Nov. 12, 2000
MORAGA, Calif. - The 16th-ranked Santa Clara volleyball team defeated Saint Mary's in four games in continuing West Coast Conference action.
With the 15-6, 10-15, 15-3, 15-10 victory, the Broncos improve to 24-3 on the season, 11-1 in league action. The Gaels fall to 11-14 overall, 7-6 in the WCC. With three matches left on the schedule, Santa Clara is only two victories away from matching the program's best mark for wins in a season, set by the 1991 squad.
Santa Clara opened the match jumping out to a 3-0 lead, but two service aces by the Gaels' Rachelle Von brought SMC within one. That was as close as the Gaels got in the first frame as the Broncos won it 15-6. In the second set, the Gaels turned things around and jumped to a 5-1 lead before SCU could battle back for a 10-9 edge. Consecutive kills by Saint Mary's gave the team enough momentum to take a game from the league-leading Broncos.
Down 2-1 in the third, Santa Clara scored 10 straight points and closed out the game 15-3. In the final frame, Santa Clara had a 10-3 edge before Saint Mary's closed the score as SCU took the match.
Senior Brook Terhune led all attackers with 14 kills, followed by freshman Becky Potter with 12. Additionally, sophomore Cindy Hirsch recorded three service aces. Defensively, three players posted six blocks each: Potter (6 BA), Terhune (6 BA) and senior Amy Kohl (1 BS, 5 BA).
The Broncos return home for the conclusion of the WCC season, hosting No. 22 Loyola Marymount on Friday, Nov. 17 and No. 12 Pepperdine on Saturday, Nov. 18. Both matches are slated to begin at 7 p.m. at the Pat Malley Center. Saturday's match will also honor the team's five seniors, as they will be playing their last home match of their collegiate careers.
-- www.SantaClaraBroncos.com --
No. 16 Santa Clara def. Saint Mary's 15-6, 10-15, 15-3, 15-10
