Sept. 20, 2008
LONG BEACH, Calif. - The Santa Clara volleyball team rallied to a 3-0 victory over No. 22 Long Beach State Saturday night at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach. The Broncos were led by redshirt senior Anna Cmaylo's match-high 12 kills and 10 total blocks. SCU is now 8-3 on the season.
Senior Brittany Lowe also compiled a double-double for the Broncos as she registered 11 kills and 11 digs. With her 11 digs, Lowe joined the 1,000 Dig Club as she now has a career total of 1,007. Lowe is the only current Bronco to have reached both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.
In the first set, Long Beach State started off strong with a 5-0 lead, but a kill by Cmaylo ended the 49ers run. The Broncos then began to fight back and tied the score, 11-11, on a kill by Taylor O'Brien. The score was tied for a final time by Cmaylo, 13-13, before a block by Lindsy Davigeadono and Cmaylo gave Santa Clara its first lead of the night, 14-13. The Broncos then produced a 12-1 run to make the score, 21-17. The run featured three straight kills by Krista Kelley. Nina Sevastopoulos brought Santa Clara to set-point on a kill and a solo block by Lowe ended the set, 25-18.
The 49ers grabbed a quick lead in the second set, 3-0, but the Broncos tied the score, 3-3, on a kill by Davigeadono. The two teams then went head-to-head until Santa Clara was able to create a four-point advantage, 20-16, on a kill by Sevastopoulos. Yet, Long Beach was not ready to give up and came within one point, 22-21, on a block by Cat Highmark and Naomi Washington. The 49ers got dangerously close once again as an ace by Highmark made the score, 24-23; but, the Broncos held onto the edge and won the second set, 25-23 on a kill by Cmaylo.
The third and final set started off slow as both teams struggled to gain control. The Broncos were able to breakaway with an 8-0 run on service from Libby Morrison and points by Cmaylo and Davigeadono. SCU led 18-9. The Broncos reached 20-points on a kill by Cmaylo, her last of the match. A 49er attack error brought the Broncos to match-point, 24-13, and a kill by Sevastopoulos gave Santa Clara a 25-13 victory.
The Broncos will return to action on Oct. 2 to open the 2008 West Coast Conference schedule. Santa Clara will host Loyola Marymount on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m., and then battles Pepperdine on Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. Both matches will be held at the Leavey Center. Saturday's contest against the Waves features a post-match autograph session with the Broncos.
