Volleyball Concludes USF Challenge, Downs Seattle U in Straight Sets

Saturday, September 21

San Francisco, Calif.

2:00 p.m.

University of San Francisco

7-5,0-0WCC

Seattle U

2-8,0-0WAC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Seattle U	17	21	18	0
San Francisco	25	25	25	3

Photo by: AJ Tinio

Volleyball Concludes USF Challenge, Downs Seattle U in Straight Sets

9/21/2024 5:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Gabby Rizzo

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco volleyball team (7-5) concluded nonconference play with a win, defeating Seattle U (2-8) 3-0 in the final match of the USF Challenge Saturday afternoon at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

In the opening set, the San Francisco and Seattle U exchanged points as the Dons trailed 9-8 in the early stages of the frame. The Dons responded with six straight points, pulling ahead and taking a 14-9 lead. Maria Petkova led the charge as she accumulated two blocks and a kill to pace the scoring run.
Later in the first set, Seattle U trailed by four points at 20-16 when San Francisco extended its lead with a 5-1 scoring run to end the set 25-17, with Delaney Ewing putting away the winning kill.
Continuing to gain momentum, Puig and Amelia Dombrowska kickstarted the scoring in the following set, combining for three kills as the Dons gained an early 7-3 advantage at the start of the second set.
Going back and forth, the Redhawks battled in the backend of the set, cutting the deficit to two, 23-21, following a 3-0 run. After a timeout, the Dons responded with the final two points of the frame on kills from Hayden Goodman to secure the set, 25-21.
Trailing 1-0 at the start of the third set, Dombrowska logged back-to-back kills to put the Dons on top. In a close battle throughout the frame, the Dons trailed by one point at 15-14 before going on a 5-2 run to regain the lead with a kill and service ace by Goodman.
Holding a one-point advantage, 19-18, the green and gold recorded six straight to conclude the third set, earning a 25-18 win to complete the match sweep.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

Puig led the team in kills, posting a match-high 11 in the three-set affair. Performing on the defensive side, Puig also added three blocks.
Petkova assisted on both sides of the ball as she nearly recorded a double-double with 10 kills and eight digs. Petkova was also active on the front line, totaling a season-high four blocks.
Aylen Ayub recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 31 assists and a team-best 14 digs.
Jolei Akima recorded 12 digs and five assists over the three sets.

POSTGAME WITH THE DONS:

To view the full highlights from today's match, please click here.
To view the full postgame interview with head coach Diogo Silva, please click here.
To view the gull postgame interview with Maria Petkova and Astrid Puig, please click here.

UP NEXT:
San Francisco is back on the road as its takes on Santa Clara at Leavy Center to start West Coast Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 12:00 p.m.

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 – 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.