Watch the videoMORAGA, Calif. – Playing its final match of the 2015 campaign against Bay Area rival Saint Mary's, the San Francisco volleyball team sent its senior class out in style in the 3-1 victory on Tuesday night at McKeon Pavilion.
The Dons finish with a 17-14 overall record after rolling off a string of 13 straight to start the season. The win in Moraga is the first for USF since the 2011 campaign, and the Dons now own the 39-38 advantage in the all-time series over one of its longest competitors.
"Any time you win here against a Bay Area rival is a great feeling," noted head coach
Gilad Doron. "It really showed this team that all the hard work does pay off. Everyone come to play today, and when you put in the work and believe, good things will happen. We end with a winning season and hopefully we can build on it and be an even tougher team next year with our incoming group."
The Dons were stout on the net, solid from the serve and ready with the attack to notch the victory. USF junior
Katarina Pilepic picked up her sixth double-double of the season with team-highs of 14 kills and 17 digs on the night.
Oluoma Okaro added 11 kills, a career-high six service aces and five blocks for USF. Setter
Kiara McKibben also notched the double-double, her ninth of the year, with 26 assists and 16 digs.
"Its' a great way to end the season," said Doron. "We got great contributions from many players. On defense, our blocking was very good, we were zoned in, and four players finished in double digits digging. Offensively, we were very smart with the ball and kept rallies alive all night. I am really proud how we stuck together and found a way to get a much needed win."
The Dons dominated the first set, jumping out to a 6-1 advantage after Pilepic's first kill of the evening found the floor. The lead ballooned to 17-6 with Okaro manning the serve as she nabbed all six of her aces in a span of seven points for USF. The Dons took the first set 25-17 after Okaro's point off the assist from
Jurja Vlasic capped the frame.
The Gaels rallied back to earn the 25-21 victory in the second, knotting the match heading into the halftime break.
The final two sets of the night proved to be a battle, but USF found the will to grab the win. In the third, Saint Mary's edged out to an 8-5 lead after Alexis Salmons went up for the kill. USF used a 7-2 run later in the set, overtaking the Gaels 14-13 after a kill for
Emily Reed. The Dons would never trail again in the frame, getting late-set blocks from Okaro, Reed, McKibben and
Jessica Gaffney to close with the 25-18 win
In the final frame of the night, the Dons Built a four point lead after Pilepic's ball made it 7-3. Saint Mary's scrapped back to cut the lead to 9-8 after another attack from Salmons, but the Dons held tight, growing the advantage to 16-12 off another Pilepic kill off the pass from
Madison Murtagh. The Dons closed out the frame 25-19, punctuated with a blocks for Murtagh and Reed to turn away the Gaels and earn the season sweep.
The Dons finished with the 12-5 advantage on the block, outhit Saint Mary's .207 to .109, and finished with an 87-74 advantage in digs in the contest. The match constitutes the final time on the hardwood for a class of four seniors, led by captain
Jurja Vlasic. Also playing in their final match of their indoor collegiate career were Staengle,
Jessica Keenan and
Courtney Sabahi, with each playing vital roles for the Dons.
"This team never quit, stayed together, continued to get better through the ups and downs and tough moments, and it is a great testament to the senior leadership," said Doron. "These four believed in what we were doing throughout their careers, and I hope future leaders in the program can learn from them that team is more important than individual."
