Dec. 3, 2004
SEATTLE, Wash. - The Santa Clara volleyball team dropped a four-game contest to Kansas in the NCAA First Round on Friday night in Seattle, Wash. The game scores were 30-25, 26-30, 30-28, 30-15. The Broncos end their season with an 18-9 mark after making their seventh straight postseason appearance.
The Broncos would trail through out the first game as Kansas claimed the first point of the set. Santa Clara trailed by seven points at 15-8 before rattling off five straight points behind the serving of Cassie Perret to bring the score to 15-13. However, a Jayhawk timeout would be followed by a sideout to end the Bronco run. After trading points, Anna Cmalyo would provide an offensive spark later in the game as two consecutive kills would cut the Bronco deficit to four points at 24-20. The Jayhawks would claim the next point before SCU scored the next two points to trail by three points at 25-22. However, the Broncos would not be able to cut the Kansas advantage any further as the Jayhawks would win the first game 30-25.
Santa Clara would return the favor in the second game as it led through out the majority of the set. The Broncos hit at a .358 clip in the second game as they took a 30-26 game win. Setter Kristen Luxton would post a season-high four kills in the game to highlight the Bronco attack. The game was tied at 20-20 late the game before a kill from Toni Muratore gave the Broncos lead once again. Santa Clara stretched its lead to four points later in the game when a kill from Cmaylo put SCU ahead 27-23. The Broncos saw their first game when another Muratore kill brought the score to 29-24. Kansas would score two points before SCU sealed the game win on a kill from Jac Heler.
In the third game, the teams once again would seesaw through the first half of the set as the teams were even at 16-16. Kansas would win the next four points to build the late lead. Santa Clara then took the next three points to cut the Jayhawk lead to one at 20-19. Kansas would rally to build another lead forcing the Broncos to take a time-out, trailing 27-22. The Broncos would win two of the next three points before Kansas earned a game point at 29-26. Santa Clara fought off two points as Heler and Kim McGiven each posted kills to bring the game score to 29-28. However, Kansas would seal the game on the next point.
The Jayhawks built an early lead in the final game, winning the first six points. The Broncos were unable to mount a comeback in the fourth game, dropping what proved to be the final game, 30-15.
In her last match as a Bronco, Muratore posted a career-high 12 digs to go along with a match-high 18 kills. It was her second double-double of the season. Heler also posted her own double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs.
Cmaylo finished the night with 16 kills, while Caroline Walters paced the team with 25 digs. Luxton also had a career night with five kills on seven attempts.
