DAVIS, Calif. – Aiming to get back on track, the University of San Francisco women's volleyball team (0-4) battled Nevada (1-5) to the brink in each set of their match on Saturday afternoon, but ultimately could not find the momentum they needed as the Dons fell to the Wolfpack in straight sets, 3-0.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• In what proved to be a back-and-forth affair, USF and Nevada traded points to begin the match in the first set, with each team seeming to match each other stride-for-stride. Down the stretch, Nevada would rally off a 6-1 stretch to overtake the Dons and secure their first set win, 25-22. After the first set, Shyia Richardson and Kellen Martins had tied for the team lead with three kills each while Aylen Ayub was pacing USF with six assists.
• Similar to the first set, the two teams would exchange blows as the match played on, which included a dominant 6-0 run in the middle of the second set that saw the Dons climb back from five points down to take a 19-18 lead. Shortly thereafter, the Wolfpack answered the call with a run of their own as they countered with a 7-2 stretch to steal the second set from USF, 25-21.
• Although the Dons would reel off five straight points to begin the third set, Nevada responded when it mattered most once again, tallying four straight points at the 17-15 mark to jump back on top, 18-17. Digging deep in an effort to advance to a fourth set, Richardson and Orsula Staka would register back-to-back kills in the final moments to give USF the lead back 22-21. Displaying their grit, the Wolfpack quickly battled back to tie the score and ultimately retake their advantage. Locking in their first win of 2021, Nevada would go on to defeat USF 25-23 in the third set and secure the match victory. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Proving to be a consistent threat for the Dons on the attack, Richardson was named to the All-Tournament team after a game-high 13 kills and 7 digs against the Wolfpack. Overall, the freshman tallied 19 kills, 11 digs and 1 assists over two matches at the Aggie Invitational.
• For Martins, her 9 kills and 4 blocks both mark new career-high while Staka also tallied a new season-high with four total blocks herself.
• Defensively, Letizia Aquilino has been a consistent presence for the Dons as the freshman recorded 13 digs against the Wolfpack on Saturday, marking her third straight match reaching double figures in digs. 

UP NEXT:
USF will return home to San Francisco as they host Utah State and CSU Bakersfield in a tournament at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center next weekend, Sept. 10-11. Notably, it will be the first home matches of the season for the Dons. Fans are allowed in attendance but will be required to wear a facemask at all times while inside a USF Athletics facility. Live streaming and live statistics links for all of the matches will be available via the team's schedule page.
 
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