Sept. 5, 2004
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The 22nd-ranked Santa Clara University volleyball team improved to 3-0 on the season with a three-game sweep of Pacific this afternoon in non-conference action at the Leavey Center. Sophomore Kim McGiven posted 12 kills to lead the Broncos offensively in the 30-14, 30-22, 31-29 win. Pacific fell to 0-2 on the season, marking the first such occurrence in program history. Santa Clara jumped to a 6-1 lead in game one, forcing Pacific to call an early time out. The Broncos extended that lead to 10-3 before Pacific battled back to within four, at 12-8. Santa Clara hit .593 in the frame, led by McGiven's seven spikes, and held Pacific to a .000 hitting percentage. One of Toni Muratore's nine kills of the afternoon set up game point, while Cassie Perret and Anna Cmaylo paired for a block to put the first frame in the books. Pacific was able to tie game two at 10-10 and took its first lead on the next point, with a block from Johanna Hilbers and Sidney Bennett. SCU slowly pulled ahead, in part to six team blocks in the frame. The Tigers held off two game points, however, a Cmaylo kill sent the Broncos into the lockerroom with a 2-0 lead for the first time this season. Pacific challenged the Broncos toward the end of game three, with a Bennett service ace giving the Tigers a 27-26 lead. Perret and Cmaylo teamed again for a block that set up match point, with another Cmaylo kill closing out the afternoon with a 31-29 game victory. Pacific was led by Ashley Groothuis and Stevie Mussie, who each posted 10 kills. As a team, Santa Clara out-hit (.322-.094), out-dug (44-39), out-aced (6-3), and out-blocked (10.5-5.0) the Tigers for the match. Santa Clara will play its next seven matches on the road, starting with participation at the Aston Imua Wahine Challenge in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Broncos will open the tournament against third-ranked UCLA on Thursday, and follow with No. 13 Hawaii on Friday and Southwest Missouri State on Saturday.
