Oct. 7, 2010

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Junior defensive specialist Laura Day had a career night for the Gonzaga University women's volleyball team, collecting her first career double-double, but it wasn't enough as the Bulldogs dropped a 3-0 West Coast Conference decision to the University of San Francisco Thursday night at the Martin Centre. The Bulldogs fell 17-25, 19-25, 22-25.

Day, a defensive specialist by trade, played all the way around for the Zags (2-17, 0-3 WCC) Thursday finishing with a career-high 12 kills and added 14 digs for her first career double-double. Day's previous high in kills was five collected twice this season, the last coming at the University of San Diego last Thursday.

"I commend Laura for playing all the way around and having a career night; kudos to her for stepping up and taking on a larger role," stated second year head coach Dave Gantt. "Now we need others to follow suit."

Gonzaga, who has lost 15-straight, closed out the match with 34 kills, 10 less than San Francisco, and had 24 errors on 128 total attempts for a sub-par .078 hitting percentage. Besides Day, sophomore Kylie Edinger finished with six kills and senior Caitlin Cozad added four, all in the third set.

"It was disappointing to play the first two-thirds of each set but not continue that same level of play after the set hit 20 points," explained Gantt, whose team was tied in the first set at 14-14 but let the Dons close out the set on a 11-3 run; down just one point at 20-19 in the second but didn't score again as USF rattled off five-straight points; and fought to get back in the third set after falling behind by five but it was too little too late.

San Francisco, who won just its third match of the season as is now 3-12 and 1-2 in conference play, ended the match with 44 kills and just 17 errors on 123 attempts, five less than GU, for a .220 hitting clip. Malina Turrell led the way for the Dons with 13 kills, while Alycia Cox added 10.

USF held the slight edge in digs at 58-56 and GU had the advantage in blocks at 7-6.

Gonzaga looks to regroup once again when it welcomes Santa Clara University to the Martin Centre Saturday. Match time is set to begin at Noon.