Complete match notes (PDF)

Match 24: USF (16-7, 3-7 WCC) at Portland (11-10, 1-8 WCC)
Thursday, Oct. 29 | 7 p.m. | Chiles Center
Series record: USF leads, 38-24; Dons and Pilots tied 14-14 in Portland
Trends - Current streak: W1 | Last 5: 4-1 | Last 10: 7-3
Last meeting: 10/03/15 (H) • W, 3-0; 25-20, 25-16, 25-23

Match 25: USF at Gonzaga (13-9, 4-5 WCC)
Saturday, Oct. 31 | 12 p.m. | Martin Centre
Series record: Gonzaga leads, 31-28; Bulldogs lead 17-12 in Spokane
Trends - Current streak: W1 | Last 5: 1-4 | Last 10: 6-4
Last meeting: 10/01/15 (H) • W, 3-2; 30-28, 25-17, 25-17, 18-25, 15-11

#15sports1team

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Finishing with six of its last eight matches of the regular season on the road, the San Francisco volleyball team travels to the Pacific Northwest to take on Portland and Gonzaga. 

The Dons took home victories against both the Pilots and the Bulldogs earlier this season, and are seeking   to repeat the results away from War Memorial Gym. 

What 2 Watch 4

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Katarina Pilepic leads the squad in total kills (305), kills per set (3.81) and points (341.5), standing in the WCC top 10 in each category. Freshman Madison Murtagh has been a stout presence at the net, compiling 90 total blocks to rate fifth overall in the WCC, and the top freshman in the league. She stands in fourth in the conference in hitting percentage with a mark of .344. Sophomore Oluoma Okaro is one spot ahead, hitting .351 on the season to hold down the third slot.

Setting duties have been split between the duo of Kiara McKibben and Jurja Vlasic, with McKibben pacing the team with 537 assists for the Dons. Libero Kim Gutierrez leads the squad with 292 digs, or 4.00 per set, to help anchor USF's defensive efforts.

As a team, USF is second in the WCC in hitting percentage at .262 The squad  also is in the league's top three in kills per set (13.93) and assists per set (12.94). 

By the Numbers

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Kim Gutierrez … needs five digs to move to 15th on the all-time list passing Jaime Schopflin (801 digs; 96-98), 26 digs to move to 14th and 36 digs to leap to 13th all-time.
Kiara McKibben … stands in seventh on the career assists tally after passing Leanna Ludes (1783 assists; 09-12), and needs 91 assists to become the seventh Don to reach the 2,000-assist mark.
Katarina Pilepic … is climbing up the USF records books and needs 32 more kills to pass up Laura Tinetti to own 11th place. She needs just 55 kills to be the 11th woman to hit 1,000 kills in her career as a Don.
Madison Murtagh ... needs 10 blocks to reach the 100-block plateau in her first season on the Hilltop. 

Know the Foes

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Riding a eight-match losing streak, Portland enters the contest with a mark of 11-10 on the season with one victory in conference play. The Pilots are led by Emily Liger's 3.66 kills per set on offense, seventh in the WCC. Hanna Troutman is not far behind, with 3.38 kills per set to stand in 10th. Djurdjina Milovic directs the squad from the setting position with 10.49 assists per set.

Gonzaga enters the weekend with a 13-9 overall record, and a 4-5 mark in WCC play. The Bulldogs are paced by Savannah Blinn's 238 kills (4.15 k/s). Stout on the net, Gonzaga is second in the league with 2.58 blocks per set. Imani Wimbush (1.05 b/s), Paige Folger (1.02 b/s) and  Kaylie Loewen (1.01 b/s) hold down the front line.

Take Two 

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When USF welcomed Portland to War Memorial Gym on Sept. 30, the Dons were able to make quick work of the Pilots in the three-set sweep. The Dons hit .322 in the match with Katarina Pilepic and Oluoma Okaro notching 11 kills to lead the offensive charge.

In USF's first matchup with Gonzaga on Oct. 2, the Dons gutted out the five-set win helped by Katarina Pilepic's 23 kills on .315 hitting and 11 digs. Kiara McKibben dished out a season-high 44 assists and Madison Murtagh compiled 14 kills and five blocks in the match.

Last Time Out

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USF challenged throughout, but couldn't manage to overtake the visiting Pacific Tigers, falling 25-20, 25-22, 25-21 at home. 

The Dons were paced by 13 kills from Katarina Pilepic and a 10-kill effort off the hand of Oluoma Okaro. Kiara McKibben and Jurja Vlasic combined for 38 of the Dons' 39 assists, and Kim Gutierrez finished with a match-high 13 digs on the day.

A Look Ahead

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Following the trip to the Pacific Northwest, the Dons return to the Bay Area to face up with travel partner Santa Clara in its lone match of the upcoming week. The Dons and Broncos tussle on Thursday in Santa Clara.

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