SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - After three weekends on the road, the University of San Francisco volleyball team (3-6) returns home to host the USF Challenge starting Thursday, Sept. 14, at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
The Dons, coming off the Utah Classic last weekend, take on San Jose State (5-3) at 4 p.m. on Thursday in the home opener, followed by a matchup against UT Rio Grande Valley (5-4) on Friday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m., and finish the tournament on Saturday, Sept. 16 against CSUN (1-7) at 2 p.m. 
 
MATCH 10 INFORMATION:
Date: Thursday, Sept. 14
Time: 4 p.m.
Opponent: San Jose State
Location: San Francisco, Calif. / War Memorial at the Sobrato Center 
Watch: ESPN+
Live Statistics: StatBroadcast
 
MATCH 11 INFORMATION:
Date: Friday, Sept. 15
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: UT Rio Grande Valley 
Location: San Francisco, Calif. / War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Watch: ESPN+
Live Statistics: StatBroadcast
 
MATCH 12 INFORMATION:
Date: Sunday, Sept. 16
Time: 2 p.m.
Opponent: CSUN 
Location: San Francisco, Calif. / War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Watch: ESPN+
Live Statistics: StatBroadcast
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• The Dons competed against three strong opponents at the Utah Classic last weekend, battling UC Santa Barbara and Tennessee State to five-set affairs.
• Offensively, this past weekend, the Dons were led by Kennedy Muckelroy, who tallied 35 kills throughout the tournament.
• Abby Wadas, tallying 48 digs in three matches, provided the Dons with a solid defensive back row. Through nine matches this season, Wadas leads the team with 141 digs, averaging 3.81 digs per set.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS:

• Coming off a 2-1 record from the Fairfield Inn & Suites Dunn Campbell Invitational, San Jose State earned wins over Campbell and UTSA while dropping a three-set match to Georgia Southern.
• Blaire Fleming has been the Spartans' focal point of her offensively this season, as she leads the team with 128.5 points and 117 kills.
• Alessia Buffagni has been critical in her team's defensive identity as she leads the Spartans with 134 digs and 4.06 digs per set. 

SCOUTING THE VAQUEROS:

• Last season, UTRGV held an impressive record of 27-7 overall and a 13-1 record in the Western Athletic Conference. The Vaqueros have started this season with a 5-4 record and look to return to last campaign's form.
• Luanna Emiliano has dominated at the service line, accumulating 14 aces through nine matches.
• Luisa Silva Dos Santos and Nadine Zech lead the Vaqueros in 83 kills.

SCOUTING THE MATADORS:

• CSUN has gotten off to a slow start to begin the season, dropping seven of the first eight matches. Notably, CSUN defeated Fresno State on their home court for the lone victory of the season.
• Taylor Hunter has given the team a dominant first-line defense, ranking second in the Big West Conference with 48 total blocks. 
• Adding to the Matadors' defense is Kelsey Knudsen, who ranks third in the Big West with 4.29 digs per set.

TRACK THE ACTION:
San Francisco home matches during the USF Challenge will be broadcasted on ESPN+ at game time. Live streaming and live statistics links are available above and via the team's schedule page.

MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - Nike - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561. 
 
FOLLOW US:
For more information and updates on the University of San Francisco volleyball program, be sure to follow the Dons on Twitter @USFDonsVB, @USFDonsVB on Instagram and @USFDonsVball on Facebook.