DENVER, Colo. – The San Francisco volleyball team closed its time at the Denver Invitational in resounding fashion, making quick work of the Nevada Wolfpack in a 3-0 sweep at Hamilton Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.

USF closes the non-conference schedule with a 7-5 mark as Nevada drops to 3-7. The Dons' take a winning record into WCC play for the fifth time under head coach Gilad Doron.

The Dons were paced by two double-digit scorers in the contest. Valentina Zaloznik finished with 12 kills and five blocks, while Katarina Pilepic added 10 kills and 12 digs for her first double-double of the season. Both women hit .348 on the afternoon and added two service aces apiece. Kiara McKibben compiled 29 assists, and Kim Gutierrez finished the day with 15 digs and two aces.

Zaloznik totaled 39 kills in USF's three matches at the Denver Invitational, bringing her career total to 985. The senior from Ljubno ob Savinji, Slovenia, now stands at 10th all-time on the career kills list after passing Laura Tinetti (1997-00) in the record books during the Nevada match.

The first set started with a slight lead for the Wolfpack, after Nevada's Madison Foley recorded the ace to put the score at 2-0. The Dons rallied to nab the lead and Zaloznik's solo block made it 6-3 in favor of USF and forced a Nevada timeout. The teams would continue its tight battle throughout the set which saw 10 ties and three lead changes. The last tie of the set, and eventually the match, came at 21-21 when Zaloznik's attack went in for the point. The Dons would roll off the next four points unanswered, and closed the frame with an ace by Zaloznik.

The Dons took control in the second from the outset, opening with a 3-0 lead after back-to-back aces from Pilepic. USF grew the lead to five after Zaloznik's kill made the score 14-9. McKibben recorded a kill off the assist from Emily Reed to put the score at 20-12, and the Dons finished off the frame with a final score of 24-14.

USF began the final set of the day with an impressive 8-0 run with Gutierrez at the service line. During the smattering of points, Sara Staengle recorded two kills and two blocks, one solo. USF grew the lead to 12-2 off a kill from Zaloznik, but the Dons allowed the Wolfpack to string together the next five points to get back within shouting distance. After a USF timeout, the Dons regrouped to build the lead back to 20-14 after a Pilepic kill. USF went on to close the match with a final set score of 25-18, and notch its fourth three-set sweep of the season.

USF topped every team statistical category including hitting percentage (.264 to .107), assists (34 to 27), digs (54 to 31) blocks (10 to 4) and service aces (6 to 3). Eight women for the Dons recorded at least one kill, and nine players finished with at least one dig in the contest.

USF next takes the court against longtime rival, Santa Clara. The Dons and the Broncos face off during USF's school-wide Alumni Weekend festivities, with the match slated to start Friday at 7 p.m., at War Memorial Gym. After sweeping Santa Clara last season, the Dons are looking to extend their winning streak over the Broncos to three.

All-Tournament Team