Complete match notes (PDF)

Match 28: USF (16-12, 3-12 WCC) at San Diego (19-8, 12-3 WCC)
Thursday, Nov. 19 | 7 p.m. | Jenny Craig Pavilion
Series record: San Diego leads, 47-17; 26-4 in San Diego
Trends - Current streak: L1 | Last 5: 1-4 | Last 10: 2-8
Last meeting: 09/26/15 (H); L, 0-3 • 23-25, 18-25, 18-25
WCC Game Center

Match 29: USF at No. 12 BYU (23-3, 13-2 WCC)
Saturday, Nov. 21 | 11 a.m. | Smith Fiedlhouse
Series record: BYU leads, 10-0; 5-0 in Provo
Last meeting: 09/24/15 (H); L, 1-3 • 23-25, 25-17, 21-25, 22-25

#15sports1team

---

The Dons finish the 2015 season on the road with a trio of matches away from the Hilltop. First, USF takes on San Diego Thursday at 7 p.m. before heading to BYU for a Saturday morning matchup. 

Despite the rough close to the year, the Dons are guaranteed a winning season for the first time since 2012, propelled by a 13-0 non-conference record. Currently, USF is looking to break a six-match slide.

What 2 Watch 4

---

Katarina Pilepic leads the squad in total kills (374), kills per set (3.82) and points (415.5), standing in the WCC top 10 in each category. 

Freshman Madison Murtagh has been a stout presence at the net, compiling 112 total blocks to rate sixth overall in the WCC, and the top freshman in the league. She stands in third in the conference in hitting percentage with a mark of .327. Sophomore Oluoma Okaro is one spot behind, hitting .322 on the season to hold down the fourth-best percentage in the league.

Setting duties have been split between the duo of Kiara McKibben and Jurja Vlasic, with McKibben pacing the team with 625 assists for the Dons. Libero Kim Gutierrez leads the squad with 292 digs, or 4.00 per set, to help anchor USF's defensive efforts, but she sophomore from National City, Calif., has been sidelined with injury in recent matches.

Know the Foes

---

San Diego, tied for second in the league standings, is coming off a stunning 3-0 loss to Portland, ending a 47-game winning streak against the Pilots.

The Toreros lead the WCC in kills per set, with 14.63, paced by Lisa Kramer's 425 total kills. The squad also rates at the top of the team assists tally, with Kristen Gengenbacher's 9.75 assists per set directing the offense.

BYU enters the weekend ranked No. 12 nationally, and sits atop the WCC standings with a 13-2 league record.

Alexa Gray, current AVCA national player of the week, leads the team and the league in points (5.53) and kills (4.91) per set, and rates fourth in the country in both categories. Amy Boswell is a presence for the Cougars both offensively - leading the WCC with a .384 hitting percentage - and defensively - averaging 1.41 blocks per set on the net.

The Dons have never tasted victory over the Cougars, falling in all 10 tries. USF's last win over a nationally ranked opponent came against No. 25 Cal in 2012,

Take Two with the Toreros

---

USF couldn't get the offense clicking as the visiting Toreros took down the Dons in straight sets from War Memorial Gym.

San Diego's Lisa Kramer was dominant on the attack in the match, compiling 24 kills, half of the total Torero offense. Offensively efficient, San Diego tallied a .341 hitting percentage compared to USF's season-low .128 hitting percentage.

Take Two with the Cougars

---

Despite the best efforts from the Dons and backed by a raucous crowd at War Memorial Gym, the San Francisco volleyball team was unable to overtake the No. 10 BYU, falling. 25-23, 17-25, 25-21, 25-22.

USF stretched the match to four sets, and was points away from forcing a decisive fifth set, but the 2014 NCAA runners-up found a way to close out the match to hand the Dons its first loss of the 2015 campaign. 

Last Time Out

---

Despite early leads and chances to rally for set points, the Dons fell in straight sets to the visiting Loyola Marymount Lions on Senior Day, 25-22, 25-19, 25-22.

Katarina Pilepic finished with 15 kills and supassed 1,000 for her career. Courtney Sabahi added seven kills on a team-best .308 hitting, and Jurja Vlasic finished with a team-best 22 assists on the day. Sara Stangle and Kiara McKibben finished with eight digs each, and Madison Murtagh tallied four total blocks for the Dons.

Momentous Milestone

---

Katarina Pilepick, native of Novi Vinodolski, Croatia, led the Dons with 15 kills, and opened the match against Loyola Marymount with career kill No. 1,000 on the first point of game action. Along with the thundering hit to reach a grand, Pilepic climbed to 10th on the all-time kills list, passing up Chiara Lawrence (1993-96; 1,011 kills). She now stands as the 11th Don in program history to reach the 1,000-kill plateau, with just over a year remaining in her collegiate career.

A Look Ahead

---

Following USF's weekend against the conference leaders, the Dons close the season against Bay Area rival Saint Mary's on Nov. 24 at 7 p.m.

Get Connected

---

Fans can follow the Dons in a variety of ways:
Via the departmental Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat with the username donsathletics.
Through team-specific Twitter (@USFDonsVB) and Facebook (University.of.San.Francisco.Volleyball)
On YouTube at USFDonsAthletics, where fans can view video segments online
On Comcast SportsNet California in USF Athletics' monthly show, "Behind the Mask"
With previews, recaps, videos, features and more as seen on USFDons.com