BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The University of San Francisco volleyball team wrapped up the non-conference portion of its 2019 schedule Saturday with two matches on the final day of the Roadrunner Classic at CSU Bakersfield, narrowly falling 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-22) to Fresno State and 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-22) against UC Davis at the Icardo Center.
 
vs. FRESNO STATE

• Though the Dons (4-7) were swept twice Saturday, both matches could not have been much closer than they were. USF was within three points in five of the six sets it played, and within six points in all six sets. It held leads in all six sets before both of its opponents came from behind every time to grab victories.
   
• Tied 18-18 in the second set versus Fresno State, the Dons looked to even the match at 1-1, but the Bulldogs (7-5) scored four straight to go up 22-18. Not going down without a fight, USF pulled back within 24-23 with three consecutive scores of its own thanks to two kills and a block from Emily Zinger. But a USF service error ended the run and handed Fresno State a 2-0 match lead with a 25-23 set win.
   
• Fresno State and San Francisco were never separated by more than three points during their entire third set, but every time the Dons got close, Fresno State had an answer. A kill from Kathya Garcia made it 19-18 Bulldogs, and then Fresno State answered with a kill and a block. Two more points by the Dons made it 22-21 in favor of Fresno State, but it answered again with another kill and another block to go up 24-21 before finally clinching it on a kill from Grace Doyle.

vs. UC DAVIS

• USF's final match of the day versus UC Davis (8-5) was déjà vu all over again. After falling in the first set, the Dons led set two, 22-21, and looked to even things up at 1-1. But the Aggies scored three straight points with two kills and a block to go up, 24-22. The Dons got another kill from Zinger, but UCD wrapped up the set, 25-23, with a kill from Mahalia White to take a 2-0 match lead.
   
• San Francisco continued to battle in the third, battling typical expectations where teams typically lose energy and effort down 2-0 – especially for the second time in one day. The Dons did fall behind, 20-15, but they scored four straight points on a kill and an ace from Garcia, and back-to-back blocks from Orsula Staka, making it 20-19.
   
• UC Davis scored four of the final six points to secure the sweep. Two kills from White and a final blow by Lauren Matias sealed the deal at 25-22.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 6: Kate Ashman set a season high with six blocks versus Fresno State, just one short of her career high. She's had six matches this season with at least three blocks.
• 17: Anna Dalla Vecchia had a team-high 17 digs against UC Davis and 10 to start the day versus Fresno State. She's had double-digit digs in every single match this season (11), the only Don to do so.
• 18: Zinger tallied a career-high 18 kills against Fresno State. She led all players with those 18 terminations and a .429 hitting percentage. She'd end the day with 26 total kills to go with six total blocks.

COMING UP

• San Francisco begins West Coast Conference play next week with a road trip to Southern California. The Dons face Pepperdine at 7 p.m. Thursday, then take on Loyola Marymount at 1 p.m. Saturday. Fans can find live coverage links on USFDons.com.