SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Despite erasing a two-set deficit, the University of San Francisco volleyball team (2-3) dropped a 3-2 decision to CSUN (2-3) in the Sacramento Invitational Friday evening at The Nest.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• In a back-and-forth opening frame, San Francisco and CSUN battled early as the teams split the first 28 points. With the set tied at 14, Michalina Rola sparked a scoring run, totaling three straight kills to put the Dons up 17-14. Astrid Puig and Delaney Ewing followed with a block to give the green and gold a four-point advantage, 18-14.
• The first set remained close throughout as CSUN tied the frame at 24 following a 10-7 run. The Matadors later scored four of the final five points to grab the early advantage, 31-29.
• CSUN continued the momentum heading into the following frame, holding on for a 25-21 second-set win to get the Matadors to within a set of the match.
• San Francisco responded in the third to get on the board for the first time. Trailing 11-8, the Dons used a 9-1 scoring run to push ahead, 17-12. Maria Petkova and Puig led the program throughout the run, combining for five kills, while the defense forced the Matadors into three attack errors.
• San Francisco continued to build on its third-set advantage and held off a late CSUN rally to take the third set, 25-22.
• In a highly contested fourth frame, the green and gold battled and tied the match at two sets apiece. Puig continued to produce offensively, posting a team-high six kills in the set to help lead the comeback. With the set tied at 24, a Puig kill and a block assist gave the Dons a 26-24 win.
• CSUN edged out San Francisco in the fifth frame, taking a 10-5 lead midway through. The Matadors held onto their advantage, totaling five of the final eight points to pull out a 15-8 victory to secure the match. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Puig recorded her third double-digit kill performance of the season, totaling 19, along with a .283 hitting percentage throughout the five-set affair.
• Michalina Rola and Petkova also reached the double-digit kill mark, posting 14 and 11, respectively.
• Aylen accumulated her second straight double-double, totaling 49 assists and 16 digs.
• Defensively, Puig and Ewing led the Dons with a combined seven blocks.

UP NEXT:
San Francisco concludes the Sacramento State invitational at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, when it takes on host Sacramento State at The Nest.
 
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:
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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.