Winning Streak Extends to Six as Dons Defeat Pilots on the Road

Thursday, October 10

Portland, Ore.

6:00 p.m.

University of San Francisco

11-5,4-0WCC

Portland

9-6,2-3WCC

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
San Francisco	25	25	21	25	3
Portland	18	15	25	16	1

Photo by: Christina Leung

Winning Streak Extends to Six as Dons Defeat Pilots on the Road

10/10/2024 8:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. – The University of San Francisco volleyball team (11-5, 4-0 WCC) extended its winning streak to six following a four-set victory over Portland (9-6, 2-3 WCC) Thursday evening at Chiles Center, marking the program's best start to conference play since 2008.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Never trailing in the opening frame, San Francisco began the first set with an 8-3 scoring run, as Michalina Rola led the charge offensively with two kills. Astrid Puig and Abby Wadas contributed one kill apiece, while the defense forced Portland into two attack errors.
The Pilots responded swiftly, recording five straight points to tie the frame at eight. In a back-and-forth affair, the programs traded points as the Dons held a narrow 12-11 advantage midway through.
Hayden Goodman spearheaded a 9-2 scoring run for the Dons shortly after, securing an eight-point lead. Goodman totaled three kills throughout the run and guided the defense with one block.
The green and gold, firmly in control, held on despite a late push from Portland to take the first set, 25-18.
In a highly competitive start to the second set, San Francisco and Portland split the first 18 points as the frame was deadlocked at nine. Goodman once again propelled the Dons into the lead, posting back-to-back kills to give the team an 11-9 edge. Rola also gave the Dons an offensive spark, posting two kills to help the green and gold to a 15-9 advantage.
Leading 23-15 late in the frame, a Pilot service error and blocks from Goodman and Puig gave the Dons a 25-15 second-set victory.
Portland took its first lead of the match in the third set, winning the opening point to take a 1-0 lead. Pulling ahead shortly after, San Francisco, led by Goodman, Rola, and Maria Petkova, grabbed an 8-4 advantage.
Portland recorded 10 of the following 11 points, its biggest scoring run of the evening, taking control for a 14-9 lead.
Holding the lead throughout the remainder of the frame, the Pilots recorded three of the final five points to edge the Dons 25-21.
Momentum shifted in the fourth set as San Francisco won 12 of the first 17 points for a 12-5 lead. Refusing to back down, Portland cut the deficit to three, 16-13, capping a 7-2 scoring run with a kill from Lucia Busso.
The Dons pushed the lead back up to six shortly after, 20-14, and then won five of the final six points to secure the set, 25-16, and the match win.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

Three players reached double-digit kills, with Goodman leading the way with 15. Petkova and Rola finished the match with 14 and 11 kills, respectively.
Goodman also posted a team-best .591 hitting percentage while guiding the team defensively with four digs and four blocks from the middle blocker position.
Aylen Ayub accumulated 44 assists during the four-set affair, reaching the 40-assist threshold for the first time since recording 49 against CSUN.
Defensively, the Dons totaled 13 total blocks, as Puig led the program with six. Delaney Ewing added five, while Goodman and Rola posted four apiece.
As a team, San Francisco recorded a .314 hitting percentage, marking the sixth time the team has hit over .300 in a match this season. The Dons continue to rank first in the WCC in hitting percentage at .262.

UP NEXT:
San Francisco continues its Pacific Northwest road trip when it faces off against Oregon State at noon on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Gill Coliseum

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 – 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.