SANTA CLARA, Calif. — No. 19 Santa Clara volleyball, ranked nationally for the first time in nearly two seasons, takes its 6-0 record to Berkeley, Calif. for the Cal Classic Friday and Saturday. The Broncos begin the tournament against Grand Canyon Friday and play a Saturday doubleheader with matches against West Virginia and host Cal.
The Broncos won the Active Ankle Challenge last weekend by defeating No. 21 Louisville, Auburn and Stony Brook. They improved to 6-0, which is the best start for the team since 2005. Jensen Cunningham hit .486 with 39 kills and committed only four attacking errors in 72 total attempts on her way to Tournament MVP honors.
Santa Clara last made the Top 25 on Nov. 10, 2014 (ranked 25th). Monday's poll marked the highest ranking for the team since Oct. 13, 2008 (18th).GAMDEDAY INFORMATION
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THE BRONCOS
Santa Clara downed No. 21 Louisville 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 25-22 Friday night for its second win against a ranked opponent in the young 2016 season. On Saturday, the Broncos defeated Auburn 29-31, 25-16, 25-23, 25-19 in the early match and swept Stony Brook 25-22, 25-20, 25-18 in the nightcap. They boast a set record of 18-4 and have won all four of their fourth sets. As a team, the Broncos are hitting .259 and holding opponents to a .167 hitting percentage.
Facing the nationally-ranked Cardinals Friday night, Cunningham hit .440 (12 K - 1 E - 25 TA). She led all players with five blocks (one solo, four assists) and totaled five digs. Cunningham played error-free volleyball Saturday night on her way to an impressive .706 hitting percentage with 12 kills (on 17 total attempts) as the Broncos swept Stony Brook.
Taylor Laugero leads the West Coast Conference and ranks third in the NCAA with 6.00 digs/set. She totaled 32 digs in the victory over Auburn on Saturday, which tied for seventh-most in single-match program history. Laugero is the only WCC player ranked in the Top 5 nationally of a per set category entering the week.
Hailey Lindberg hit .408 last weekend and it hitting .406 on the season. She has provided Santa Clara's biggest defensive presence at the net with a team-leading 24 total blocks.
Nikki Hess, Sabrina Clayton and Kirsten Mead have posted three double-doubles apiece through six matches. Each of the three had a double-double against Marquette on Aug. 27 and Auburn on Sept. 3.
SCU SEASON NOTES
- Santa Clara is off to its best start since 2005 — when the team reached the NCAA Tournament's Final Four — and has started 6-0 for the fourth time in its 54-year history. The 2005 season also featured the best start in program history at 7-0. The Broncos can match that mark with a win Friday night and set a new program record for best start to a season by winning its first two games at the Cal Classic.
- Santa Clara defeated No. 7 USC 3-1 on Aug. 27. The Trojans are the highest-ranked team the Broncos have defeated in SCU regular season history. Santa Clara defeated No. 5 Arizona and No. 5 Stanford in back-to-back weeks during the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
- Kirsten Mead took home her second career West Coast Conference Player of the Week award Aug. 29.
- Santa Clara plays its first 14 matches away from the Leavey Center, which matches the longest stretch to start a season in program history. The Broncos have six true road matches and eight neutral site contests before their home opener Tuesday, Sept. 27 against Pacific. They had 14 straight contests away from home in 2012, and went 10-4 to open the season.
The Antelopes enter the weekend at 4-2. After falling in the season opener in five sets against Montana State, Grand Canyon won four straight contests.
Natalie Tardy leads the team with 86 kills and 3.58 kills/set. She had 18 kills against both Eastern Kentucky and Cal State Fullerton last weekend.
The Mountaineers enter the weekend at 3-3. They opened the year against a pair of ranked opponents in No. 9 Penn State and No. 19 North Carolina, and were swept by both teams. West Virginia is 3-1 in its last four matches, including wins over Georgia Southern, Indiana State and Morehead State. The team's first three matches were decided in straight sets, while its last three matches went to five sets.
Payton Caffrey ranks fourth in the NCAA with 5.25 kills/set. She has roughly 40 percent of her team's total attempts this season (315 of 783). Caffrey totaled 27 kills against both Marshall and West Virginia along with 26 kills against Morehead State last weekend.
The Golden Bears enter the weekend at 4-1. Last weekend, they fell to Long Beach State before defeating Northeastern and UC Irvine. They also have wins over Southern Utah and UC Riverside.
Jenelle Jordan leads the team in hitting percentage (.448) and total blocks (23), including nine block solos. She has 66 kills as part of a balanced offense that includes Christine Alftin (.241, 67 kills) and Bailee Huizenga (.250, 56 kills).
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