by LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The University of San Diego women’s volleyball team swept away Northern Arizona University, 3-0, Thursday evening in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Galen Center.
With the 25-15, 25-19, 26-24 win, the Toreros improve to 22-9 overall and will advance on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 7 p.m. against either top-seeded USC or Cleveland State. With the loss, the Lumberjacks conclude their season with a 28-5 overall record.
Lisa Kramer led all players with 16 kills on 42 swings to hit for a .286 clip. Canace Finley was the second Torero in double figures, as she had 10 on 25 swings to hit for a .200 clip. Lauren Fuller also had a great match, as she recorded eight kills, and a career-high 20 digs. Lauren Schad (Cheyenne River Sioux) also had 5 kills in the match as well. Hunter Jennings also had a great defensive match with 17 digs, while Addie Picha recorded eight blocks.
As a team, USD hit for a .165 clip, while the Lumberjacks hit for a .078 clip. USD out blocked the Lumberjacks 18-14, and USD had 48 kills to NAU’s 24.
In the first set, USD raced out to an early 4-1 lead to grab some momentum. The Lumberjacks then responded with a 3-0 run to even things up at 4-all. The two teams then sea sawed back and forth a bit, and with the score knotted at 10-all, a Jayden Kennedy kill sparked a 5-1 San Diego run, giving USD a 15-11 lead. USD never looked back, as they then outscored NAU 10-4 over the remainder of the frame, to claim a 25-15 win.
In the second set, USD opened things up with an 8-1 run, forcing the Lumberjacks into a timeout. NAU didn’t fade away, as they began to slowly chip away at the lead and pulled to within two at 18-16, but this is as close as they would get. A Canace Finley kill ignited an 8-3 Torero run down the stretch, to give USD a 25-19 win, and a two-sets-to-none lead, headed into the break.
In the third set, NAU grabbed the early momentum and took a 4-1 lead. The Lumberjacks then maintained a 2-4 point lead over a majority of the first half of the frame. USD never faded away, as they clawed its way back into the lead at 15-14 on a Lauren Fuller kill, to force the Lumberjacks into a timeout. Out of the break, USD and NAU began to trade point-for-point, until the Lumberjacks managed to take a 20-19 lead, which forced the Toreros into a timeout. After NAU grabbed the next two points, USD was forced into its final timeout. Northern Arizona then took set-point at 24-22, but USD never panicked, as they outscored he Lumberjacks 3-0 to complete the sweep.
