Dec. 13, 2007

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara volleyball setter Crystal Matich received her second All-America honor as she was named an honorable mention it was announced Wednesday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). The senior helped guide the Broncos to a 19-12 overall record and their fifth West Coast Conference title with an 11-3 record.

Matich also received AVCA All-America accolades as she was named to the Third Team as a sophomore when Santa Clara made a run at the National Championship in 2005 and advanced to its first-ever Final Four. The Santa Rosa, Calif., native, who also named the 2007 WCC Player of the Year in November, compiled a team-best .331 hitting percentage (129-38-275) and led Santa Clara in assists, averaging 13.29 per game. That mark also placed Matich on top of the league standings in assists per game this season. Matich also registered 33 service aces, 49 total blocks and 2.21 digs per game.

As of Dec. 11, on the national stage, Matich is ranked 14th overall in assists per game, which places Santa Clara as a team at No. 14 in the nation as well in that same category. She finished her career on the Mission Campus ranked third on the all-time assists average list, fourth in career assists with 4,384 and seventh on the all-time service ace list with 123.

The Broncos advanced to the first round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament after receiving the WCC's automatic bid. Santa Clara played an intense match against the No. 1 seeded Stanford Cardinal but fell in the hard-fought battle, 3-0. It was the Broncos 10th consecutive trip to the Big Dance and the ninth time under the direction of the 2007 WCC Coach of the Year, Jon Wallace.