SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco volleyball team (6-5) opened the USF Challenge with a sweep, defeating Air Force (1-9) 3-0 Friday evening at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Following a split of the first eight points, San Francisco dominated the opening frame, recording eight straight points to go ahead 12-4. Hayden Goodman led the Dons during the run, accumulating three kills and a block assist to guide the team to a commanding advantage.
• The Dons continued to build momentum, increasing their lead to 10, 16-6, on a Michalina Rola kill.
• The green and gold, leading 20-12 near the end of the frame, recorded five of the final seven points to take an early lead in the match, 25-13.
• In a tight start to the second set, San Francisco held a narrow 5-3 lead before Air Force rebounded with a 6-2 run to gain a 9-7 edge in the early stages.
• The Dons responded with eight unanswered points, regaining the lead for good at 15-9. Rola and Astrid Puig paced the team through the scoring run, combining for seven kills and a block assist.
• The Falcons continued to battle, bringing the frame to within two, 20-18, but back-to-back kills from Goodman and Puig solidified the set for the Dons, 25-20.
• In an error-stricken start to the third set, the teams combined for seven errors as the green and gold held a narrow 5-4 advantage.
• Shortly after the Falcons jumped ahead 7-6, Maria Petkova kickstarted a 6-0 run to push the Dons ahead, 12-7. The Dons' defensive presence continued to show during the run, forcing the Falcons into four attack errors.
• Leading 20-12, San Francisco closed the match strong, highlighted by kills from Lindsay Oldendorf and Rola and a solo block from Goodman to give the Dons a 25-18 win.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Rola led the Dons offensively as she nearly recorded a double-double with a team-high 13 kills and eight digs. Her .522 hitting percentage surpassed her previous career best set earlier this season, as she also recorded one attack error in 23 attempts.
• Reaching 30 assists in nine of the last 10 matches, Aylen Ayub posted 33 to lead the team while adding four digs and three block assists.
• Goodman led the Dons' frontline as she posted eight total blocks. She also added six kills on nine attempts for a .667 hitting percentage.

POSTGAME WITH THE DONS:

• To view the full highlights from tonight's match, please click here. 
• To view the full postgame interview with head coach Diogo Silva, please click here.
• To view the gull postgame interview with Hayden Goodman and Michalina Rola, please click here. 

UP NEXT:
San Francisco returns to action at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, when it concludes the USF Challenge against Seattle U at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
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.