SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco volleyball team (6-6) kicks off West Coast Conference action when it hosts Gonzaga (3-8) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21 and Portland (5-7) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
Coming off three-straight home wins and a USF Challenge title last weekend, San Francisco looks to continue its success heading into conference play.
 
MATCH 13 INFORMATION:
Date: Thursday, Sept. 21
Time: 7 p.m.
Opponent: Gonzaga
Location: San Francisco, Calif. / War Memorial at the Sobrato Center 
Watch: ESPN+
Live Statistics: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
  
MATCH 14 INFORMATION:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 23
Time: 1 p.m.
Opponent: Portland 
Location: San Francisco, Calif. / War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Watch: ESPN+
Live Statistics: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• Currently, on a three-match winning streak, the Dons defeated San Jose State, UT Rio Grande Valley, and CSUN last weekend at home to win the USF Challenge title.
• Maria Petkova was named tournament MVP after posting 46 kills while accumulating a .258 hitting percentage. Petkova leads the team and ranks sixth in the conference with a 3.25 kills per set ratio.
• Hayden Goodman was named to the USF Challenge All-tournament team after leading the team defensively throughout the weekend. Recording 16 total blocks in three contests, Goodman accumulated a season-high seven in wins over San Jose State and CSUN. Goodman leads the team with 45 blocks while ranking second in solo blocks with five. 

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:

• Gonzaga, dropping three straight in its home tournament last weekend, enters Thursday's matchup with a 3-8 record and is in ninth place in the conference standings.
• Zoe Thiros leads the Zags offensively through 11 matches, recording 118 kills in 36 sets played. A staple on the defensive side of the ball, Thiros ranks in a tie for second on the team with four solo blocks.
• Ranking second in the WCC, Nia Damuni leads the Zags with 356 assists and has added 75 digs. 

SCOUTING THE PILOTS:

• Dropping three of its last four matches, Portland enters the matchup with a 5-7 record after falling to UNLV and Coppin State last weekend in Las Vegas.
• Maui Robins, the lone Pilot to register 100 or more kills during non-conference play, leads the team and ranks second in the conference with 165 kills.
• Una Rajkovic has boosted the Pilots' offensive game, accumulating 26 service aces and ranking second in the WCC with an average of 0.53 service aces per set. 

SERIES HISTORY:

• Since the 2002 season, San Francisco has recorded 22 wins over Gonzaga, winning three of the last five meetings. Last season, the Dons swept the Zags in both matches, winning 3-0 at home on October 13 and on the road on November 12.
• San Francisco holds a 22-16 record over Portland since 2002 and won 15 straight matches against the Pilots from 2003 until 2009. The two teams split the two meetings a season ago, with the Dons earning a five-set win at home on October 15.

TRACK THE ACTION:
San Francisco home matches will be broadcasted on ESPN+ at game time. Live streaming and live statistics links are available above and 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.

MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - Nike - 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.