Nov. 5, 2008
Broncos To Participate In Dig For The Cure
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The No. 24 Santa Clara volleyball team returns to the Mission Campus to host Gonzaga and Portland this weekend in West Coast Conference action. The Broncos and Bulldogs face off on Thursday, Nov. 6 in the annual "Dig For The Cure" match. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. SCU and Portland then battle on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.
Follow The Broncos Online
Bronco fans can follow the volleyball team online with live stats via the GameTracker link on the main page of www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. All home games and some road games will feature live video/audio of the match.
Last Time Out
The Broncos completed the regular-season sweep of the Los Angeles teams this weekend as they swept the then-No. 19 Waves and topped the Lions, 3-1. Brittany Lowe tallied a double-double in both matches, while Lindsy Davigeadono posted 12 blocks over the weekend.
Bronco Watch
Cmaylo continues to lead the Broncos at the net with a 39.5 hitting percentage and a 1.13 blocking average. She has also dished out 19 service aces, including a career-high three aces against then-No. 19 Pepperdine. Lowe averages a team-best 3.59 kills per set, Davigeadono averages 11.07 assists per set and Taylor O'Brien collected 3.46 digs per set. Lowe also owns a team-high 30 aces.
"DIG FOR THE CURE"
The Broncos will once again participate in the annual "Dig For The Cure" breast cancer awareness fundraiser on Nov. 6 in their match against Gonzaga. Fans interested in donating or pledging for the cause should visit the volleyball homepage on www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. Fans can also make donations during the game at the merchandise table.
Movin' Up
With a 2-0 sweep of the LA area teams, the Broncos moved up to a No. 22 ranking this week in the Bison/AVCA Top 25 Coaches poll. There are three other WCC teams ranked this week -- San Diego checks in at No. 14, Pepperdine dropped to No. 23 and San Francisco dropped to No. 25.
Lowe Named CVU National Player Of The Week
Lowe earned her fourth career weekly honor as she was named CVU.com National Player of the Week this week. She compiled a double-double in both matches against then-No. 19 Pepperdine and LMU. For the week, Lowe averaged 4.29 kills per set on .273 hitting. She also had 4.14 digs per set and added three total aces.
In the WCC
Santa Clara is tied for third on the team with Saint Mary's and a 6-3 league record. The Broncos lead the conference in blocking average and aces. Individually, Cmaylo leads the WCC in blocking and is third in hitting percentage. Lowe is second in aces and fifth in kills.
In WCC games only, the Broncos are first in aces, third in blocks and fourth in kills and assists. Individually, Cmaylo is second in hitting percentage and fourth in aces and blocks, while Lowe is first in aces.
On the National Stage
In this week's national rankings, Santa Clara moved up in all seven national categories with its highest ranking coming at No. 34 in assists per set. Individually, Cmaylo, Lowe, O'Brien and Davigeadono also moved up in their respective categories with Cmaylo's 39.5 hitting percentage checking in at No. 19 this week. For the full Bronco list, check page 5 of the notes.
Lowe Enters Another Career Category
The senior outside hitter entered the career digs category this week. She is tied for 10th with Becky Potter with 1,131 career digs. Lowe is also ranked third in career aces, fourth in career kills and kill average, sixth in career attack attempts and tied for seventh in career dig average.
Davigeadono Five Shy
The junior setter is just five block assists shy of entering that career category. She has a current tally of 183. Davigeadono is also eighth all-time in assists.
Scouting Gonzaga
The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 9-17 overall record and a 2-7 WCC record. Gonzaga handed USF its first loss of the season with a 3-2 win last weekend. The Bulldogs are led by Elaina Renius' 3.47 kills per set and 1.06 blocks per set and 17 aces.
Last Time Out
The Bulldogs and the Broncos last met on Oct. 11 in Spokane, Wash. Santa Clara posted a 3-0 sweep of Gonzaga (25-23, 25-19, 25-19).
All-Time vs. Gonzaga
Thursday's match is the 44th meeting of the two programs in a series that Santa Clara leads 37-6.
Scouting Portland
The Pilots enter the weekend with a 6-19 overall record and an 0-9 WCC mark. The Pilots are led by Ashley Grayson's 3.26 kills per set and Marissa Plummer's 0.71 blocks per set. Jessica Clemens also averages 2.76 digs per set and has 27 aces.
Last Time Out
The Pilots and Broncos last met on Oct. 9 in Portland, Ore. Santa Clara blanked Portland, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-21).
All-Time vs. Portland
Saturday's match marks the 47th meeting of the two programs with Santa Clara leading the series 39-7.
On Deck
Santa Clara takes to the road for their final two away matches of the 2008 regular-season. The Broncos face the Dons of USF on Nov. 13 and Toreros of San Diego on Nov. 15.
