SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara volleyball continues its final road swing of the 2015 season Saturday with a matchup at San Diego, which is second in the West Coast Conference standings.
The Broncos (21-7, 12-4) and Torreros will play at noon in Jenny Craig Pavilion. On Thursday, Santa Clara was knocked off 3-1 by first-place BYU (24-3, 14-2) while second-place San Diego (20-7, 13-3) downed USF, 3-0, at home. The Broncos played their first two 2015 conference matches against the Toreros and Cougars at home in late September, and have been battling for WCC positioning with them for the latter half of the season.
The Broncos, who are now in third place, close out the regular season Tuesday at Pacific.
SANTA CLARA (21-7, 12-4 WCC) at San Diego (20-7, 13-3)
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 • Noon PST
Game #29 • Away Game #12 • San Diego, Calif.
Live Stats: sandiego.statbroadcast.com
Video: TheW.tv
Series: Santa Clara leads 34-31
Previous Meeting: Sept. 24, 2015 in Santa Clara — San Diego won 3-1
Last Season: Oct. 2, 2014 in San Diego — Santa Clara won 3-1
Nov. 1, 2014 in Santa Clara — Santa Clara won 3-2
THE BRONCOS
Santa Clara recorded its 20th win of the season Thursday on Thursday, Nov. 12 by sweeping Loyola Marymount 30-28, 25-22, 25-15 in the Leavey Center. The Broncos also picked up their 10th home win in the West Coast Conference victory.
Santa Clara has hit the 20-win mark for the third time in the last four seasons and ninth time in Jon Wallace's 17 seasons as head coach. The Broncos reached the NCAA Tournament in each of Wallace's other eight seasons when they won at least 20 games.
Santa Clara continued its home dominance, sent its senior class out with a win and kept pace in the league race Saturday afternoon. The Broncos rolled to a 27-25, 25-19, 25-13 sweep of Pepperdine and moved into a tie for second place in the West Conference standings after San Diego was upended 3-0 Saturday on the road at Portland.
The Broncos won their 11th home match of the year, which tied a single-season program record set in 1998. They finished the home campaign at 11-1; their only loss was in the WCC opener against San Diego.
Santa Clara has players ranked in the top four of five different major statistical categories in the WCC (per set), the most of all conference teams:
Aces — Sabrina Clayton 0.46/s (1st) | Kirsten Mead 0.39/s (3rd)
Kills — Nikki Hess 4.02/s (4th)
Assists — Mead 11.2/s (2nd)
Digs — Danielle Rottman 4.99/s (1st)
Blocks — Lacey Maas 1.35/s (2nd) | Jensen Cunningham 1.12/s (t-6th)
THE TOREROS
San Diego has wone four of its live four matches after Thursday's win vs. San Francisco. The Toreros were upset by Portland 3-0 in the Chiles Center last Saturday night. Their only other conference losses were both against BYU. San Diego has also been a steady home team this season; the Toreros are 9-1 in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
USD Category Leaders in the WCC's Top 10
Kills — Lisa Kramer 4.36/s (3rd)
Assists — Kristen Gengenbacher 9.8/s (6th)
Blocks — Addie Picha 1.12/s (t-7th), Lauren Schad (1.12/s (t-7th)
Digs — Hunter Jennings 4.3/s (2nd)
Go Broncos!
