Oct. 2, 2004
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University volleyball team defeated Portland 3-1 tonight in West Coast Conference action at the Leavey Center. The Broncos improve to 11-2, 2-0 with their eighth straight victory. Game scores were 30-27, 30-20, 31-33, 30-23. The Pilots fall to 9-5, 0-2 and have now lost 19 straight to Santa Clara.
Freshman Annalisa Muratore posted 17 kills to lead the Broncos, with five teammates also reaching double digits in kills. Defensively, Caroline Walters led a group of four Broncos who posted double digits in digs, as she finished with a match-high 22 tonight. Muratore also recorded a career-high 12 blocks as SCU out-blocked Portland 18-8.
Portland was led by Sara Vercruyssen's 19-kill, 16-dig effort. Liz Lord followed with 14 kills and 14 digs, while Michelle Oakland also posted 14 kills.
The Pilots had an early lead to start the match, but the Broncos went on a 6-1 run, and an ace by Toni Muratore gave SCU an 11-10 lead. The frame remained close, as there were 12 ties, however junior Jac Heler scored three of the Broncos' final points, with one kill and two blocks, to put game one away.
Santa Clara took the early lead in game two, but Portland was able to tie the match at 12. Two service aces by junior Cassie Perret gave Santa Clara a 21-17 lead and the Broncos finished the game for a 2-0 lead at intermission.
It took four game points for Portland to secure the game three victory, and a kill from Lord sent the match to a fourth frame. The Pilots his .358 in game three, with Vercruyseen notching eight of her match-high 19 kills in this frame.
Santa Clara posted five blocks in the final game, including two straight from freshman Anna Cmaylo and Perret to give the Broncos a 21-15 lead and control of the team victory.
Santa Clara will travel on the road for its next three conference matches, starting at San Diego next Saturday at 7 p.m.
