Torero Faithful Gather to Cheer on Women's Volleyball in National Semifinal

Torero Blue was in abundance Thursday at Home & Away in San Diego's Old Town neighborhood as diehard Torero fans gathered on a chilly evening to root for No. 2 USD as they faced off against No. 1 Texas in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship Semifinal. 

Dozens of members of the USD community packed into the outdoor beer garden, eyes glued to the overhead televisions, as the team fought valiently against the top program in the country before a crowd of more than 10,000 fans at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. The free watch party was organized by the USD Alumni Association and USD Athletics. 

Ultimately, USD came up short, losing in four sets to the Longhorns, a perennial powerhouse in NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball. Despite falling one win short of a national championship appearance, the 2022 Toreros recorded the most wins in program history (31), the best winning percentage in program history (.939), the most consecutive wins in program history (28), the third undefeated WCC season (18-0) and the deepest postseason run in program history (reached the NCAA Final Four for the first time ever).

— Story and photos by Matthew Piechalak, video by Steven Covella