SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara volleyball takes its five-match winning streak to Southern California for West Coast Conference matches Thursday at Pepperdine and Saturday at LMU. The Broncos are 5-1 in WCC play this season; they enter the week in a three-way tie for first place with No. 13 BYU and San Diego.
In its lone match last week, Santa Clara swept San Francisco on the road Friday night. The Broncos lead all WCC teams with 1.58 aces per set, and have four separate winning streaks of at least three matches in 2015.
SANTA CLARA (14-4, 5-1 WCC) at Pepperdine (12-7, 3-3)
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 • 7 p.m. PDT
Game #19 • Away Game #7 • Malibu, Calif.
Live Stats: www.pepperdinesports.com
Video: TheW.tv
Series: Pepperdine Leads 39-28
Last Season: Oct. 16, 2014 in Malibu — Santa Clara won 3-1
Nov. 15, 2014 in Santa Clara — Pepperdine won 3-1
SANTA CLARA (14-4, 5-1 WCC) at LMU (12-6, 3-3)
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 • 12 p.m. PDT
Game #20 • Away Game #8 • Los Angeles, Calif.
Live Stats: www.lmu.statbroadcast.com
Video: TheW.tv
Series: LMU Leads 36-32
Last Season: Oct. 18, 2014 Los Angeles — Santa Clara won 3-2
Nov. 13, 2014 in Santa Clara — LMU Won 3-0
THE BRONCOS
The Broncos avenged last year's 3-0 loss at San Francisco by defeating the Dons 25-21, 25-18, 25-19 Friday night. Santa Clara was led by reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Week Kirsten Mead, who had 33 assists and set the Broncos to a .300 hitting percentage in the second set. Sabrina Clayton and Nikki Hess tied for a match-high 12 kills.
Santa Clara has players ranked in the top three of four different major statistical categories in the WCC, the most of all conference teams (per set):
Aces — Sabrina Clayton 0.49/s (1st)
Assists — Kirsten Mead 11.02/s (2nd)
Digs — Danielle Rottman 4.85/s (1st)
Blocks — Jensen Cunningham 1.23/s (3rd)
The next closest team is BYU, who has players ranked in the top three of three major statistical categories.
THE OPPONENTS
Pepperdine won five matches in a row to start the season en route to a 7-1 start. The Waves have split contests in each of the first three weekends of WCC play; they defeated LMU, Pacific and Portland, and fell against San Diego, Saint Mary's and Gonzaga. Scott Wong is in his first season as head coach of Pepperdine.
Pepperdine Category Leaders in the WCC's Top 10
Hitting Percentage — Tarah Wylie .348 (3rd)
Assists — Becca Strehlow 10.48/s (5th)
Service Aces — Lara Dykstra 0.35/s (7th)
Blocks — Wylie 1.07/s (9th)
Digs — Dykstra 4.45/s (2nd)
LMU began its conference campaign with losses against Pepperdine, BYU and Pacific. The Lions have won their last three WCC contests against Saint Mary's, Gonzaga and Portland. They rounded out the non-conference schedule with a six-match winning streak, including four sweeps. Tom Black is in his sixth season as head coach of LMU.
LMU Category Leaders in the WCC's Top 10
Kills — Jamie Lea 3.66/s (8th)
Assists — Hannah Tedrow 11.32/s (1st)
Blocks — Rachelle Suaava 1.19/s (5th)
GO BRONCOS!
