Oct. 9, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Redshirt senior Anna Cmaylo posted 11 kills and five total blocks to lead the No. 20 Santa Clara volleyball team to a three-set sweep of the Universiy of Portland Thursday night at the Chiles Center. The final set scores were 25-18, 25-20, 25-21.
Senior Brittany Lowe tallied a match-high 13 kills, while Tanya Schmidt compiled a 62.5 hitting percentage (6-1-8).
SCU stormed to a 5-0 lead in the first set opening the match with back-to-back kills from Lowe. The Broncos run was interrupted by a kill by K.C. Fox, but the Broncos rebounded to continued to pull ahead. Santa Clara reached 15-points on a kill by Schmidt, 15-7. However, Portland began to rally and brought the score within one-points, 16-15, on a kill by Sheedy. But the Broncos held their composure and created another five-point gap, 20-15 on kills from Lowe and a block assist by Cmaylo and Nina Sevastopoulos. SCU reached set-point and then the set victory on kills by Cmaylo, 25-18.
The two teams battled point-for-point throughout the first half of the second set. The score was tied 11 times before the Broncos were able to pull away with their third three-point edge of the set. The Pilots knotted the score, 16-16, on an ace from Kaylyn Jones, but a kill from Lowe gave the Broncos back the advantage. A block assist by Lowe and Cmaylo and a Portland error would make the score, 19-16. The Pilots nearly tied the score again as they came within one, 21-20, on a Bronco attack error. But Santa Clara returned from a called timeout to have a Portland error and sophomore Krista Kelley pound out three straight kills to take the set, 25-20.
Portland returned from the break energized. The Pilots claimed a 10-6 lead to start off the third set; yet, the Broncos fought back to tied the score, 11-11 on a block by Lindsy Davigeadono and Cmaylo. The score was the knotted four more times. The last, 19-19, was on a kill from Portland's Ashley Grayson. But, back-to-back kills by Lowe put Santa Clara ahead, 21-19. Davigeadono brought SCU to match-point and a kill by Kelley gave the Broncos a 25-21 triumph.
For the Pilots, Grayson recorded nine kills and Jennifer Sheedy posted a match-high six total blocks.
The Broncos return to action on Saturday, Oct. 11 against the Bulldogs of Gonzaga. First serve is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. in Spokane, Wash.
