SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Despite grabbing an early lead in the match, the University of San Francisco volleyball team (2-6) dropped a heartbreaking five-set decision to San Jose State (4-5) on Wednesday evening in the opening match of the USF Challenge at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- In a back-and-forth opening frame, San Francisco broke out to a 16-10 advantage at the halfway point of the first set. A team effort on the offensive side of the ball pushed the Dons ahead as Hannah Taylor, Astrid Puig, Shannon Knight, Emilija Arsic, and Hokulani Perez recorded kills early in the set.
- Throughout the frame, the Dons recorded a .367 attack percentage with 15 kills as the team earned a 25-23 set win to take the early advantage in the match.
- San Francisco dominated throughout the second set, gaining a 22-14 lead in part to an impressive 8-2 scoring run. The green and gold continued to produce on the offensive end while forcing the Spartans into two attack errors during the run.
- San Jose State answered near the end of the frame, using an 8-2 run to trim the deficit to 24-22. The green and gold, however, responded with the final point to take the second set, 25-22.
- After San Jose State third and fourth-set victories to even the match at two sets apiece, the Spartans dominated the deciding frame, winning the fifth set and match, 15-7.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
- Puig led San Francisco offensively, recording a team-high 15 kills while swinging at a .367 clip. Her double-digit kill total marked the third straight match of at least 10 kills while registering a .300 hitting percentage or better twice.
- Appearing in all five sets, Cagla Bengi impressed with a team-high and season-best 25 assists. Andrea Fabikovicová also reached the 20-assist threshold, with 24.
- As a team, the Dons totaled a season-high 17 blocks, with four players recording five or more throughout the match. Perez led the program with eight, while Taylor (seven), Knight (six), and Puig (five) helped guide the front line.
POSTGAME WITH THE DONS:
UP NEXT:
San Francisco returns to War Memorial at the Sobrato Center when it faces off against CSUN at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18 in the second match of the USF Challenge.
FOLLOW US:
For more information and updates on the University of San Francisco volleyball program, 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.
*This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.*
