SAN FRANCISCO — In its lone match of the week, Santa Clara volleyball swept San Francisco 25-21, 25-18, 25-19 Friday night at War Memorial Gym. The Broncos won their fifth consecutive match to remain atop the West Coast Conference with a 5-1 WCC record this season.
The Broncos (14-4, 5-1 WCC) fell behind the Dons (15-4, 2-4) early in the first set, and went in front 17-13 on an 8-1 run, which included two kills and a block from Lacey Maas. Sabrina Clayton finished off the frame with one of her five first-set kills. She tied Nikki Hess with a match-high 12 kills.
Santa Clara took control of the match's most decisive set with a 5-1 stretch to go ahead 11-6 in the second stanza. Clayton and Hess posted kills and reigning WCC Player of the Week Kirsten Mead had an ace as part of the run. Mead had a single-set high 13 assists in the second frame, and finished the night with 33 assists. She set the Broncos to a .300 hitting percentage in the second set.
After the start of the third set featured four ties, the Broncos went on a 4-1 run that included kills from Hess and Cunningham to pull in front 15-12. The Broncos held the Dons to a -.025 hitting percentage in the final set and a 0.73 hitting percentage for the match; they had five blocks to San Francisco's one in the last stanza. Maas had five total blocks on the night and Danielle Rottman led all players with 20 digs.