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.