LOS ANGELES – Santa Clara volleyball, making its third postseason appearance in four years, fell to Michigan 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday night at the John Wooden Center. The Broncos took the first set 25-20 but Michigan came back with three-straight set wins of 25-17, 25-17, and 25-20.
Nikki Hess led Santa Clara (22-9) with 15 kills and added nine digs. Sabrina Clayton had 11 kills and seven digs while Danielle Rottman led the Broncos with 29 digs and Kirsten Mead topped the team with 36 assists.
"I thought out team played really well tonight," Santa Clara head coach Jon Wallace said. "We played great defense but we struggled to score. It was hard for our girls to break through. Michigan is a good team but I liked our fight."
Michigan (20-12) was led by 13 kills from Claire Kieffer-Wright. Kelly Murphy added 12 kills and Jenna Lerg has a team-high 25 digs. Carly Warner had 38 assists.
The Wolverines commanded the early part of the match and got on top 5-2 before the Broncos came back strong and tied the first set at 10. The teams went back and forth — with neither side pulling ahead by more than two — until Santa Clara closed out the set with five straight points. Clayton had two kills, including the set-winner.
Mead led Santa Clara with 11 assists and Rottman added nine digs in the opening frame. Hess led the way with seven kills. Lerg led Michigan with 10 digs while no Wolverine had more than three kills.
The second set saw both teams go back and forth again. Michigan went on a 3-0 run to take a 13-10 lead and the Broncos called a timeout. Santa Clara came out of the break and tied the set at 13.
The Wolverines got back on top by three at 19-16 and Santa Clara called its final timeout of the set. Michigan came out of the break and scored the next five points to make it an 8-0 run. A kill by Hess got the Broncos on the board and made the score 24-17 but Michigan was able to close out the set to send it to the break tied 1-1.
Mead had seven assists in the second set and Rottman added 11 digs. Warner had 10 assists to lead Michigan.
Michigan started the third set on a 6-2 run that prompted Santa Clara to call a timeout. The Broncos got within three at 12-9 but the Wolverines took control of the set and took a 2-1 advantage with a 25-17 win.
After falling behind 7-4 to start the fourth set, the Broncos scored four straight to take a brief 8-7 lead, but Michigan came right back to take a 10-8 advantage. The teams would trade points with Santa Clara briefly taking a 17-16 lead.
Six straight points for Michigan put the Wolverines in a commanding position with a 22-17 edge. Mead's kill made it 22-18 but the Broncos couldn't mount a comeback and fell in four sets.
"This was a really good season for us," Wallace said. "We have five girls recognized by the West Coast Conference and we came together and fought all year. I couldn't be more proud of these girls and their development toward being a really good team. This group is going to take away a bond and as a coach that's really special."

June 28, 2016
Volleyball Claims 2015-16 Bronco Bowl Title

June 2, 2016
Leavey Center Court Open for Business

June 1, 2016
Volleyball Announces 2016 Indoor Schedule

March 11, 2016
Leavey Center Getting a Facelift

February 11, 2016
Volleyball to Honor 10th Anniversary of 2005 Final Four Team Saturday

December 23, 2015
Meet the Future of Bronco Volleyball — Class of 2020: Taylor Laugero

December 22, 2015
Meet the Future of Bronco Volleyball — Class of 2020: Callie Jones

December 21, 2015
Meet the Future of Bronco Volleyball — Class of 2020: Laura Willems

December 18, 2015
Meet the Future of Bronco Volleyball — Class of 2020: Allison Kantor

December 17, 2015
Meet the Future of Bronco Volleyball — Class of 2020: Michelle Gajdka

December 16, 2015
Hess Named AVCA Honorable Mention All-American

December 9, 2015
Volleyball Leads WCC with Program Record Six All-Academic Honorees

