 2014 and has assisted on 292 scoring plays for the Dons, an average of 9.42 assists per set.
USF versus
All-time vs. Denver Pioneers: 1-1 | Last meeting: 09/09/00 | W 3-1; 10-15, 15-10, 15-5, 16-14Â
All-time vs. UTEP Miners: 1-1 |Â Last meeting: 09/05/03 |Â W 3-0; 30-19, 30-23, 30-27
All-time vs. Nevada Wolfpack: 14-8 |Â Last meeting: 11/26/04 |Â W 3-1; 22-30, 30-24, 30-26, 30-15
NCAA National Rankings
Through games played Sept. 14, the Dons find themselves in 37th in the nation in aces per set (1.69). In the conference standings, USF's tally of 15.38 digs per set is second in the league and 90th in the NCAA.
Last Time Out
USF is coming off its first matches against ranked foes, facing then-No. 25 UCLA and No. 22 Hawaii in Honolulu. The Dons had a rough go on the island, finishing the weekend 0-3, but nabbed individual set victories in its matches against Utah State and Hawaii. In the matchup against the Rainbow Wahine, USF freshman Oluoma Okaro finished with a new career high of 12 kills.
Records Watch
Career Kills  Â
9. Chiara Lawrence (1993-96) - 1,011
10. Laura Tinetti (1997-00) - 976
11. Valentina Zaloznik (2011-) - 946
12. Malina Terrell  (2010-13) - 914
Career Blocks  Â
7. Laura Tinetti (1997-00) - 357
8. KeLicia Shorts (2002-05) - 355
9. Valentina Zaloznik (2011-) - 336
10. Sharon Mellen (1985-88) - 319 | Record-Breaking
The Dons got a big opening weekend at the San Francisco Invitational out of a multitude of players, including senior Valentina Zaloznik. She finished with 38 kills and a .492 attack percentage, nine blocks, four aces and a new USF single-match record after hitting .929 (13 kills on 14 attempts, no errors) in the Dons' 3-0 sweep of Fordham.
Conference Superlatives
Senior middle blocker was named West Coast Conference Player of the Week on Sept. 1, after her team-leading and record-setting performances at the San Francisco Invitational. Along with hitting .929 to set a new individual match record against Fordham Saturday, Zaloznik followed up her performance in the nightcap, finishing with 16 kills and a .444 attack percentage, five digs and three blocks as the Dons took down SEC foe Georgia 3-1.
Tournament Accolades
After its 3-0 performance as the hosts of the San Francisco Invitational, the Dons finished as the top team in the field. Zaloznik earned tournament Most Valuable Player and teammates Anja Segota and Katarina Pilepic were both selected to the All-Tournament team for their efforts.Â
At the Long Beach State Mizuno Invitational, Zaloznik was selected as an All-Tournament honoree as was sophomore setter Kiara McKibben. At Hawaii's invitational, Zaloznik again found herself on the Al-Tournament team for the third straight weekend.
Preseason Poll
The Dons were slated to finish sixth in the hotly-contested WCC, and Zaloznik was tapped for preseason All-WCC honors. Should Valentina earn a place on the first-team, it will mark her third occasion - a new USF milestone, as no other player has been named to the team three times.Â
Schedule-TestedÂ
Along with two West Coast Conference tournament teams from a year ago, the Dons will compete against two non-conference foes that made it to the 2013 NCAA Championships, and face a total of 11 squads that closed the season in the top 100 of the RPI rankings. Three of USF's 2014 adversaries were ranked in the top 10 in the AVCA Coaches Poll at some point in the season. In the 2014 non-conference slate, the Dons faced off with two ranked teams in then-No. 22 Hawaii and then-No. 25 UCLA.
A Look Ahead
The Dons open up WCC action on Sept. 26, hosting rival Santa Clara at War Memorial Gym on USF Alumni Weekend. USF is looking to keep its streak of victories over the Broncos going after sweeping Santa Clara during the 2013 season.
Get Connected
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 |
