Nov. 11, 2009

The Santa Clara volleyball team will travel to the Pacific Northwest this weekend to play its final two WCC road games of the year. The Broncos will play at Gonzaga on Thurs. Nov. 12 at 7 pm and then at Portland on Sat., Nov. 14 at 1 pm.

Santa Clara returns home on Thurs., Nov. 19 to host Pepperdine at 7 pm and then Sat., Nov. 21 it hosts LMU at 1 pm. Santa Clara will recognize its two seniors, Lindsy Davigeadono and Kim Courtney, prior to the LMU match.

Santa Clara is 14-11 and 4-6 in the WCC this year. Santa Clara had won four of its last five WCC matches before falling 3-2 to No. 22 San Diego on Nov. 6 and then 3-1 to No. 25 Saint Mary's on Nov. 8. Saint Mary's moved to No. 23 in this week's AVCA poll with San Diego falling to No. 25 after USF earned a 3-0 sweep of the Toreros last Saturday.

In WCC play, Santa Clara is led by senior Lindsy Davigeadono, who is hitting .357 with 3.30 kpg. Sophomore Tanya Schmidt is No. 2 on the team in hitting percentage, swinging at .296. Freshman-redshirt Dana Knudsen has cooled off a bit the last couple weeks and is now hitting .289 with 2.28 kpg. Two other freshmen, Katherine Douglas (2.23 kpg) and Kayla Lommori (2.76 kpg) are also aiding in the Bronco offense with Douglas adding 1.98 dpg. Freshman-redshirt setter Samantha Selsky averages 9.61 apg and 1.7 dpg. Junior Bridget O'Hara leads the team with 3.51 dpg as the libero and sophomore Libby Morrison comes off the bench to post 2.28 dpg.

Davigeadono is No. 6 in career block assists with 260. She is tied at No. 9 with Laura Hollis (1982-85) with 48 career block solos. She is No. 8 in career assists with 1,584 after working as the teams' setter in 2008.

Gonzaga, who defeated Santa Clara 3-2 on Oct. 17, is 9-15 and 4-6 in the WCC. The Bulldogs are led by Lane Brosky (261 kills) and Michelle Boevers (264 kills). They are 2-3 in their last five matches.

The Broncos will be looking to gain some pride back against the Bulldogs after falling 3-2 earlier this season, after taking a 2-0 lead to the lockerroom for the break. Santa Clara hadn't lost to Gonzaga in volleyball in 15+ years.

Portland, who Santa Clara defeated 3-1 on Oct. 15, is 5-20 and 1-9 in the WCC with its lone victory coming in a 3-2 win over LMU on Oct. 8. The Bulldogs are led by Jessica Clemens (2.84 kpg, 247 kills) and Maria Clemens (2.46 kpg, 219 kills). Libero Danielle Dupar averages 4.12 dpg and Jessica Clemsens chips in 2.57 dpg. Portland has lost eight straight matches heading into its Thursday night match vs. USF.