December 8, 2015
Volleyball Earns First AVCA All-Region Awards since 2008

December 4, 2015
Volleyball Falls to Michigan in First Round of NCAA Tournament

December 2, 2015
Volleyball Begins NCAA Tournament Play Friday against Michigan


November 25, 2015
Volleyball Caps Regular Season with 3-1 Win at Pacific

November 23, 2015
Volleyball Plays Regular Season Finale Tuesday at Pacific

November 21, 2015
Volleyball Continues Road Trip Saturday at San Diego

November 19, 2015
Volleyball Falls 3-1 on the Road to No. 12 BYU

November 17, 2015
Second-Place Volleyball Faces BYU, San Diego in Key WCC Matchups

November 14, 2015
Volleyball Hosts Pepperdine for Home Finale, Senior Day

November 14, 2015
Volleyball Sweeps Pepperdine on Senior Day

November 12, 2015
Volleyball Sweeps LMU for 20th Win of Season

November 5, 2015
Early-Set Runs Propel Volleyball to Sweep of San Francisco

November 3, 2015
Volleyball Begins Final Homestand Thursday against San Francisco

October 31, 2015
Volleyball’s Three Career Efforts not enough in Loss at Portland

October 30, 2015
First Place in the WCC on the Line for Volleyball at Portland

October 29, 2015
Volleyball Completes Season Sweep of Gonzaga

October 28, 2015
Volleyball Faces Gonzaga Thursday, Portland on Halloween Saturday

October 24, 2015
Volleyball Sweeps Saint Mary’s to Keep Pace in the WCC

October 22, 2015
Volleyball Defeats Pacific in Second Straight Five-Set Match

October 20, 2015
Bay Area Home Contests up Next for Bronco Volleyball

October 17, 2015
Volleyball Edged in Close, Five-Set Heartbreaker at LMU

October 15, 2015
Volleyball Sweeps Pepperdine; on Longest Winning Streak since 2007

October 13, 2015
Volleyball Takes Season-Long Winning Streak to Pepperdine, LMU

October 10, 2015
Volleyball Sweeps USF for Fifth Straight Win

October 7, 2015
WCC-Leading Volleyball Travels to USF Friday

October 5, 2015
Kirsten Mead Named WCC Volleyball Player of the Week

October 3, 2015
Volleyball faces Gonzaga at home Saturday afternoon

October 1, 2015
Volleyball Continues Busy Week, Hosts Portland Thursday Night

September 30, 2015
Late Set Runs Key Volleyball’s Sweep at Saint Mary’s

September 28, 2015
Volleyball Set for Three WCC Matches in Five Days

September 26, 2015
Volleyball Bests No. 10 BYU 3-1 for First Top 10 Win since 2005

September 24, 2015
Volleyball Falls to San Diego 3-1 in WCC Opener

September 22, 2015
Volleyball Opens WCC Play at Home vs. San Diego, No. 10 BYU

September 19, 2015
Volleyball Wins Sacramento State Invitational; Hess Named Tournament MVP

September 18, 2015
Volleyball Sweeps Kent State for Fourth Win in Five Matches

September 16, 2015
Volleyball Returns to California for Sacramento State Tournament

September 11, 2015
Volleyball Sweeps Iona, Falls to No. 4 Texas

September 10, 2015
Hess, Clayton Lead the Way in Volleyball's 3-1 Win at UTSA

September 8, 2015
Volleyball Faces Tough Slate, No. 4 Texas in Lone Star State

September 5, 2015
Volleyball Splits Two Matches to Finish Lobo Classic

September 4, 2015
Volleyball Falls to New Mexico in Lobo Classic Opener

September 2, 2015
Volleyball Begins Nine-Match Road Swing at Lobo Classic Friday

August 29, 2015
Volleyball Defeats Rutgers 3-0; Faces UC Riverside at 7 p.m.

August 28, 2015
Volleyball Sweeps Weber State to Open 2015 Season

August 14, 2015
Volleyball Opens Practice for 2015 Season