Nov. 1, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The 15th-ranked Santa Clara University women's volleyball team defeated Gonzaga University for the 19th-straight time Saturday night as they registered a 3-1 victory in front of 512 fans in the Leavey Center. The win moves the Broncos' record to 16-8 overall and 7-2 in West Coast Conference action while dropping the Bulldogs to 3-22 overall and 0-9 in league play.
Santa Clara had four players reach double-digit kills on the night and another four players in double-digit digs in the win. Becky Potter and Toni Muratore led the SCU offense with their 14 kills apiece while Becky Biniek and Cassie Perret each chipped in 10. Potter and Perret dominated the defensive end for the Broncos with their 17 digs each, with Kristen Luxton and Lexie Bothman each recording 10 in the match.
Setter Kelli Sousa had an all-around good night with her 53 assists, nine digs, four kills and two total blocks. Muratore, Perret and Potter each also added four total blocks while Becky Biniek and Kim McGiven chipped in three as well, leading to the 13 total team blocks for the Broncos.
Freshman Megan Pura posted six kills on 15 attempts with only one error for a .333 percentage in the two games she played in. McGiven added eight kills an two block solos in the match for the Broncos.
Natasha Kozen had a match-high 18 kills for Gonzaga and was followed closely by teammate Abby Cullen who had 14 on the evening. However, the two combined for 25 hitting errors on the night leading to a sub .100 hitting percentage for the Bulldogs in three of the four games. The only game the Zags managed to hit above .100 was in their game three victory when they posted a .304 percentage in their 30-26 win.
Santa Clara's .271 team hitting percentage on the night was marred only by their .122 mark in game three. They hit .368 in their 30-14 win in game one, .432 in their 30-18 win in game two, and .200 in the match-ending 30-23 victory in game four. SCU posted a .320 average in their three wins Saturday night.
The win marked the 19th-straight time that the Broncos have defeated Gonzaga, dating back to their first meeting during the 1994 season. Santa Clara also posted a 3-1 victory over the Bulldogs earlier this year in Spokane, Wash.
SCU returns to action next weekend with a single match at the University of San Diego. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. in the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the USD campus.
