SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Following two five-set matches on the road, the University of San Francisco volleyball team (13-9, 6-4 WCC) returns to the Hilltop when it hosts Portland (11-10, 4-7 WCC) at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, and Oregon State (7-13, 5-5 WCC) at noon on Saturday, Nov. 9, at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. 
 
MATCH 23 INFORMATION:
Date: Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Opponent: Portland
Location: San Francisco, Calif./ War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Watch: ESPN+
Live Statistics: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here

MATCH 24 INFORMATION:
Date: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Opponent: Oregon State
Location: San Francisco, Calif./ War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Watch: ESPN+
Live Statistics: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• San Francisco enters the week in fifth place in the WCC standings after splitting its matches last week in five-set affairs. The Dons fell to Saint Mary's on Thursday, Oct. 31, before bouncing back to beat Pacific on Saturday, Nov. 2.
• Earning the team's second weekly honor of the season, Jolei Akima was named WCC Defensive Player of the Week following a stellar performance against Saint Mary's and Pacific. Akima accumulated 47 digs over 10 sets, averaging 4.70 digs per set last week. Highlighted by her performances against the Tigers, Akima tallied 29 digs, five short of her career high, and now ranks second in the WCC in digs, with 351.
• Michalina Rola led the team offensively, recording 18 kills against the Gaels before posting 20 at the Tigers in its five-set victory.
• Two other players reached double-digit kills last week, with Hayden Goodman recording 12 in the match against Saint Mary's and Maria Petkova tallying 16 in the win over Pacific.
• Continuing to dominate as a team offensively, San Francisco leads the league with a .251 hitting percentage on the season. Goodman ranks first on the team and third in the WCC, swinging at a .336 clip, while Delaney Ewing ranks fourth at .326.

SCOUTING THE PILOTS:

• Portland comes to the Hilltop in eighth place in the league standings with a record of 4-7. After a five-set loss against Pacific on Thursday, Oct. 31, Portland returned to the win column, ending its four-match losing streak with a sweep over Gonzaga on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Chiles Center.
• Taina Kaauwai leads the Pilots on both sides of the ball, ranking first in blocks (90) and hitting percentage (.383). Kaauwai is among the best all-around players in the conference, placing second and sixth in the WCC in blocks and hitting percentage.
• Leading the team from the setter position, Tinoa Woodward-Hart leads the Pilots in total assists with 754, ranking third in the WCC and second in assists per set with 9.20.

SCOUTING THE BEAVERS:

• Winning three of its last four matches, Oregon State makes the trip to the Bay Area to face Santa Clara on Thursday, Nov. 7, before coming to the Hilltop on Saturday, Nov 9.
• The Beavers enter the week with a 5-5 league record after recently defeating Gonzaga in straight sets on Thursday, Oct. 31 in Corvallis.
• Lauren Rumel carried the Beavers in the win over the Bulldogs with 20 kills and a .529 hitting percentage. Rumel has the second most kills on the team with 237 on the season while Annika Hester leads the program with 246.
• Definitely, Yasemin Narlioglu ranks first on the team in digs with 245, eighth most in the conference, and third most in digs per set at 3.45.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Since 2002, San Francisco leads the overall series history against Portland, winning 27 of the 44 meetings. The Dons came out victorious in the first matchup this season, earning a four-set win over the Pilots on Oct. 10, at Chlies Center.
• San Francisco and Oregon State will face each other for the 11th time in program history, as the Beavers hold a 10-0 advantage. The Beavers downed the Dons in Corvallis earlier this season, earning a five-set win on Saturday, Oct. 12.

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 – Coca-Cola - 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.