Sept. 5, 2008
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Santa Clara volleyball team rallied to a 3-1 victory over Arizona Friday night to improve to 2-0 in the Sheraton Four Points Arizona Invitational. The final set scores for 24-26, 25-19, 25-23, 25-20.
The Broncos (3-1) were led by senior Brittany Lowe, who registered a double-double with 18 kills and 11 digs. She also tallied two services aces. Junior Nina Sevastopoulos also posted double-figures with 16 kills. Freshman Libby Morrison dished out three service aces and collected 10 digs, while senior Taylor O'Brien collected a team-high 13 digs.
Santa Clara opened the match with a 5-2 lead in the first set, but Arizona knotted the score, 5-5, on a kill by Stephanie Snow. Yet, the Broncos kept control of the scoreboard and created a four point edge, 18-14, on an ace by Morrison. Despite, the Wildcats eventually tying the score, 20-20, on a kill by Tiffany Owens, SCU moved on to set point, 24-22, on a kill by Lowe. However, a block by Whitney Dosty and Snow knotted the score, 24-24, and the Wildcats went on to take set one 26-24.
The Broncos responded in the second set by taking control early on. A kill by Anny Cmaylo brought Santa Clara to a 16-11 lead and a bad set by Arizona's Paige Weber gave SCU a six-point edge, 17-11. The Wildcats produced a small three-point run to make the score 19-16, but the Broncos never relinquished their advantage and took the set, 25-19, on an ace from O'Brien.
SCU came back from the break to create a 4-0 opening to the third set. Three points came on kills by Sevastopoulos. Yet, Arizona came alive and tied the score, 5-5, on a kill by Snow. The Wildcats then took over. Arizona increased its lead to 11-5 on an ace by Alanna Resch. After the Broncos fell behind six points, 20-14, Head coach Jon Wallace called a time out and, after the short breather, Santa Clara produced a 7-1 run to knot the score, 21-21. The Wildcats claimed a two-point edge, 23-21, but back-to-back Arizona errors tied the score again, 23-23. A Wildcat attack error brought the Broncos to set point and kill by Lowe gave SCU the 25-23 win.
The score of the fourth set was kept close through the 20th point. Neither team trailed more than three points. The Broncos were finally able to breakaway on a kill by Sevastopoulos, 22-20. From then, Santa Clara produced three straight points to take the set, 25-20. Match point was scored on a block by Lindsy Davigeadono and Tanya Schmidt.
The Broncos return to action on Saturday, Sept. 6 against the Bobcats of Texas State. First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m.
