Sept. 12, 2008
STANFORD - Freshman Tanya Schmidt led the Santa Clara volleyball team with a 45.5 hitting percentage and a match-high 12 kills to a 3-0 sweep of New Mexico State Friday night. The final set scores were 25-23, 25-18, 25-20. With the win, the Broncos improved to 6-1 overall.
Outside hitter Brittany Lowe also posted the match-high 12 kills, while middle blocker Anna Cmaylo registered a match-best seven total blocks and defensive specialist Kim Courtney tallied four service aces.
The Broncos struggled in the beginning of the first set to gain control, but after a timeout SCU began to chip away at New Mexico State's lead. A solo block by Lowe started the first of several runs in which Santa Clara would eventually tie the score. SCU came within one point on a block by Cmaylo and Krista Kelley and then again on a kill by Kelley. It was Schmidt who knotted the score for the Broncos, 21-21, with a kill. Lowe gave SCU its first lead of the game, 22-21, with a kill but the Aggies quickly responded to tie the score. But Kelley responded for the Broncos with another kill, 23-23. Junior Nina Sevastopoulos brought SCU to set-point, 24-23, and a kill by Schmidt gave SCU the 25-23 win.
The opening of the second set was kept close until Santa Clara created a seven-point run, served by freshman Libby Morrison and fueled by Lowe, Lindsy Davigeadono and Cmaylo. The Broncos claimed a 10-4 advantage and never looked back. SCU jumped to a 10-point lead, 16-6 on an Aggie attack error and then again, 20-10, on a block by Schmidt and Sevastopoulos. The Broncos went on to win the set, 25-18, on a block by Davigeadono and Cmaylo.
After the break, Courtney served the Broncos to a 9-0 lead in the third set. Three of her four aces were earned during that run. Santa Clara held the lead until the very end, but New Mexico State did compile a late rally to come within seven points, 24-17. The Broncos reached match-point on a kill by Sevastopoulos, but the Aggies prevented the inevitable with a short 4-0 run, 24-20. However, Cmaylo sealed the victory for Santa Clara with a kill, 25-20.
The Broncos close out the 2008 Stanford Invitational with a match against the No. 7 Cardinal on Saturday, Sept. 13. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Maples Pavilion.
