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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara volleyball returns to the Leavey Center to hit the halfway point of 2015 West Coast Conference play when it faces Pacific and Saint Mary's this week. The Broncos host the Tigers Thursday at 6 p.m. and begin the back half of conference play Saturday at 1 p.m.
Last Thursday, the Broncos continued their three-game road trip with a sweep of Pepperdine before falling 3-2 to LMU on Saturday. Santa Clara enters the week in third place in the WCC with a 6-2 conference mark; they trail co-leaders BYU and San Diego, both of whom are 7-1.
SANTA CLARA (15-5, 6-2 WCC) vs. Pacific (13-6, 4-4)
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015 • 6 p.m. PDT
Game #21 • Home Game #8 • Santa Clara, Calif.
Live Stats: santaclara.statbroadcast.com | Video: TheW.tv
Series: Pacific Leads 23-7
Last Season: Sept. 30, 2014 in Santa Clara — Santa Clara won 3-0
Oct. 25, 2014 in Stockton — Pacific Won 3-0
SANTA CLARA (15-5, 6-2 WCC) vs. Saint Mary's (6-12, 1-7)
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 • 1 p.m. PDT
Game #22 • Home Game #9 • Santa Clara, Calif.
Live Stats: santaclara.statbroadcast.com | Video: TheW.tv
Series: Santa Clara leads 48-22
Previous Meeting: Sept. 29, 2015 in Moraga — Santa Clara won 3-0
Last Season: Oct. 23, 2014 in Moraga— Santa Clara won 3-1
Nov. 25, 2014 in Santa Clara — Santa Clara won 3-0
THE BRONCOS
The Broncos defeated the Waves 25-15, 25-18, 25-22 to go on a six-match winning streak, their longest of the season and longest since 2007. Danielle Rottman posted 20 digs to record her seventh consecutive match with at least 17 digs and sixth match on the season with at least 20 digs.
Santa Clara won the first two sets by two points apiece against LMU, and dropped the next three frames in a 25-23, 29-27, 20-25, 22-25, 9-15 loss Saturday afternoon at Gersten Pavilion. Three sets were decided by three points or less in a contest that lasted two hours and 43 minutes — the longest of 20 matches for the Broncos in 2015.
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 11.00/s (2nd)
Digs — Danielle Rottman 4.99/s (1st)
Blocks — Jensen Cunningham 1.21/s (3rd)
The next closest team is Pacific, who has players ranked in the top three of three major statistical categories.
THE OPPONENTS
Pacific won seven of its first eight matches this season, and began conference play with three wins in four tries. The Tigers posted victories at Portland, vs. San Francisco and at LMU before losing three consecutive matches at Pepperdine, vs. No. 15 BYU and vs. San Diego. In its lone match last week, Pacific topped Saint Mary's 3-2 at home. Greg Gibbons is in his sixth season as head coach of the Tigers.
Pacific Category Leaders in the WCC's Top 10
Kills — Lexi Elman 4.88/s (1st)
Assists — Kimmy Whitson 10.75/s (3rd)
Service Aces — Elman 0.41/s (3rd)
Digs — Katrin Gotterba 3.97/s (6th)
Saint Mary's has one win in its last 11 matches, a 3-1 road victory over Pepperdine Oct. 1. They have lost four matches in a row, all against teams ranked in the top half of the WCC. Santa Clara swept Saint Mary's in Moraga on Sept. 29. Rob Browning is in his 11th season as head coach of the Gaels.
Saint Mary's Category Leaders in the WCC's Top 10
Hitting Percentage — Alexis Salmons .306 (7th)
Assists — Mary Hernandez 9.75/s (6th)
Service Aces — Lindsey Knudsen 0.35/s (6th)
Digs — Madi Wilkerson 4.14/s (4th)
GO BRONCOS!
