The long awaited season is finally here.  The University of San Francisco women's volleyball team begins its 2021 spring season tomorrow in the first back-to-back contests against Pepperdine at the Firestone Fieldhouse.  Both games will be streamed on the WCC Network.
 
GAME INFORMATION 1 & 2
Date/Time:  Game 1: January 26 – 7:00 p.m. | Game 2: January 27 – 6:00 p.m.
Opponent: Pepperdine Waves (0-0, 0-0 WCC)
Site: Firestone Fieldhouse (Malibu, Calif.)
Stream:  WCC Network
Audio:  None
Live Stats: PepperdineWaves.com


USF AT A GLANCE
LAST TIME OUT
The Dons finished the 2019 season with a four-set loss at home to Saint Mary's on November 26, 2019. USF finished the season 8-21 and 4-14 in the WCC. 
 
WHAT'S BACK
Head coach Frank Lavrisha begins his fourth year on the Hilltop and returns six letter winners from last year's team.  Highlighting the list of returners is senior libero Anna Dalla Vecchia.  The native of Vicenza, Italy ranks 13^th all-time in career digs with 905. Her 4.18 digs per set ranks third all-time in USF history.  She also had 51 aces.  On the attack, the Dons return senior Valeria Alegrias Cambindo (150 kills, 2.73 kills per set), junior Sophie Sydenham (88 kills, 1.60 kps), and sophomore Orsula Staka (63 kills, 0.73 kps).
 
NEW ADDITIONS
Lavrisha and his staff have done a tremendous job of turning over the Dons roster.  USF welcomes eight newcomers including seven freshman.  The new group includes two setters, two defensive specialists, three outside hitters and a middle blocker.
 
GLOBAL DONS
San Francisco has always been an international city; the volleyball program is no different. The Dons have seven international players on its roster this year. Three Italians, a Croatian, Columbian, Brazilian, and Argentinian.
 
THE SERIES
Historically, the series between the Dons and Waves has been one-sided with Pepperdine owning 63-7 advantage in a series that dates back to 1985 when Pepperdine defeated USF in four sets.  In 2019, Pepperdine swept the season series, winning the home match in four sets and the road match in three sets.  
 
SCOUTING REPORT: PEPPERDINE WAVES
Pepperdine carries over four starters and 10 letterwinners from the 2019 squad, a team that finished 3rd in the West Coast Conference. The team has also welcomed four newcomers with the addition of three freshmen and one transfer. Included in the top-returners are two seniors, outside hitter Shannon Scully and middle blocker Alli O'Harra. Scully garnered AVCA All-Pacific South Region honorable mention status in 2019, along with All-WCC first team acclaim. Pepperdine was picked to finish third in the WCC in the annual preseason coaches' poll.