SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco volleyball team had three players log double-digit kills Thursday and Kathya Garcia posted her team-leading ninth double-double as the Dons pushed visiting Gonzaga, but the Bulldogs were able to hold off USF for a 3-1 (25-16, 25-19, 22-25, 25-16) West Coast Conference victory at War Memorial at Sobrato Center.


 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Francisco (8-16, 1-12 WCC) took early multi-point leads in each of the first three sets, but Gonzaga (7-15, 4-8 WCC) climbed back into it each time, and from there both teams would go back and forth. There were 20 tie scores and eight lead changes across the first three sets. The Bulldogs' block was working early in the first set, as they got five of their first 12 points in the match on blocks. A 10-2 run by Gonzaga midway through the first set broke what was a 10-10 tie en route to a 25-16 set victory.
   
• The teams were tied for longer in set two, with Garcia putting down a kill for USF to make it 13-13. But another Gonzaga run – this time a 7-2 stretch – put it up for good on its way to a 25-19 set win and a 2-0 match lead. The Bulldogs got kills from five different players during that run, including three from Kennedy Croft.
   
• San Francisco took a card out of Gonzaga's deck in the third set, snapping a 10-10 tie with a quick 4-0 sprint for a 14-10 lead it would not surrender again. Gonzaga tied it at 17-17 and again at 22-22, but USF ran off three straight points to clinch it. Ally Wada's service ace capped the 25-22 set victory and made it a 2-1 match score.
   
• Gonzaga turned up the pressure in the fourth frame, jumping out quickly to a 10-3 advantage. San Francisco pulled to within 14-10 on a 4-1 run thanks to two Gonzaga errors and kills from Lena Bondar and Katie Wagstaff, but the Bulldogs distanced themselves with four straight points (three kills) and it was suddenly 18-10 on their way to a 25-16 match-clinching set win.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 2: Erin Anthony posted two service aces for the second straight match. It was her sixth time this season with multiple aces in a match.
• 9: Garcia logged her team-leading ninth double-double Thursday. She had 10 kills and 14 digs. She also added a service aces, a block and an assist.
• 21: Anthony's 21 assists were her most since logging 28 also against Gonzaga on Oct. 6 in Spokane. It was her 14th 20-plus assists match this season.

COMING UP

• San Francisco hosts Portland at noon on Saturday for Senior Day in its final home match of 2018. Seniors Lena Bondar and Marjolijn Oskam will be honored in a pre-match ceremony.
   
• Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.