SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In their final match in a Santa Clara volleyball uniform it was fitting that seniors Nikki Hess and Sabrina Clayton were keys to the Broncos ending the season on a winning note.

Hess posted 12 kills and added 13 digs for her 11th double-double of the season, and Clayton registered eight kills and 11 digs leading Santa Clara (16-14, 7-11) to a sweep of Saint Mary's in Tuesday's West Coast Conference match.

The Broncos took the first set 25-13, struggled to claim the second 27-25, and comfortably came out on top in the third 25-13 by hitting a match-best .391 percent.

Lindsey Calvin had a team-high seven kills and Emily Bible added six for the Gaels (11-18, 6-12) who lost for the seventh time in their final eight outings of the season.

All five Santa Clara seniors, who were recognized prior to Saturday's match vs. BYU, saw action.

"It is sad and emotional especially with this group of seniors who have put so much into this program over the last four years and been to two NCAA Tournaments and completely changed the culture for us," Santa Clara head coach Jon Wallace said. "We were determined to get everyone in the match tonight and we were able to do that. It was great to see Madison Dutra, Katrina Inch and Mary Shepherd out there, and of course, Nikki Hess and Sabrina Clayton doing their thing."

VIDEO | @SCUVolleyball's Nikki Hess/Sabrina Clayton after their final match as Broncos - a sweep of Saint Mary's! https://t.co/dB1lmj7lqg pic.twitter.com/4dCyguDkao

— Santa Clara Broncos (@SCUBroncos) November 23, 2016

The Broncos had to dig deep to keep the Gaels from tying the match at 1-set apiece.

The second set was tied 11 times and the Broncos had a chance to close leading 24-23, but Bible registered a kill and Hannah Liserra served an ace. However, the Gaels were unable to take advantage as Clayton and Hess responded with back-to-back kills. Santa Clara closed the set on a Saint Mary's attack error.

The Broncos scored six of the first seven points in the third set and were never really threatened. A Sienna Young kill closed the gap to 11-7, but Santa Clara went on another run. Dutra had a pair of kills in a 7-1 flurry and the Gaels never got within nine the remainder of the third set when they posted only a .083 hitting percentage, the lowest of the match.

Santa Clara registered a .266 hitting percentage in the match and had eight service aces to only one for Saint Mary's.

Junior setter Kirsten Mead, who missed 14 matches earlier this year with an ankle injury, had 28 assists and six digs for the Broncos.

Three of the previous four years, Santa Clara reached the NCAA Tournament and this year's squad was poised to challenge in the tough WCC.

"We have lots of goals in our program and we were set to peak and compete for a WCC Championship and make a long run in the NCAA Tournament," Wallace said. "We got off to a great start with a 9-0 start. Not only did we expect it, but we were matching those expectations and felt great about ourselves. Then we got a little derailed with some injuries and that challenged us."

Wallace had led the Broncos to 13 NCAA appearances in his 18 years in charge.

"We knew they wanted it so bad and worked so hard over the last three years to be in that spot," Wallace said. "To see that dream kind of go away was rough. But we came in the gym everyday and this group is committed to be on task to get better. Tonight just shows they wanted it and they just hung in there."

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