PORTLAND, Ore. - Santa Clara defeated Portland 3-1 Thursday night in the Broncos' first West Coast Conference road match this season. The set scores were 25-17, 25-17, 19-25 and 25-19. Santa Clara is now 6-7 overall and 1-1 in the WCC. Portland is 6-10 overall and 0-3 in the WCC.

Santa Clara plays at Gonzaga on Saturday at noon before coming back to the Mission Campus.

"I was really happy with the team. In game three we still had a five-six point spot where we lost our focus, but we rebounded well from that with enthusiasm and fire. We looked really happy to be out there against Portland. We hit really well and were efficient.  We are passing the ball better; and understanding our strengths and our setters are making good choices," said Bronco head coach Jon Wallace.  

The team will study in Portland Friday morning and then head to Gonzaga later Friday afternoon for practice Friday evening. "We need to work out a couple things in our serve-receive and defense and prepare and practice for the Gonzaga match," said Wallace.  "We flew the day of the game of Portland and that went smoothly. The team seemed really fresh for the match and energized and that was good."

Against Portland the Broncos collected 57 kills (18e, 129 att.), hitting .302.  They scored 52 assists, three aces on four service errors, 61 digs and seven team blocks.  Portland had 49 kills (21 e, 139 att.), hitting .201.  The Pilots collected 42 assists, four aces, nine service errors, 45 digs and six team blocks.

For Santa Clara Kaleigh Durket had 11 kills, hitting. 409 with seven digs. Taylor Milton had 10 kills, hitting. 381 with eight digs. Tanya Schmidt scored nine kills, hitting. 529 with a block solo and three block assists. Katherine Douglas collected nine kills, hitting .421 with 10 digs.  Bridget O'Hara collected 16 digs.  Both setters, Alyssa Anderson and Alexandra Palmer, collected 22 assists each. Anderson had nine digs and Palmer seven.

For Portland Autumn Wedan led the Pilots with 13 kills, hitting .172.  Ariel Usher had 10 kills, hitting .276.  Katie Mardesich and Sam Moore both had 10 digs each.  Setter Monica Jordan had 25 assists, two kills and three digs.

Santa Clara won the first set 25-17 and hit .393 in the first set with 14 kills (3e, 28 att.).  Portland had 10 kills, hitting .172 (5e, 29 att.).

Santa Clara won the second set 25-17, hitting .519 with 17 kills (3e, 27 att.).  Portland hit .188 with 12 kills (6e, 32 att.).

Portland rallied to win the third set 25-19.  Santa Clara hit .077 with 11 kills (8e, 39 att.).  Portland hit .256 with 15 kills (4e, 43 att.).

Santa Clara put the match away with a 25-19 fourth set win.  Santa Clara hit .314 with 15 kills (4e, 35 att.).  Portland hit .171 with 12 kills (6e, 35att.).