Sept. 28, 2004
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Sisters Toni and Annalisa Muratore combined for 25 kills to lead the 13th-ranked Santa Clara University volleyball team over No. 12 California in three straight games tonight at the Leavey Center. The Broncos improve to 9-2 on the season with the 30-28, 30-22, 30-25 victory. The Golden Bears fall to 7-4 overall, with all four losses 3-0 defeats to nationally-ranked teams.
Santa Clara out-hit Cal .287 to .150, with junior Toni posting a match-high 14 kills and freshman Annalisa 11 to lead the Broncos. Santa Clara held the Bears to a .000 clip in the first frame.
Cal was led by Camille Leffall, who finished with 12 kills and a .455 hitting percentage. Gabrielle Abernathy added 11 kills.
There were 17 ties in game one, with Cal taking an early lead. Santa Clara tied the match at 28. Annalisa set up game point with her kill, and on the following play, a Bear attacker hit long to give the Broncos the first frame.
Santa Clara maintained momentum and jumped to an 11-5 lead. They stretched it to 14-8 on a block solo by Cassie Perret, who added to her defensive efforts by notching a team-high 13 digs. A kill by Bronco Anna Cmaylo set up game-point, and teammate Jac Heler finished the frame with her own attack to send the home squad into intermission with a 2-0 lead.
The final game was close, with Cal taking a 16-15 lead on a kill by Abernathy. Perret and Cmaylo paired for a block to tie the match at 19 and the Broncos took it home from there.
Santa Clara remains at home and will open conference play on Friday night, hosting Gonzaga (4-9). The team will follow against Portland (9-3) on Saturday. The Broncos hold a 19-match win streak and a 28-6 all-time record against the Bulldogs and an 18-match win streak and a 30-6 all-time record against the Pilots. First serves for both contests are set for 7 p.m. The athletic department will be celebrating Future Broncos Night on Friday, where youths wearing a jersey will be admitted for only $2.
