SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of San Francisco volleyball team continues its season on the road when it competes in the Utah Classic starting on Friday, Sept. 8 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
 
San Francisco opens the tournament with a doubleheader, starting with a neutral site match against UC Santa Barbara (5-1) at 9 a.m., followed by a contest against Tennessee State (0-4) at 3:30 p.m. The team closes the tournament against host Utah (2-3) at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9.
 
MATCH 7 DETAILS:
Date: Friday, Sept. 8
Time: 9 a.m.
Opponent: UC Santa Barbara
Site: Jon M. Huntsman Center
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Watch: Pac-12 Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
MATCH 8 DETAILS:
Date: Friday, Sept. 8
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Opponent: Tennessee State
Site: Jon M. Huntsman Center
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Watch: Pac-12 Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
MATCH 9 DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9
Time: 3 p.m.
Opponent: Utah
Site: Jon M. Huntsman Center
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Watch: Pac-12 Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• The Dons (2-4) had a strong showing last week at the Borderland Invitational, facing off against three challenging opponents in UTEP, New Mexico State, and Arizona State.
• In the five-set affair against New Mexico State, Astrid Puig and Lindsay Oldendorf led the Dons offensively, combining for 21 kills, with Puig recording a team-high 11.
• Oldendorf shined in the final two matches of the tournament, averaging a .550 hitting percentage. Oldendorf recorded nine kills on 15 attempts against Arizona State for a season-best .600 hitting percentage.
• Karolina Nova leads the Dons through the first six matches of the season and ranks eighth in the WCC in total kills with 53.
• Maria Petkova has also been a staple for the Dons offensively to start the season, leading the team with 3.25 kills per set.
• Defensively, Oldendorf and Hayden Goodman sit atop the team rankings and rank tied for ninth in the conference in total blocks with 18. 

SCOUTING THE GAUCHOS:

• UC Santa Barbara enters the tournament after splitting a pair of matches at the San Diego State Invitational last weekend. After dropping the opening match against #6 Oregon, the team earned a 3-0 sweep over San Diego State to close the tournament.
• The Gauchos, winning five of their first six matches of the season, are off to their best start since 2019.
• Michelle Ohwobete leads the team and ranks third in the Big West Conference in kills with 72, while Andi Kreiling leads the conference with a .461 hitting percentage.
• Reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Week, Macall Peed averaged 5.45 digs per set in the last three matches while notching her first career double-double with 30 digs and 11 assists against Pepperdine on August 31. 

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Tennessee State enters the Utah Classic winless after falling to Murray State, Cleveland State, Mississippi, and Lipscomb to begin the season.
• The Tigers have four players with at least 20 kills this season, with Celestial Miller leading the team with 24.
• Celianiz Cabranes, the defensive specialist, leads the team in total digs with 57 while ranking sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference in digs per set at 4.07. 

SCOUTING THE UTES

• Utah enters its home tournament after dropping two of the last three matches, falling to Utah State and Portland State on the road.
• The Utes are led offensively by Lauren Jardine, who has accumulated 61 kills through five matches. Jardine also ranks fourth in the conference with a 4.07 kills per set ratio.
• Vanessa Ramirez has totaled 76 digs in the season's first five matches and ranks third in the Pac-12 with 4.22 digs per set.
• Four Utes have totaled at least 10 blocks, with KJ Burgess leading the team with 15.

TRACK THE ACTION:
All three matches of the Utah Classic will be broadcasted on the Pac-12 Network. 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.