BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- Despite a pair of double-doubles from senior Emily Reed, USF (4-9) dropped its last two non-conference matches of the season against UC Riverside (25-22, 19-25, 14-25, 25-20, 19-17) and Northern Arizona (25-16, 25-16, 25-17). Reed picked up All-Tournament team honors for her efforts on the weekend in Bakersfield, compiling a total of 42 kills and 25 digs in USF's three matches.
UC Riverside
Facing a two sets to one disadvantage, USF got its groove going in the fourth game. The Dons raced to a 10-3 lead in the opening moments after three kills from Tyna Adamcikova and two from Emily Reed. Paired with defensive intensity, USF forced Riverside into four attack errors. The Highlanders would not go down easily, as they fought back to reach within one of USF's lead. After two straight kills from freshman Kate Ashman, two service aces from Adamcikova and a line drive kill by Reed, USF extended the score, 15-9. The Dons would continue to flash excellence as Reed swung freely and Adamcikova contributed with four service aces to force the match into the deciding fifth set.
The final set was an absolute battle for USF, as the team faced a four point deficit to the Highlanders. After Adamcikova's 19th kill brought the team within two of Riverside's lead, UCR captured back-to-back points to regain the four point margin. Adamcikova, the 6-0 pin hitter from the Czech Republic tallied her 20th kill and the Dons defense forced UCR into its 21st attack error to make the deficit, 9-7. USF would tied the match at 13 all, and the two teams would go back-and-forth. With its first match point, UCR would botch the opportunity with a service error. USF would deny the Highlanders its second match point after a block by Ashman and Montana Green to tie the match, 16-16. Riverside would eventually come through with a kill and pivotal block to win the marathon five-setter, and capture the deciding set, 19-17.
The first time this season, the Dons had two players eclipse over 20 kills and have multiple double-doubles. Reed tallied 21 kills along with 13 digs, while Adamcikova hit for 22 kills (.347) and 17 digs to lead the squad. Freshman Shannon Levinson made her first career start and tallied a team-high 23 assists and eight digs. Fellow defensive specialist Camille Araujo started out as the libero and recorded 13 digs and six assists. Sophomore transfer Montana Green contributed 19 dimes, while Marjolijn Oskam led USF with six block assists.
The Dons led 6-1 after scoring six unanswered points to open the match. USF limited the Highlanders to -.143 hitting and freshman Shannon Levinson stepped in with a service ace. USF jumped out to a 10-4 lead off a kill from Reed. The Dons came out with high energy and intensity to start off the match hitting .400. Riverside would come storming back to reach within one point of USF's lead. Leading the game 20-19, the Dons defense rose to the occasion to pressure the Highlanders to an errant attack attempt. Adamcikova and Reed scored back-to-back kills to gain a two point edge. Off a wide attack attempt by UCR and Adamcikova's eighth kill of the game, USF claimed the 25-22 victory in the opening set.
After trailing by four points in the second game, USF went on a 5-0 run to overtake the lead, 10-9, and force Riverside into taking a timeout. During that stretch, Reed turned it up a notch with three straight kills, and junior Kim Gutierrez recorded the Dons' third service ace of the match. UCR would go on to score four straight to recapture the momentum and lead USF, 19-15. The Highlanders would never relinquish the lead in the second game, as the Dons dropped the second frame, 25-19.
Northern Arizona
Just 45 minutes after a long five set match, USF was back on the floor against Northern Arizona (10-3). The Dons fought hard, but eventually fell in a 3-0 decision.
Trailing by as many as six points in the second game, USF made efforts to get back into the match. Off a service ace from Gutierrez and kills by Ashman and Adamcikova, the Dons would shave the Lumberjacks lead to only three. NAU would get back on track in the set- scoring three straight to force USF into calling a timeout. Northern Arizona would close the game out on an 8-2 run to go ahead two sets to none, and eventually win the match in three sets.
USF hit just .121 for the match and were able to tally 26 kills. Reed ended the game with her second double-double, as the Sunnyvale native had 10 kills and 10 digs. In her second start of the season, Levinson tallied 11 assists to lead the Dons while Green finished with eight. Adamcikova hit six kills and finished with nine digs.
The Dons will now prepare for tough West Coast Conference action which begins at San Diego next Thursday (Sept. 22) at 7 p.m. USF will then travel to Provo, Utah to take on BYU on Saturday (Sept. 24) at 12 p.m.
Roadrunner Classic All-Tournament Team
Jensen Barton, Northern Arizona
Victoria Dennis, UC Irvine
Brittini Dorsey, Northern Arizona
Meg Graham, UC Riverside
Lauren Jacobsen, Northern Arizona*
Harlee Kekauoha, UC Irvine
Emily Reed, San Francisco
Marina Sanches, CSU Bakersfield
*MVP
