Nov. 1, 2008
LOS ANGELES - Led by double-digit kill performances from Brittany Lowe, Anna Cmaylo and Nina Sevastopoulos, the No. 24 Santa Clara volleyball team defeated Loyola Marymount, 3-1, Saturday afternoon. The final set scores were 25-21, 28-26, 19-25, 25-18.
With the win, the Broncos improved to 15-6 on the season and 6-3 in West Coast Conference action, while the Lions dropped to 12-11 overall and 2-7 in league play.
Lowe tabbed her seventh double-double of the season in the outing with 16 kills and 14 digs, while Cmaylo posted three blocks and 14 kills. Sevastopoulos also had three blocks and 11 kills. Setter Lindsy Davigeadono dished out 49 assists and a match-high five blocks.
Santa Clara stormed to a 4-0 lead in the first set forcing Loyola Marymount to take an early timeout. Out of the break, Becky Stehling interrupted SCU's run, but LMU was unable to knot the score. The Broncos claimed a 16-9 lead after two Lion attacking errors and a block from Cmaylo and Sevastopoulos. LMU did rally to bring the score within three points, 21-18, but that's the closest it was would come as SCU won the set, 25-21, on a kill by Cmaylo.
The second set was an intense fight as the score was tied 24 times with eight lead changes. Neither team could pull away by more than just one point until the score was tied at 26-26. LMU originally reached set point, 24-23, on a kill by Emily Day, but SCU responded with a blast from Lowe. The Lions pulled ahead once against, 25-24, but this time Cmaylo responded with the kill. It was then the Broncos turn to take the advantage, 26-25, on a kill by Tanya Schmidt and with that, the Lions called a timeout. Returning to the court, Day evened the score once again for LMU, but her service error gave Santa Clara set-point once again, 27-26. This time a solid block by Schmidt and Sevastopoulos sealed the victory, 28-26, for the Broncos.
After the break, Loyola Marymount returned to the court and opened up the third set with a 3-0 run. The Lions held the advantage for the entire set and reached set point, 24-15, on a kill by Day. The Broncos then compiled a 4-0 run to give the Lions a scare, but LMU took the set, 25-19.
The Broncos regained control of the scoreboard right away in the fourth set. SCU earned a 5-1 lead to start the set, but LMU rallied to tie the score, 10-10. The set was tied for the last time, 11-11, on a kill by Sevastopoulos and back-to-back kills from Lowe gave the Broncos enough breathing room to hold onto the lead for the remainder of the match. A 7-1 run gave Santa Clara a 17-12 lead. A kill by Kim Courtney brought the Broncos to match-point and another kill by Courtney gave SCU a 25-18 triumph.
The Broncos return to action on Thursday, Nov. 6 against the Bulldogs of Gonzaga in their annual Dig For The Cure fundraiser. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Leavey Center. For information on how you can donate or sponsor an athlete in the event, please visit the volleyball home page on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
