University of San Francisco Athletics

Complete match notes (PDF)

USF vs. Santa Clara
Match 20
Friday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

San Francisco Dons 9-10 (5-4 WCC)		Santa Clara Broncos 7-11 (2-7 WCC)
955 .233 875 93 1084 145.0	KILLS ATTACK PCT. ASSISTS ACES DIGS TOTAL BLOCKS	983 .219 912 106 979 132.5
All-Time vs. Broncos: 11-59 Last meeting: Sept. 26, 2013; W 3-2 (20-25, 17-25, 27-25, 28-26, 15-8)

#WeAreSF
The University of San Francisco women's volleyball rides a two-game winning streak - and three-game home streak - into its Friday contest with Santa Clara. The Dons are seeking a Bay Area sweep in War Memorial Gym after knocking off Saint Mary's and Pacific last week in resounding fashion.
 
Rewarded for her efforts in the pair of victories, junior Valentina Zaloznik was awarded with her first career nod as West Coast Conference Player of the Week, after compiling 30 kills and 10 total blocks for USF. [Watch the highlights from her award-winning week]

 
Last time the Dons and the Broncos met was Sept. 26, in Santa Clara, as USF powered to a come-from-behind victory in five sets. In that match, Katarina Pilepic led the way for the Dons with 14 kills, Mackenzie Murtagh finished with 26 assists and Ester de Vries dug out a team-high 15 balls. Down to match-point in the third with the score at 24-20, USF thwarted Santa Clara's bid for the sweep and turned the tables to reign victorious, finishing the decisive fifth set with a 15-8 win. The Dons' defense held the Broncos to .000 hitting in the final frame of the contest.

Welcome Back Alumnae
Friday's match marks the start of USF volleyball alumnae weekend, with various graduates of the USF program returning to the Hilltop. After Friday's match, all alumnae are invited to reunite and celebrate together with the 2013 team at a post-match reception held in the Faculty Staff Dining Room at the UC. Unlimited appetizers and one adult beverage is provided for $7 at the door.

Get Spooky
Fans are invited to attend the match in costume, with a halftime contest to judge the best-dressed. The winner will receive selected USF Dons volleyball gear. As always, fans are invited to stay for post-match autographs with the team.
 
Potent Quotables
"Right now, we've won at Saint Clara and we beat Saint Mary's and Pacific at home. If we can beat Santa Clara Friday, we're the Bay's team. I think this shows that we belong in the Bay Area and the USF volleyball program is getting better. Pacific was a Final Four and a national championship team and Santa Clara was a Final Four team not too long ago. From when I came here to where we are now the program has grown so much." – Gilad Doron on Bay Area competition
 
Pacific Remix
After jumping out to a two sets to none lead, USF let the Tigers get back into the mix after dropping sets three and four to even the score. However, the decisive fifth set was all Dons, as USF ended the match on an 8-1 run to take the frame 15-8. Zaloznik finished with a team-high 19 kills on an eye-popping .516 attack percentage and eight total blocks, with senior Malina Terrell adding 17 kills in the win.
 
Scouting the Dons
USF's Zaloznik is leading the way with 230 kills on a .365 attack percentage, 72 total blocks and 25 service aces. Her attack percentage ranks third in the WCC and 59th in the nation.
 
Senior Mackenzie Murtagh leads USF in assists on the year, tallying 421, or 5.47 per set, to pace the Dons. Rebecca Kopilovitch stands as the USF dig leader in 2013, and needs just four more digs to own third in the career lists.all-time lists.

Records Watch
Three USF players are inching their way up the Dons all-time leaders lists:

USF Career Digs Leaders 1. Haley Carroll (2006-09)- 2,089 2. Brynn Maurer (2004-07) - 1,703 3. Melanie Kaiser (1988-91) - 1,246 4. Rebecca Kopilovitch (2010-) - 1,243

USF Career Kills Leaders 15. Alix Gombos (2005-08) - 824 16. KeLicia Shorts (2002-05) - 811 17. Malina Terrell (2010-) - 809 18. Valentina Zaloznik (2011-) - 769

Scouting the Broncos
Santa Clara is in the midst of a five-game losing stream and looks to notch its second win of the month as the team heads to War Memorial Gym.  The Broncos are led by Megan Anders' 3.05 kills per set. Primary assist duties fall to Alyssa Anderson, who helps on 9.92 balls per set. Five Broncos have reached the 100-dig mark on the season.
 
WCC Player of the Week
Valentina Zaloznik's selection as WCC Player of the Week (Oct. 21) was the first Don to be recognized by the conference for a weekly honor in nearly four years. The last USF player awarded this weekly honor was Haley Carroll (Nov. 9, 2009).
 
Streaking!
The Dons, riding a three-match conference home streak for the first time since 2009's consecutive conference wins at home against Santa Clara, Gonzaga and Portland.
 
Home is Where the Heart Is
... and for the USF volleyball team, their heart is in the City by the Bay. All told, the Dons have traveled more the 53,220 miles from Hometown to the Hilltop, and the roster represents six countries and three states.

Get Connected
Fans can keep up on the latest in USF Athletics in a variety of ways.
Follow USF Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ DonsAthletics
Follow USF volleyball on Facebook at www.facebook.com/University.of.SanFrancisco.Volleyball
Check out video of the Dons in action at www.youtube.com/usfdonsathletics