by SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Despite a 21-kill performance from Alaysia Brown, and a career-high 18 kills from Canace Finley, the University of San Diego women’s volleyball team, could not come up with a victory over Saint Mary’s College Saturday afternoon in the Toreros’ final home match of the season.
With the 25-27, 25-18, 25-16, 22-25, 11-15 loss, the Toreros fall to 16-10 overall, move to 9-5 in the WCC and fall into a tie for third in the WCC. With the win, the Gaels improve to 8-15 overall and 4-9 in the WCC.
Brown recorded her 21 kills on 51 attempts to hit for a .255 clip. Finley recorded her career-high 18 kills on 39 swings, to hit for a .259 clip, and she had five blocks. Jianna Bonomi recorded 33 assists, and added in 13 digs to post a double–double, while Kristen Gengenbacher added in 26 assists in helping steer the USD offense to a team attack percentage of .169. Hunter Jennings recorded a match-best 20 digs. Lauren Schad (Cheyenne River Sioux) had 9 kills and 5 block assist.
In the first set, the two teams were engaged in a battle right from the get-go. Then with the score knotted at 12-all, a SMC attack error sparked a 5-1 USD run to give the Toreros the momentum and a 17-13 lead, forcing the Gaels into a timeout. SMC then responded with a 4-1 run to force San Diego into a timeout. Out of the break, it was once again a back and forth battle. USD would take set-point at 25-24, only to see the Gaels score the final three pints to take set one 27-25.
In the second set, USD went right to work and began the domination with a 12-3 run, that had the Gaels out of system, and all out of sorts. After SMC finally called a timeout, USD continued to push ahead and never looked back, as they cruised their way to a 25-18 win.
In the third set, USD once again got the upper hand early, as they opened on a 13-7 run, forcing the Gaels into a timeout. Out of the break, USD would go on a 6-1 run to put things completely out of reach for the Gaels, and USD then eased its way to a 25-16 win.
In the fourth set, it was a back and forth battle right out of the gates and remained that way throughout the entire frame. Then USD trailing 20-14, a Brown kill sparked a 7-2 Torero run, pulling USD back to within one at 22-21. But The Toreros could not get over that hump, as the Gaels forced a fifth and deciding set with a 25-23 win.
In the fifth and final set, the two teams traded point-for-point over the first half of the frame. Then with the score knotted at 6-all, USD grabbed the next two points to take the upper hand. SMC then responded with scoring the next six points to take a 12-8 lead. USD could not overcome this deficit, dropping the set 15-11.
The Gaels recorded 22 blocks in the win, with Natalie Loos pacing the offensive side of things with 18 kills. Samantha Tinsley was the only other Gael in double figure kills with 11. As a team, SMC hit .178.
The Toreros will return to action on Friday, as they travel to Provo, Utah to take on the Cougars of BYU in a 6:30 p.m. WCC match that will air live on BYUTV.
