THE RUNDOWN
SAN FRANCISCO - After three matches on the road, the USF (3-18, 0-8) return to the Hilltop to face Saint Mary's (5-13, 1-7) and Pacific (8-11, 3-5) this week. First up are the Gaels on Thursday evening.
The visitors across the Bay are ranked ninth, just above the Dons with one win in West Coast Conference play. In their first match of the season Saint Mary's swept USF on their .312 attack percentage, holding the Dons to a .012 percentage. Saint Mary's is third in the WCC in serve aces. Their starting setter, Alexsa Parker, will be a threat as she ranks ninth in assists and fifth in aces in conference play. Sienna Young has the most kills (88) for the Gaels.
In facing Pacific for the first time this year, the Dons will need to be aggresive and percise on the net as the Tigers rank third in the conference in blocking with 73.5 total, 2.62 per set. USF will also need to keep a close eye on Ashlyn Fleming, who leads Pacific with a .370 hitting percentage, good for seventh in the WCC. Fleming has also earned 39 blocks to register fourth in the group.
COACH'S MINUTE
DONS QUICK HITS
- True freshman Erica Ronda leads the squad with 218 total kills. Erica also tops in aces with 22.
- Starting senior and also a freshman, Erin Anthony, has racked up 636 sets, just outside of the top-five in WCC.
- Marjolijn Oskam leads the defense for the Dons with her 74 total blocks. Oskam ranks fifth in the WCC with 36 in conference play.
- Sabrina Blackwell does the digging for USF. Blackwell has tallied 222 digs, nearly three per set.
- Since the 2-3 loss against Gonzaga, the Dons have hit above .150, compared to the previous games where they hit seven of those eight games below the same attack percentage.
- In their last match, USF registered their second-highest attack percentage of the year - .258, tallying 33 kills in three sets.
MATCH DETAILS
Thursday's match with the opponents from across the Bay is set for 7 p.m. You can follow along
online or by
stat broadcast, but we suggest you head to War Memorial at the Sobrato Center to join us on
THINK PINK night. If you wear pink, you are admitted free! First 50 fans will recieve a free THINK PINK night shirt.
The second match against Pacific will have a first serve time of noon. Please check back for information on broadcast links. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, please visit our
website. As always, students with an ID and kids under the age of 12 are admitted free!
