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Santa Clara takes its 4-0 record to Boston this weekend as the Broncos play three matches at host-Harvard University. Santa Clara will play Central Connecticut State (0-3) at 1 pm on Fri., Sept. 5 and then later in the day will open Harvard's season at 4 pm. Santa Clara will finish off East Coast play vs. Delaware (2-2) on Sat., Sept. 6 at 10 am.
The Broncos will be playing Central Connecticut State and Harvard for the first time and are 1-0 vs. Delaware, winning 3-0 on Sept. 15, 2000.
While Bronco head coach Jon Wallace has commented extensively in the last week about the outstanding play of Sabrina Clayton, Nikki Hess, Hofstra MVP Taylor Milton and Kirsten Mead, he is also quick to point to both middles, Kaity Edwards and Lacey Maas, as they are finding a lot of success on the court as well.
"They are playing really well and it has been a big lift for our team," said Wallace. "In some ways I am surprised at Kaity's numbers. We have had really good middles recently and they haven't put up those kinds of numbers this early. It is really impressive."
The Broncos are led by Clayton, who is hitting .417 with 4.36 kpg, .55 sapg and 2.36 dpg. Hess is hitting .422 with 4.00 kpg, 1.78 dpg and .44 sapg. Milton is hitting .400 with 2.82 kpg and 1.82 dpg.
Rookie Kirsten Mead is collecting 12.8 apg and .55 sapg with 1.82 dpg. Danielle Rottman leads the team with 3.25 dpg, playing in 12 sets.
At Harvard, the Broncos will take the court first vs. Central Connecticut State on Friday morning. CCSU is 0-3 after playing in the UConn Tournament. Rachel Dunlap, the team's top blocker last season, was named the Molten/Northeast Conference Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday after her fine showing at UConn. Dunlap posted a perfect effort at the net with 15 blocks over CCSU's three matches to open the 2014 season. She anchored the Blue Devil defense with three solo blocks and 12 block assists.
Makenna Lommori, a junior who was named the league's freshman of the year in 2012, is the younger sister of former Bronco Kayla Lommori '13. Winning 21 matches last season, the Blue Devils fell 3-0 to LIU Brooklyn for the second straight year in the 2013 Northeast Conference Championship game. It was head coach Linda Sagnelli's fifth 20-win campaign at CCSU.
Harvard opens its 2014 season vs. Santa Clara on Friday afternoon. They won 14 matches last season, including nine in the Ivy League. They were 9-2 at home last year.
Returning this season are a trio of team leaders last year: Kathleen Wallace (2.58 kpg), Grace Weghorst (2.28 kpg) and Hanna Schmidt (4.25 apg). Corinne Bain was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and to the first team as well. She was joined on the first team by Weghorst and Wallace.
Delaware is 2-2 this season after hosting the UD Courtyard by Marriott Invitational. They then defeated rival Delaware State 3-0 on Tuesday night. The Blue Hens are led by Autumn Jenkins, who averages 3.0 kpg and 1.7 dpg.
The Blue Hens won 11 matches in 2013, dropping their final eight matches of the season playing in the Colonial Athletic Association.
