#WeAreSF
The University of San Francisco volleyball team takes a trip across the Pacific to face its first Top 25 ranked opponents of the 2014 season in the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Volleyball Challenge.Â
On Thursday, the Dons meet up with No. 25 UCLA for just the second time in program history before facing off with Utah State on Friday. Sunday, the challenge will be capped off with the host Rainbow Wahine going up against the Dons. USF will be seeking its first win against Hawaii, who is ranked No. 25 in the latest AVCA polls.Â
The Dons are coming off a 2013 campaign in which USF finished the year with a final record of 13-16, and a WCC mark of 9-9 to take fourth in the league.
What 2 Watch 4
San Francisco's senior class continues to be team leaders for the Dons, with Valentina Zaloznik and Anja Segota each compiling 68 kills through USF's first six matches. Segota has netted three double-doubles in the season, already surpassing her previous career total (2), entering the year. Freshman Kim Gutierrez is leading the defensive charge, amassing 95 digs with a 4.52 dig per set average. Kiara McKibben took over primary setting duties in 2014 and has assisted on 209 scoring plays for the Dons, an average of 10.45 assists per set.
NCAA National Rankings
Through games played Sept. 7, the Dons find themselves in solid position in the NCAA national rankings in a variety of categories. USF stands at 18th in the nation in aces per set (1.90), 23rd in kills per set (14.38), 26th in assists per set (13.33) and 34th in digs per set (16.52).
Last Time Out
USF is coming off its first weekend away from the Hilltop where the Dons went 2-1 in the Long Beach State Mizuno Invitational. The Dons won its first two matches and extended its season-opening streak to five wins, a first since the 2005 campaign.
Records Watch
Career Kills  Â
9. Chiara Lawrence (1993-96) - 1,011
10. Laura Tinetti (1997-00) - 976
11. Malina Terrell (2010-13) - 914
12. Valentina Zaloznik (2011-) - 911
Career Blocks  Â
7. Laura Tinetti (1997-00) - 357
8. KeLicia Shorts (2002-05) - 355
9. Valentina Zaloznik (2011-) - 321
10. Sharon Mellen (1985-88) - 319
 | Record-Breaking
The Dons got a big opening weekend at the San Francisco Invitational out of a multitude of players, including senior Valentina Zaloznik. She finished with 38 kills and a .492 attack percentage, nine blocks, four aces and a new USF single-match record after hitting .929 (13 kills on 14 attempts, no errors) in the Dons' 3-0 sweep of Fordham.
Conference Superlatives
Senior middle blocker was named West Coast Conference Player of the Week on Sept. 1, after her team-leading and record-setting performances at the San Francisco Invitational. Along with hitting .929 to set a new individual match record against Fordham Saturday, Zaloznik followed up her performance in the nightcap, finishing with 16 kills and a .444 attack percentage, five digs and three blocks as the Dons took down SEC foe Georgia 3-1.
Tournament Accolades
After its 3-0 performance as the hosts of the San Francisco Invitational, the Dons finished as the top team in the field. Zaloznik earned tournament Most Valuable Player and teammates Anja Segota and Katarina Pilepic were both selected to the All-Tournament team for their efforts. At the Long Beach State Mizuno Invitational, Zaloznik was selected as an All-Tournament honoree as was sophomore setter Kiara McKibben.
Preseason Poll
The Dons were slated to finish sixth in the hotly-contested WCC, and Zaloznik was tapped for preseason All-WCC honors. Should Valentina earn a place on the first-team, it will mark her third occasion - a new USF milestone, as no other player has been named to the team three times.
Schedule-Tested
Along with two West Coast Conference tournament teams from a year ago, the Dons will compete against two non-conference foes that made it to the 2013 NCAA Championships, and face a total of 11 squads that closed the season in the top 100 of the RPI rankings. Three of USF's 2014 adversaries were ranked in the top 10 in the AVCA Coaches Poll at some point in the season.
A Look Ahead
The Dons next travel to Denver, Colo., to play in the Denver Invitational Sept. 19-20. USF plays the host Pioneers, UTEP and Nevada during the two-day event to close out the non-conference slate.
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 |
