SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Competing in the final match of the Sacramento State Invitational, the University of San Francisco volleyball team (2-4) fell at Sacramento State (3-2) 4-1 Saturday afternoon at The Nest.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Sacramento got off to a fast start going up 6-0 to begin the first set. Responding quickly, San Francisco went on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a kill by Michalina Rola and a service ace by Hayden Goodman.
• Going back and forth, the Dons trailed 23-21 before equalizing at 23 with a block assist by Ayub and Goodman, followed by a service ace by Goodman. Despite the battle, the Hornets scored three of the final four points to take the first frame, 26-24.
• In a highly contested second set, Sacramento State held a 12-9 lead before the Dons won nine out of the next 11 points with kills by Maria Petkova, Astrid Puig, Goodman, and two from Rola to gain the 18-14 advantage.
• Not far behind, the Hornets came back to tie the set at 23 before a kill by Goodman brought the set to match point for the first time. In an intense exchange, 17 extra points were played, leading to the frame being tied at 31. Closing the door on the Hornets to take the second set, kills by Goodman and Rola settled the score at 33-31 in favor of the Dons.
• In the third set, San Francisco went up 16-10 early but failed to keep its lead as Sacramento State responded with a 14-3 run to take the set 25-19.
• Continuing momentum in the fourth set, the Hornets quickly gained a 21-14 advantage. Late in the frame, the Dons went on a 6-1 scoring run, highlighted by two service aces by Goodman to close the deficit to two, 22-20, but failed to regain the lead. The Hornets ultimately won the fourth set, 25-21, to secure the match.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Rola had an explosive attacking performance, recording 18 kills and scoring 19.5 points.
• Defensively, three players logged double digits in digs Jolei Akima (18), Abby Wadas (13), and Ayub (12).
• Goodman was essential on both sides of the ball, with four service aces, nine kills, and three block assists. 

UP NEXT:

• San Francisco continues its road stretch, competing in the UTRGV Tournament with two matches on Friday, Sept. 13, against Houston Christian at 8:00 a.m. PT, followed by an afternoon game against host team UTRGV at 4:30 p.m. PT at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.

FOLLOW US: For more information and updates on the University of San Francisco volleyball program, 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.