Volleyball Concludes Homestand, Hosts Pepperdine

Thursday, October 24

San Francisco, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

University of San Francisco

Pepperdine

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Photo by: Christina Leung

10/23/2024 1:22:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Gabby Rizzo

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco volleyball team (12-7, 5-2 WCC) concludes its three-match homestand when it hosts Pepperdine (9-8, 6-1 WCC) at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.

MATCH 20 INFORMATION:
Date: Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Opponent: Pepperdine
Location: San Francisco, Calif. / War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Watch: ESPN+
Live Statistics: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here

DONS AT A GLANCE:

Last week, the San Francisco split its matches at home, sweeping Gonzaga on Thursday, Oct. 17, before falling to Pacific on Saturday, Oct. 19, in a back-and-forth five-set contest.
An overall team effort on offense carried the Dons to their fifth conference win of the season as Shannon Knight and Michalina Rola led the team with six kills apiece, a new season-high for Knight in her sixth appearance this year.
In their battle against the Tigers, Rola continued to be a force as she recorded 18 kills, two service aces, and three blocks. Rola's double-digit kill total marked the 13th time she has posted 10 or more kills in a match this season.
Jolei Akima shined in the two matches last week, recording a team-best 51 digs against Gonzaga and Pacific. In the straight-set win over Gonzaga, Akima totaled 17 digs while recording a perfect reception percentage in 14 attempts. She followed with a career-best 34-dig performance in a five-set match against Pacific, the first time she has surpassed 30 digs in a contest during her five-year career.
Overall, San Francisco leads the conference in total blocks with 185, while Hayden Goodman ranks first in the WCC with 93.
Aylen Ayub has been an essential piece to the team's attack with 701 assists, ranking second-best in the conference. She also ranks first in the WCC in assists per set average with 9.60.

SCOUTING THE WAVES:

Pepperdine is currently tied with LMU for first place in the WCC standings with a record of 6-1. Last week, the Waves earned two home victories, starting with a 3-1 over Saint Mary's on Thursday, Oct. 17, and a straight-set sweep of Portland on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Two players lead the Waves offensively as Grace Chillingworth and Birdie Hendrickson have totaled 250 and 238 kills, respectively. Hendrickson, a two-time WCC Player of the Week, ranks fourth in the league in kills.
Ella Piskorz leads the front with 83 total blocks, ranking third most in the conference, while Trinity Stanger leads the team in digs with 267.

SERIES HISTORY:
Dating back to 2002, Pepperdine leads in the series history with a record of 37-7. In their last contest, last season, the Dons fell in straight sets to the Waves at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.

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.

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 – Coca-Cola - 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.