Oct. 13, 2001
MALIBU, Calif. - After falling down two games to 15th-ranked Pepperdine, the Santa Clara University volleyball team rallied for an exciting match, but couldn't overcome the Waves in a four-game loss tonight in West Coast Conference action at Firestone Fieldhouse. Game scores were 30-16, 30-26, 25-30, 31-29.
Tonight's match marked the first meeting in two years between the schools that didn't go the full five games. Additionally, for only the second time this season, Pepperdine was taken past three games. The Waves improve to 10-2, 5-0 in the league, while SCU falls to 11-6, 4-2.
The Broncos took an early 2-1 lead in the match, but allowed Pepperdine to leap to a 10-5 lead it later extended to 16-6. Four service errors hurt SCU, as did the Waves' .444 hitting percentage. The 16 points Santa Clara recorded in the game tied a season low for points, set last month at Hawaii.
Pepperdine took a 2-0 lead into intermission behind six blocks. The Broncos pulled to within for at 16-12 in the frame, but allowed Pepperdine to score four straight before three consecutive kills by freshman middle blocker Toni Muratore forced the Waves to call its first time out of the night as SCU trailed now only by three. A Pepperdine mishit reduced the lead to 22-20, but the home team was able to carry its lead to win the game.
The Broncos began to take control in game three and outkilled Pepperdine 22-16 en route to a 30-25 win. Muratore registered six kills in the frame, part of an 18-kill performance, one kill short of her career high.
Game four turned out even more exciting as the teams exchanged leads, trading great rallies and powerful kills. Neither team took more than a two-point advantage until three Pepperdine kills advanced the Waves to a 23-20 edge. The Broncos later pulled to within 27-26 on a kill by Bari, one of her 15 on the night.
A Wave kill and block set up match point, but the Broncos held that off with another Bari kill. A Pepperdine kill of an SCU overpass ended the night.
The Broncos were led defensively by junior Cindy Hirsch, who posted a career-high 17 digs. Pepperdine was led by Katie Wilkins' 21 kills. She added five blocks as the Waves controlled the net by a 14-4 margin.
The Broncos return home to the Leavey Center and will face 12th-ranked Pacific on Tuesday, October 16. The match will begin at 7 p.m. and will include a halftime presentation honoring SCU volleyball alumni.