Nov. 17, 2003
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This Week: Broncos Return Home for Final Two WCC Matches of 2003 Campaign
The Santa Clara University volleyball team returns to the Leavey Center this weekend for its final two West Coast Conference matches of the 2003 season. The Broncos will take on 4th-ranked Pepperdine Friday night and 17th-ranked Loyola Marymount Saturday night. Friday's contest with the Waves is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. while Saturday's match with the Lions will begin after a prematch ceremony that will honor the Broncos' three outgoing seniors. Becky Biniek, Becky Potter and Kelli Sousa will all be recognized for their SCU accomplishments during Senior night on Saturday.
Santa Clara vs. Pepperdine
The Broncos and Waves have met 43 previous times entering Friday's key WCC battle with Pepperdine holding a commanding 30-13 all-time series advantage over SCU. During Jon Wallace's time at Santa Clara the Broncos have a 1-8 record against the team where he served as an assistant for seven seasons prior to taking over the reigns at SCU. Earlier this season the Waves handed the Broncos a 3-1 loss in front of a live television audience on CSTV. Santa Clara holds the distinction of being the last WCC team to defeat the Waves, taking a five-game thriller to claim the WCC title on November 18, 2000. Since then the Waves have posted a 34-0 record against league teams.
Santa Clara vs. Loyola Marymount
The Broncos and Lions have met 43 previous times entering this Friday's matchup with LMU holding a 26-17 all-time advantage in the series. Loyola Marymount in one of only two teams in the WCC to have a winning record against the Broncos, but lately it has been SCU who has dominated the series. Santa Clara has won seven of the last eight meetings between the two schools dating back to 1999. The last time that LMU defeated SCU was earlier this year at LMU when the Lions outlasted the Broncos by a 3-2 score in Gersten Pavilion. Santa Clara middle blocker Becky Potter had 28 kills and 24 digs in that match.
Last Weekend: Broncos Take Two on Road
The Santa Clara University women's volleyball team defeated Saint Mary's Friday night in Moraga, Calif., by a 3-2 score before sweeping USF in San Francisco Saturday night. The Broncos rallied to win two of the final three games over the Gaels Friday night for their ninth win in league play and their 18th overall. Becky Potter's second triple-double of the season led the way as her 23 kills, 21 digs and 14 total blocks were just too much to handle for the Gaels. Saturday night's sweep of the Dons was the 29th-straight victory for the Broncos over USF. Potter was dominant again, posting 21 kills and 13 digs in the victory. Kelli Sousa directed the offense beautifully with her 56 assists in the three games, but it was Toni Muratore whose played shone through on the night. Muratore's 19 kills came along with a .484 hitting percentage that dominated the third and final game.
Potter Named WCC Player of the Week
Santa Clara University middle blocker Becky Potter has been named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week for the second consecutive time on Monday, following her performances on the road over the weekend. The Clovis, Calif. native Led the Broncos to a pair of tough road victories, defeating Saint Mary's 3-2 and San Francisco 3-0. She posted a triple-double in the Broncos' win at Saint Mary's Friday night, recording 23 kills, 21 digs and 14 total blocks. It was her second triple-double of the season and third 20-20 match of the year. On Saturday night She picked up right where she left off the night before, leading the Broncos to a sweep at USF, recording 21 kills, 13 digs and six total blocks for her 18th double-double of the year. For the weekend she averaged 5.50 kills per game, 4.25 digs per game, 2.50 blocks per game and 7.125 points per game. Her 44 kills came on a .330 hitting percentage (44-12-97), while her 11 block assists and 14 total blocks at Saint Mary's each tied school records in their respective categories. The player of the week honor for Potter is the eighth such award in her WCC career, four of which have come this season. In addition to Monday's award she also garnered the honor on September 8, October 14 and November 10.
In the Rankings
SCU remained constant in the AVCA/USA Today Top-25 Coaches' Poll with their No. 13 national ranking. Santa Clara entered the season with its highest ever preseason national ranking of No. 14. The Broncos moved up to a season-high ranking No. 12 one month ago following victories over Saint Mary's and San Francisco at home.
Potter Closes in on Kills Record
Senior middle blocker Becky Potter added 44 kills over the weekend, taking her career total to 1,734. She trails only Ynez Carrasco by only 14 kills for the all-time kills mark in Bronco volleyball history. Her average of 4.30 kills per game ranks second in SCU history, trailing Carrasco by only 0.04 kills per game. Her .290 hitting percentage ranks third in Santa Clara history, trailing only Brooke Terhune and Amy Kohl.
Sousa Setting the Standard
Kelli Sousa has become one of the best setters in the nation during her career on the Mission Campus. As a junior she led the country in assists per game with her 14.38 average. She has picked up in 2003 right where she left off in 2002. Thus far this season Sousa has spread the ball around enough that three players ended 19 of the team's 27 matches with double-digit kills. With 1,447 assists this season, she now has 4,948 for her career, the second highest total in program history. She trails only Roz Pelayo for the all-time record, who recorded 5,732 assists in her four year career at SCU. Sousa served as Pelayo's backup during the 2000 season. Her 13.16 assists per game average is also the second highest in program history.
Head Coach Jon Wallace
Wallace enters his fifth season at the helm of the Santa Clara program. In his first four years on the Mission Campus, Wallace has guided the Broncos to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and two season records that rank among the top three in school history. During his tenure the Broncos have had 20 all-WCC selections, six all-WCC academic selections, two AVCA All-Pacific Region players, one WCC Player of the Year, one WCC Defender of the Year, one WCC Freshman of the Year and one AVCA All-American. Wallace himself was named the WCC Coach of the Year in 2000 when he led the Broncos to the WCC title. With the Broncos' 3-2 victory over Sacramento State on September 30, 2003, Wallace became only the second coach in Bronco Volleyball history to reach the 100-win plateau, joining Mary Ellen Murchison. Wallace attains the feat in only his fifth year on the Mission Campus and has the all-time win mark for a coach set squarely in his sights as Murchison's mark of 162 wins was posted in 11 seasons. Thus far in his career Wallace has an overall record of 109-41 (.727 win percentage), while his record in league play is an even more impressive 55-12 (.815 win percentage). His three 20-win seasons already in his first four years are more than any other previous coach in SCU history, as Laurie Corbelli and Annie Feller each posted 20-wins only twice in their careers.
Up Next: Final Regular Season Match
Santa Clara returns to the court Tuesday night, November 25 at 7 p.m. against No. 7 Stanford in both team's regular season finale. While Santa Clara is hosting two ranked teams at home this weekend, the Cardinal are at home against Oregon and Oregon State to conclude their Pac-10 season. The SCU-Stanford series dates back to 1975 with the Cardinal holding a 17-0 advantage in the all-time series.
