Sept. 23, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara volleyball team lost a hard-fought battle to UNLV, 3-0 (30-24, 30-26, 30-16) Sunday afternoon at the Leavey Center. With the loss the Broncos dropped to 8-7 before entering West Coast Conference play, while the Rebels improved to 11-2 overall.
Freshman Krista Kelley was the lone Bronco to post double-digit kills, registering 12, while Lindsy Evans chipped in with seven kills. Crystal Matich compiled another double-double with 32 assists and 10 digs. The senior setter also posted two very key solo blocks to lead the team.
The Rebels took control of the first game with an 8-3 start on point, but the Broncos fought back to bring the score within one, 9-8, on back-to-back kills from Kelley and Rebels error. That was the closest SCU would come as UNLV kept the advantage and ended the first game, 30-24.
Once again UNLV opened game two with a 4-1 lead on points from Lauren Miramontes, Brittani Lumsden and Melody Nua. Although the Rebels continued to push ahead, the Broncos rallied back on points Kim Courtney, Alex Scoffone and Evans. A solo block from Matich tied the score, 15-15. The two teams battled point-for-point until UNLV took a small four-point edge, 22-19. A service ace from Lauryn Dowd brought Santa Clara within one, 23-22, but UNLV won game two, 30-26.
In the beginning third game, the two teams kept the score very tight until the Rebels broke away with a five-point advantage on a kill from Maria Aladjova. Santa Clara tried to keep the score close on kills from Nina Sevastapoulos, who went five for nine with only one error in game three. But UNLV served up a quick end to the match with a 30-16 win.
For UNLV, Aladjova registered a match-high 20 kills and collected 10 digs, while Erin Greenwood had 10 kills and four total blocks.
The Broncos return to action in their West Coast Conference season opener on Thursday, Sept. 27 at the Leavey Center. Santa Clara will host the Pilots of Portland at 7 p.m.
