SAN FRANCISCO – On Friday night, the USF women's volleyball team opened their season with a sweep over Nevada, marking Coach Lavrisha's first career, Division I win and first win at the Hilltop. In the first of Don's three matches in the Battle of the Bay Tournament, the home team showed real enthusiasm and teamwork as they fought their way to victory over the Wolfpack winning 26-24, 25-18, and 25-23.
 
Although it was a big W for Coach Lavrisha and his staff's, the veteran leader focused immediately on what the victory meant for his team: "For the players to believe in what we're doing and then see results, it really justifies why they're working hard. It doesn't always happen that way so it's exciting for them to see it unfold."
 
Set one was fast and furious, as both teams came out energized. Each squad registered 13 kills, 7 errors and nearly identical hitting percentages – Nevada recorded a .150 percentage to USF's .158. The teams traded points, until Laura Leap and Nora Buvarp-Lavik gave the Dons a huge double block to seal set one.
 
The duo proved to be a defensive force all night with Buvarp-Lavik registering four block assists, while Leap recorded three block assists and one solo block.
 
Nevada certainly felt the power at the net in the second set, as they were held to nine kills and a .033 hitting percentage. On the contrary, the Dons tallied their highest mark of the match with a .273 hitting percentage. Having put the visitors on their heels, USF entered into the third searching for a sweep.
 
The Wolfpack put up a tremendous fight, bouncing back from the second set to record 16 kills on a .314 hitting percentage. Shayla Hoeft had five kills in the set, adding to Madison's Foley eight kills. Foley would finish with a team-high 10 slams.
 
Although Hoeft and Foley helped Nevada to surge towards a fourth set, they ultimately had no answer for the tandem attack of freshman Erica Ronda (11) and Carly Lowry (12), who recorded a combined 23 kills on the match.
 
"In the third set, I stressed to them to impose our will and that we need to work harder," said Lavrisha. "I thought that's where Sabrina Blackwell did a really nice job, digging the ball up and passing."
 
Blackwell, another freshman, led the team with 12 digs, including five in the third set to help the Dons finish off the Wolfpack with a clean sheet.
 
Another integral part of tonight's success was Erin Anthony – a third freshman in the lineup. In her first career start, Anthony had a game-high 32 assists.
 
"The will to work is part of our foundation. Their enthusiasm for the game is the another part. You have to enjoy it. We also talked about being resilient. They're doing such a nice job of leading themselves and following what we are asking them to do."
 
The Dons return to the court tomorrow with an 11:30 a.m. match up against the Fresno State Bull Dogs, followed by a 7 p.m. meeting with San Jose State.
 
Both games will be available for streaming (stats and live coverage).
 
As always, staff, faculty, students with an ID and kids 12 and under get in free of charge!
 
Tickets can be purchased for $10, which allows access to all-day tournament action. There is a $5 discount for seniors (65 and up) and if you go online before the match, there is a $5 presale.