SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Highlighted by a balanced attack and strong defense, the University of San Francisco volleyball team (2-2) secured a come-from-behind victory, defeating New Mexico State (1-2), 3-2 Thursday evening in the opening match of the Sacramento Invitational at The Best.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• San Francisco came out fast in the opening frame, winning four of the first five points to secure a 4-1 advantage. The Dons continued to build their lead later on as back-to-back kills from Amelia Dombrowska gave the green and gold a 6-2 lead.
• New Mexico State answered shortly after, using a 3-0 run, highlighted by a Yasso Amin kill and service ace, to cut the deficit to one, 7-6.
• The Dons held the narrow edge throughout the frame and scored on three of the final four points to secure the first set, 25-19.
• In a highly contested second set, New Mexico State, with the frame tied at 18, scored seven of the final eight points to even the match at a set apiece, 25-19.
• The Aggies continue to build on their momentum in the third, jumping out to an early 5-1 lead in part to kills from Yasso and Nicole Briggs.
• Delaney Ewing recorded a kill later on to conclude a 7-4 run to get the Dons within one, 9-8, before the Aggies scored the following three points to build their advantage.
• Trailing 23-17 late in the frame, San Francisco recorded an impressive 7-1 scoring run to tie the set at 24. Despite the comeback, New Mexico State recorded the final two points to secure the match lead with a 26-24 third-set victory.
• Momentum shifted in the fourth frame as the Dons tied the match at two sets apiece. Early in the set, Aylen Ayub highlighted a 4-0 scoring run to put the Dons up 9-5 with consecutive service aces, while Hayden Goodman and Astrid Puig guided the team defensively with block assists.
• Nearly leading wire-to-wire in the fourth, grabbed a 23-16 advantage following a 5-0 run. Astrid Puig and Goodman combined for four kills during the scoring run, while the Aggies recorded an attack error.
• The Aggies put together a final run at the end of the frame, reaching within two points with a 5-0 scoring run. The Dons, however, prevailed and recorded the final point to win the set, 25-22.
• San Francisco dominated in the fifth and final frame, winning 15 of the 19 points to secure the match, 15-4. Trailing early, 2-1, the Dons scored nine straight points to gain the advantage, with Abby Wadas posting two service aces and kills from Puig, Ewing, and Dombrowska.
• The match with a green and gold 4-0 run as Jamie Low secured the set win with a service ace.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Dombrowska led the team offensively, recording a career-best 20 kills, seven digs, and two blocks.
• Goodman and Aylen Ayub posted double-doubles as Goodman totaled 10 kills and a career-high 11 blocks, while Ayub posted 42 assists and 15 digs.
• Defensively, the Dons totaled a season-high 14 blocks, marking the fourth straight match the team has accumulated 10 or more blocks.

UP NEXT:
San Francisco returns to action at 4:00 p.m. when it takes on CSUN on Friday, Sept. 6, in the Sacramento Invitational at The Nest.
 
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.