MORAGA, Calif. – Crossing the Bay Bridge for their first road match of conference play, the University of San Francisco volleyball team (7-6, 0-2 WCC) battled Saint Mary's (6-5, 3-0 WCC) on Tuesday night, but ultimately fell to the Gaels, 3-0, at University Credit Union Pavilion.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Saint Mary's jumped out to an early 4-0 lead to begin the match, but USF quickly responded to knot the match at 6-6 on back-to-back kills from Maria Petkova. As the first set progressed, the Dons took control as they grabbed a 15-12 lead following a kill from Claire Crijns. Shortly thereafter, SMC answered by ripping off a 10-3 run to go back in front, 22-18. Holding on to take the first set, the Gaels topped the Dons, 25-21, to take a 1-0 lead.
• Similar to set one, Saint Mary's used their home court advantage to gain momentum early as the Gaels started with a 7-2 lead in the second set. Battling with each serve, the Dons made it tough on SMC, but they were ultimately able to handle the green and gold in set two, 25-19.
• Moving into the third set, USF came within three points, 17-14, on a duo block from Orsula Staka and Lana Kutakhina. Aiming to take their Bay Area rival to a fourth set, the Dons never gave up as the Gaels has to earn every point to close out the match, but Saint Mary's went on to win set three, 25-21, and improve to 3-0 in conference play with a straight sweep on Tuesday night. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Leading the attack offensively, Petkova tallied a team-high eleven kills against the Gaels, marking the seventh time in which she has recorded double-digit kills this season.
• Defensively, Abby Wadas registered a team-high 15 digs, marking the fourth straight match in which she has reached double figures in digs and the ninth time overall this year.
• As a team, USF had success at the net as the Dons led SMC in blocks, 6-3, which included a game-high three blocks from Staka. 

UP NEXT:
USF will make their way back home as the Dons will host two more conference opponents this weekend when they welcome No. 20 Pepperdine on Thursday, Sept. 29 and Loyola Marymount on Saturday, Oct. 1. Live streaming, live statistics and tickets for both matches are available via the team's schedule page.
 
FOLLOW US:
For more information and updates on the University of San Francisco volleyball program, be sure to follow the Dons on Twitter @USFDonsVB, @USFDonsVB on Instagram and @USFDonsVball on Facebook.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS: 
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - Provident Credit Union - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.