Aug. 28, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara volleyball returns to the court on Aug. 30-31 to open the 2008 season at the Utes Invitational hosted by the University of Utah. The Broncos will face the Wolverines of Utah Valley State in the opening match on Saturday and then battle the host Utes on Sunday. Both games are scheduled to start at 3 p.m. PT at the Crimson Court in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Follow The Broncos Online
Every Santa Clara home game and most road games are covered live with GameTracker on the Internet via www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. All home games will also feature a live video broadcast as well.
Scouting Utah Valley
Utah Valley returns to the court in 2008 after winning the Independent Championship last season with a 21-10 overall record. Highlighting the veterans for the Wolverines are Allyce Wilson ('07 Defensive Player of the Year), Kristin Anderson (led Independents with 1.23 b/g), Kayli Broadbent ('07 Freshman of the Year) and Kristi Lindley (All-Independent first team).
All-Time vs. Utah Valley
Saturday's contest marks the first meeting of the Broncos and Wolverines.
Scouting Utah
The Utes will battle the Wolverines on Friday before taking on the Broncos on Sunday. Utah posted a 15-15 overall record in 2007 and tied for fourth place in the Mountain West Conference. Utah is also receiving votes in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll. Highlighting Utah's 10 returning players are seniors Lori Baird and Kathryn Haynie. Baird was an honorable mention all-region in 2007 finishing in the top-20 in the country with 1.53 b/g. Haynie led the Utes with 3.65 k/g.
All-Time vs. Utah
Sunday marks the seventh meeting in a series that is tied 3-3. The two teams last met on Sept. 17, 2005 with Utah edging SCU, 3-2.
On Deck
The Broncos return to action on Friday, Sept. 5 at the Arizona Wildcat Invitational. Santa Clara will face Texas Tech and Arizona at Noon and 7 p.m., respectively on Friday and then battle Texas State on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m.
Bronco Watch
Santa Clara returns five starters from a year ago including Brittany Lowe, Lindsy Davigeadono, Lauryn Dowd, Nichole Clark and Krista Kelley. The Broncos also welcome back middle blocker Anna Cmaylo, who sat out last season as she recovered from shoulder surgery.
Last season, Lowe led the Broncos with 452 kills and was second on the team with 36 aces and 309 digs. Davigeadono, who will move to the setter position this season, was second on the squad with 70 total blocks and third with 34 aces and 332 kills. Dowd compiled an impressive sophomore season with 149 kills, .256 hitting percentage, and team-highs with 37 service aces and 71 total blocks. Clark ranked third on the team with 56 total blocks, while Kelley was second on the team with 352 kills and compiled 15 aces and 177 digs.
Also returning in 2008 are libero Kim Courtney, middle blocker Alex Scoffone, outside hitter Nina Sevastopoulos and defensive specialist Taylor O'Brien.
On Track To 1,000
Seniors Lowe and Cmaylo are on track this season to join the 1,000 Club in digs and kills, respectively. Lowe is 76 digs away from her career 1,000, while Cmaylo is 48 kills shy of her career 1,000. Lowe reached her career 1,000 kills in 2007 after tallying a team-high 452.
Strong Opening
Santa Clara is 7-2 in overall season openers under the director of head coach Jon Wallace and 6-1 in openers on the road. All-time, Santa Clara is 15-15 in season openers.
Broncos Selected To Finish Third In The West Coast Conference
The Broncos were picked to finish third in the West Coast Conference in a preseason coaches poll. The Broncos earned a share of the WCC Championship last season after finishing in third place in 2006. Santa Clara received 53 points in the poll, behind Pepperdine's 55 points and San Diego's 56 points.
Santa Clara Receiving Votes in the CBS College Sports/AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll
On Aug. 19, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced their preseason Top-25, with Santa Clara receiving votes and sitting seven spots outside the Top-25.
Broncos And The Record Books
By the end of the 2007 season, several names were added to the Bronco Record Books including Caroline Walters shattering the SCU and WCC all-time digs record with a final tally of 1,932. Outside hitter Lowe begins the 2008 campaign ranked in five career and three single-season categories. She is No. 10 in career kills (1,112), No. 4 in career kill average (3.53), No. 9 in career attack attempts (2,841), No. 7 in career dig average (2.93) and No. 10 in career aces (110). Lowe would need just 132 more digs to enter the record books and just 76 more to reach 1,000. Middle blocker Cmaylo is also ranked in five career and four single-season categories. She is just 48 kills shy of her career 1,000 and 160 kills away from entering the record book. She is ranked No. 9 in career kill average (3.15), No. 2 all-time in hitting percentage (.362), No. 4 in career block assists (305), No. 4 in career total blocks (343) and No. 3 in career block average (1.14). Kelley's single-season kill average of 4.46 per game placed her at No. 4 on the list at the end of her rookie season.
2007 Recap
SCU brought the 2007 season to a close with its 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, its fifth West Coast Conference crown and several athletes earning all-conference accolades. The Broncos compiled a 19-12 overall record and finished 11-3 in league play to tie for first place with San Diego. Setter Crystal Matich '08 was named the WCC Player of the Year, while Kelley earned WCC Co-Freshman of the Year honors. Lowe joined Matich and Kelley on the All-WCC first team, while Davigeadono and Walters '08 earned honorable mention. The Broncos advanced to the NCAA Tournament but lost in a hard-fought 3-0 decision to No. 1 Stanford in the first round. Head coach Wallace improved his career record to 195-78 and 98-28 in the WCC. Wallace was also voted on by his peers as the WCC Coach of the Year. It was the third time in the last eight years Wallace had received the honor.
