Coming off a successful weekend where Santa Clara defeated the top two teams in the West Coast Conference, the Broncos will put that behind them as they travel to Gonzaga for a 6 pm match on Nov. 6 and then a 1 pm match at Portland on Nov. 8.
Santa Clara is 18-7, including 8-4 in the WCC. They are 7-6 in away matches this season, including wins at then-No. 24 USD on Oct. 2 and at then-No. 24 LMU on Oct. 18. In its last two matches, Santa Clara defeated No. 11 BYU 3-0 on Oct. 30 and then No. 30 San Diego 3-2 on Nov. 1.
Entering the week, the Broncos are ranked No. 4 nationally in aces per set (1.83). They are also No. 5 in the country with 165 aces this season, including a season-high 12 aces vs. No. 11 BYU on Oct. 30.
The Broncos are led by this week's WCC Player of the Week, Nikki Hess. Hess collects 3.56 kpg, including 3.93 kpg in league play. Sabrina Clayton is second with 3.42 kpg and leads the WCC with .43 sapg – which puts her at No. 19 nationally. "Nikki is very explosive and a dynamic athlete. I am impressed by her mental and emotional growth as an athlete and competitor," said Bronco head coach Jon Wallace. "Sabrina's productivity goes under the radar. She does a lot of things for us and takes a lot of swings. She does it quietly, but does a great job."
Taylor Milton is third with 2.80 kpg and second in digs with 2.26 dpg. "Taylor is playing some of the best volleyball that she's played in her four years here. I'm really happy for her in her senior year that she is able to focus on being able to be the great volleyball player that she is," said Wallace. "She does so many things for us. Taylor has to do every single skill in the game and she does it at a really high level."
Kirsten Mead is No. 2 in the country with 11.78 apg, only sitting behind No. 1 Stanford's Madi Bugg (12.07). Mead is third on the team with .38 sapg. "Kirsten continues to amaze us as a setter," said Wallace. "Her decision-making and her location of her sets is making our offense fast and dynamic, which allows us to play at a high level offensively."
Danielle Rottman leads the team with 4.70 dpg and is tied for third with .38 sapg. "Dani has tremendous confidence in what is going on. She studies the game and is really the backbone of our defense and is fighting so hard on each play that it's contagious—it makes every other girl fight for it as well," added Wallace.
Gonzaga is 14-8, including 5-6 in the WCC. This season they are 5-2 at home. Gonzaga has lost four of its last five matches after winning four straight in league play. They lost 3-2 at LMU on Oct. 30 and 3-0 at Pepperdine on Nov. 1. Savannah Blinn collects 4.88 kpg, including 5.10 kpg in league play.
"We need our defense to get better especially against Savannah Blinn, who is the best attacker in our conference and probably one of the top ones in the nation," said Wallace. "She's having a tremendous year and she poses a lot of threats to us. We will be tightening up our defense to defend her as well as some of the other good players that Gonzaga has."
The Zags roared back, down 2-0, to win 3-2 at Santa Clara on Oct. 10. "Gonzaga is a tough match up for every single team in our conference," said Wallace. "They're one of the toughest teams, one of the grittiest teams in our conference—driven by their liberos and DS's that they have. So, for us, we have to compete hard and play with more grit than they have and we have to execute our offenses well. We will work to get better in general, but we are definitely going to be in for a big fight on Thursday night and we will have to be ready for it."
Portland is 5-17, including 0-11 in the WCC. Emily Liger leads the team with 3.96 kpg and is second with 2.72 dpg. Portland has lost 13 straight matches coming into the weekend. Santa Clara defeated the Pilots 3-1 on Oct. 9 in Santa Clara.
Wallace likes the team's confidence and focus right now. "Our team has beaten BYU in each the last three years. They feel very confident against them and they knew that they had to be better and be more focused. The best thing about having BYU and San Diego in our conference is that it makes us all better—it makes us scout, practice and play better. Having both those matches on one weekend is tough, but it makes us play up to their level. When you play up to their level, you get better, and our team has definitely gotten better."
Wallace called Natasha Calkins is a force when she is on her game. He also said the following about each player: Kaity Edwards "helps our team out because she is able to hit behind the setter"; Mary Shepherd "serves for us, plays defense and scores for us defensively'; and Lacey Maas "adds freshness to our offense and the girls respond well when she comes in the game. It's great to see her healthy and playing again."
