Match 19: USF (15-3, 2-3 WCC) vs. Santa Clara (13-4, 4-1 WCC)
Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. | War Memorial GymAll-time vs. Broncos: 13-60 • 10-25 home
Current streak: L1
• Last 5: 3-2 • Last 10: 5-5
Last meeting: 11/20/14 (A) • L, 0-3; 18-25, 22-25, 24-26
WCC Gametracker |
GIVE to USF's Dig Pink InitiativeComplete match notes (PDF)#15sports1team
After a successful weekend on the Hilltop, the San Francisco volleyball team prepares to welcome its longest rival, Santa Clara, to the court for a Friday match. The Dons, 15-3 on the season, are in the midst of their hottest start since 2006.
The first 200 fans in attendance at Friday's Dig Pink match will receive USF's 2015-16 pink t-shirt.
What 2 Watch 4
The Dons are scorching the NCAA and WCC leaderboards, finding themselves in the top 25 nationally in six categories as a team stats. USF is outhitting opponents .278 to .178, with their hitting percentage standing in first in the WCC and 13th in the NCAA. USF's kills per set tally (14.25 k/s) is tops in the league and 16th in the nation. As a team, the Dons are averaging 13.33 assists per set, 16th nationally and second in the conference.
Katarina Pilepic leads the squad in total kills (240), kills per set (3.93) and points (272.0), standing in the WCC top 10 in each category. Freshman
Madison Murtagh has been a stout presence at the net, compiling 75 total blocks to rate fifth in the WCC. She stands in second in the conference in hitting percentage with a mark of .362.
Setting duties have been split between the duo of
Kiara McKibben and
Jurja Vlasic, with McKibben pacing the team with 434 assists for the Dons. Libero
Kim Gutierrez leads the squad with 246 digs, or 4.03 per set to help anchor USF's defensive efforts.
By the Numbers
Kim Gutierrez … needs 37 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), last weekend, and needs 176 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 last week. She needs 24 kills to overtake Malina Terrell ('10-13 - 914 kills) for 12th, and 109 kills to be the 11th woman to hit 1,000 kills in her career as a Don
Know the Foe
Santa Clara enters War Memorial Gym riding a four-match winning streak after notching wins against then-No. 10 BYU, Saint Mary's, Portland and Gonzaga. The Broncos have an overall mark of 13-4, and stand at 4-1 in WCC action.
Sabrina Clayton headlines the Santa Clara service line stats, averaging a league-best 0.52 aces per set, which is 10th in the nation. Offensively, the squad is led by Nikki Hess, who has compiled 240 kills, or 4.14 per set, to rank third in the league. Kirsten Mean, the Santa Clara setter, dishes out a average of 11.02 assists per set and is tout from the service line with 24 aces, both rating third in the WCC. Jensen Cunningham holds down the front line and denies an average of 1.25 attempts per set, where she has totaled 71 blocks on the year.
Last Time Out
The Dons made quick work of the visiting Portland Pilots, easing to the 25-20, 25-16, 25-22 victory on the home court. The sweep was the ninth of the season for USF.
The Dons were seeing doubles on the stat sheet with the pair of
Katarina Pilepic and
Oluoma Okaro finishing with 11 kills apiece,
Kiara McKibben and
Jurja Vlasic each notched 18 assists, and McKibben and
Kim Gutierrez both recorded 14 digs to lead the Dons.
Preseason Poll
The Dons were selected to finish tied for eighth in the West Coast Conference's annual preseason poll. USF received 22 points in the poll, alongside Saint Mary's and above Portland. After a record-setting march to the 2014 NCAA National Championship match, BYU was picked as the unanimous favorite to win the 2015 crown.
A Look Ahead
Next on the docket for the Dons is a road trip to the Southland. USF takes on Loyola Marymount next Thursday, and takes to the court in Malibu on Saturday against Pepperdine.
Get Connected
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 onlineOn Comcast SportsNet California in USF Athletics' monthly show, "Behind the Mask"With previews, recaps, videos, features and more as seen on USFDons.com
