HONOLULU – Hitting proved to be a key to the match, and the No. 25 UCLA Bruins' offensive advantage was too much for San Francisco volleyball to overcome Thursday night at the Stan Sherriff Center.

After a loss in the opening match of the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Volleyball Challenge, the Dons move to 5-2 on the year, while UCLA improves to 3-3. The Bruins won the match in straight sets, 25-19, 25-13, 25-19, paced by the nation's leading scorer, Karsta Lowe. UCLA's senior outside hitter finished the match with 16 kills on .520 hitting to lead all players. She is averaging 7.07 kills and 8.07 points per set on the year.

A pair of Dons, Valentina Zaloznik and Katarina Pilepic, finished the evening with eight kills each. Only four other women recorded points for USF, as the Dons hit .093 for the match. Hawaii native Kiara McKibben finished with 14 assists and five digs to lead in both categories. Both teams faltered from the serve at an unusual clip, with UCLA committing 11 errors and USF missing on nine attempts from the service line.

In the first set, the Dons were outhit .559 to .259 and that gap proved to be too great of a difference to overcome. However, USF kept the set close and a block from Zaloznik and Segota on the Lowe attack made the score 8-6 in favor of UCLA. A kill from Pilepic followed by a service ace at the line put USF in striking distance at 13-11, but the Dons got stuck on 12 points. UCLA built the lead to six points before going on to win the set 25-19.

The second started with signs of life as Oluoma Okaro's ball found the hardwood for the opening point. But the Bears would score the next five points, all on Dons' attack errors, to take the lead. The Dons would hit -.074 in the frame as UCLA ran away with the 25-13 win.

In the third, USF began the frame with determined and powerful attacks leading to points. The Dons eased out to a 4-3 lead on an ace from Kim Gutierrez, and led 6-4 after UCLA's attack went wide of the line. UCLA then went on a 6-1 run to regain the lead in the set, which they would never relinquish. The Bruins went on to win the final set 25-19. Interestingly, UCLA has not played a match to go to four sets thus far in the season.

Next, the Dons will play Utah State Friday evening at 8 p.m. PT, before closing out the Challenge Sunday against No. 22 Hawaii.