Women's Volleyball | 10/14/2015 7:00:00 PM

Match 20: USF (15-4, 2-4 WCC) at Loyola Marymount (12-6, 3-3 WCC)
Thursday, October 15 | 7 p.m. | Gersten Pavilion
All-time vs. Lions: 16-45 • 6-25 away
Trends - Current: L2 • Last 5: 2-3 • Last 10: 5-5 
Last meeting: 11/15/14 (H) • L, 1-3; 25-23, 12-25, 15-25, 13-25
Watch/follow: WCC Gametracker

Match 21: USF at Pepperdine (12-7, 3-3 WCC)
Saturday, October 17 | 1 p.m. | Firestone Fieldhouse
All-time vs. Waves: 7-53 • 3-27 away
Trends - Current: L1 • Last 5: 4-1 • Last 10: 4-6 
Last meeting: 11/13/14 (H) • L, 1-3; 26-24, 16-25, 23-25, 16-25
Watch/follow: WCC Gametracker

#15sports1team

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USF seeks its first-ever sweep through Southern California in program history, as the Dons take on Loyola Marymount on Thursday, followed by a Saturday match at Pepperdine.

What 2 Watch 4

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Despite the slip in their last contest, the Dons continue to find themselves in the top 50 nationally in multiple categories as a team. USF is outhitting opponents .268 to .178, with their hitting percentage standing in first in the WCC and 22nd in the NCAA. USF's kills per set tally (14.06 k/s) is second in the league and 31st in the nation. As a team, the Dons are averaging 13.13 assists per set, 30th nationally and second in the conference.

Katarina Pilepic leads the squad in total kills (257), kills per set (3.84) and points (291.0), standing in the WCC top 10 in each category. Freshman Madison Murtagh has been a stout presence at the net, compiling 79 total blocks to rate sixth overall in the WCC, and the top freshman. She stands in second in the conference in hitting percentage with a mark of .361.

Setting duties have been split between the duo of Kiara McKibben and Jurja Vlasic, with McKibben pacing the team with 465 assists for the Dons. Libero Kim Gutierrez leads the squad with 268 digs, or 4.00 per set, to help anchor USF's defensive efforts.

By the Numbers

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Kim Gutierrez … needs 29 digs to move to 15th on the all-time list passing Jaime Schopflin (801 digs; 96-98)
Kiara McKibben … stands in seventh on the career assists tally after passing Leanna Ludes (1783 assists; 09-12), and needs 163 assists to become the seventh Don to reach the 2,000-assist mark
Katarina Pilepic … is climbing up the USF records books after leaping to 13th on the all-time kills list. She needs 18 kills to overtake Malina Terrell ('10-13 - 914 kills) for 12th, and 103 kills to be the 11th woman to hit 1,000 kills in her career as a Don

Know the Foes

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Loyola Marymount enters the weekend with a 12-6 overall mark, going 3-3 in conference action and riding a three-match winning streak. The Lions are led by Jamie Lea's 3.66 kills per set (234 kills) and Sarah Sponsil's 238 total kills. Rachelle Suaava is hitting .282 on the year, with 189 kills and a team-leading 83 blocks. Hannah Tedrow holds down setting duties, averaging 11.32 assists per set to lead the team and the WCC. 

Pepperdine stands at 12-7 on the year, and sports a 3-3 mark in WCC play. A trio of freshmen have been leading the attack for the Waves this season, led by Heidi Dyer's 197 kills, or 2.89 per set. Nikki Lyons (2.79 k/s) and Tarah Wylie (2.59 k/s)  round out the squad's top point-getters. Becca Strehlow averages 10.48 assist per set and Lara Dykstra leads Pepperdine with 316 digs, or 4.45 per set.

Last Time Out

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USF could not overcome its lowest hitting percentage of the season - .073 - as the Dons fell to long-time rival Santa Clara in three last week. In its lone match of the week, the Dons were paced by nine kills from Oluoma Okaro, and six kills for team-leader Katarina Pilepic. Kiara McKibben added 13 assists while Pilepic and Kim Gutierrez finished with eight digs each.

A Look Ahead

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After a week in the Southland, the Dons return home to take on Bay Area foes Saint Mary's (Oct. 22) and Pacific (Oct. 24) at War Memorial Gym.

Get Connected

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Fans can follow the Dons in a variety of ways:
Via the departmental Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat with the username donsathletics.
Through team-specific Twitter (@USFDonsVB) and Facebook (University.of.San.Francisco.Volleyball)
On YouTube at USFDonsAthletics, where fans can view video segments online
On Comcast SportsNet California in USF Athletics' monthly show, "Behind the Mask"
With previews, recaps, videos, features and more as seen on USFDons.com