Oct. 27, 2001
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The 19th-ranked Santa Clara University volleyball defeated San Diego in four games in West Coast Conference action tonight at the Leavey Center. Game scores were 30-28, 30-26, 17-30, 31-29.
With the victory, the Broncos claim sole possession of second place in the league standings, with a 15-7 overall mark and a 7-2 record in the WCC. San Diego falls to 15-7, 6-3.
Sophomore Becky Potter led the Broncos with 19 kills, followed closely by freshman Toni Muratore's 18. Senior Jami Bari led all defensive efforts with 19 digs while Potter and senior Merrin Thompson combined for three of the team's eight blocks.
The Broncos started off slowly, falling down 6-1 early. San Diego kept the lead through 21-13, when the Broncos returned from a timeout with kills by Muratore, Potter and sophomore Jessie Mechem, as well as a service ace by junior Chrissy Hirsch for four straight points, forcing USD to take a time out itself.
The Broncos kept the rally going and tied it up at 23 behind two more kills each by Potter and Mechem. The teams traded leads through 28 all. Two USD hitting errors ended the frame, the last caused by a block by Muratore and Thompson.
The Broncos jumped out to the early lead in the second frame and earned the 2-0 lead at intermission off a service error by the visitors. San Diego returned from the break and started game three eerily similar to game one, jumping out to a 6-1 lead and forcing a Bronco timeout. Santa Clara was unable to overcome USD's five blocks and .421 hitting percentage.
Game four saw the Broncos up 23-15 before a San Diego rally tied it at 24. Just like the first frame, the lead went back and forth through a 28-28 tie. San Diego had game point at 29-28, but Mechem kept the Broncos alive in the frame with her 15th kill of the night. Hirsch followed with another service ace to set up SCU's match point and allowed a USD hitting error to secure the SCU victory.
The Broncos continue West Coast Conference action next weekend in the Northwest, visiting Portland on November 2 for a 7 p.m. match and Gonzaga on November 3 for a 5 p.m. contest. The Broncos defeated both teams in the first match up earlier this season.