Sept. 7, 2002
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The 24th-ranked Santa Clara University volleyball team concluded its play at the Northern Arizona University Fiesta Bowl Tournament with a three-game sweep of host NAU to win the tournament title. SCU improved to 6-0 on the year after defeating the Lumberjacks by scores of 30-25, 30-27 and 30-22.
With the win the Broncos became only the fourth team to win the tournament championship in its 13-year history, joining Purdue, San Diego State and 10-time champion Northern Arizona.
The six-match win streak to begin the season ties the best start in program history, joining the 1979 team who started the year 6-0 before dropping its seventh game to current West Coast Conference foe San Diego. Santa Clara has claimed both of the tournaments they have played in this season.
Facing one of their toughest opponent of the season to date, the Broncos jumped out to an early lead in game one, led by freshman Kim McGiven's six kills. The game was McGiven's best as a collegiate, picking up the six kills on nine attempts with only one error for a .556 hitting percentage. Becky Potter added four kills and six digs while Kelli Sousa claimed all 18 assists in the game. As a team the Broncos his .317 while limiting the Lumberjacks to a .195 percentage.
The Broncos cooled off somewhat in the second game as their hitting percentage dropped to .261 while NAU increased to a .218 hitting percentage. McGiven and Potter each had five kills while making only one error in game two.
Game three saw the Broncos again jump out to an early lead and hold on for the win behind Potter's nine kills and four digs to finish the match with 18 kills and 14 digs. Potter was named tournament MVP for the second week in a row. McGiven added four kills in the final game, giving her a career-high 15 for the match. Sousa ended the game with 50 assists and seven digs en route to her second-straight all-tournament selection.
Santa Clara will continue its season-long 12-match road trip next weekend as they play in the U.S. Bank/Arby's Classic hosted by the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. The Broncos will take on second-ranked Nebraska on Friday before facing Michigan and Alabama on Saturday.