SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara volleyball returns to Leavey Center this week after a quick road trip to the Northwest. The Broncos host San Diego on Thursday at 7 p.m. and No. 1 BYU on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

The Broncos (5-13, 0-6 WCC) are looking for their first conference win of the season. They took Gonzaga to five sets in Spokane last Thursday and fell to Portland in three sets last Saturday. Their tilt against the Toreros begins a season-long four-match homestand. 

The Toreros (7-9, 4-2) dropped a road match at crosstown rival San Diego State on Tuesday. San Diego was the first team in the WCC to take a set off of BYU when they won the second frame against the Cougars (16-0, 6-0) at home on Friday night. BYU won the match, their lone contest of the week, in four sets. The Cougars have swept 12 of 16 matches this season and dropped only five sets. 

GRAND REUNION TICKET SPECIAL

SCU Grand Reunion attendees can show their SCU name tag at the ticket office to receive a $5 general admission ticket to both of this week's matches.

THE BRONCOS

Michelle Shaffer produced a monster outing for Santa Clara on Thursday night at Gonzaga. She hit .388 and finished with a career-high and match-high 24 kills. She has six matches with 12-plus kills and 10 matches with 10 or more digs. Shaffer has registered at least four kills and at least five digs in all 16 matches to go along with a Bronco-leading 19 aces and six multi-ace matches.

Shaffer, Alexa Dreyer and Chloe Loreen have played in all 18 matches and all 63 sets entering the week. Dreyer has a block in 12 straight matches and multiple blocks in seven consecutive contests; she leads the team with 49 blocks for the year. Loreen has a team-best 240 digs on the season, and notched 13 against Portland to match a career-best streak with four consecutive matches of 10-plus digs.

Anna McCreadie posted 12 kills in Santa Clara's match against Gonzaga. McCreadie played in only four sets over the team's first 15 matches due to injury, and has played in 13 sets over the last four matches.

Allison Kantor had a 10-kill, 11-dig double-double at Gonzaga. She has either double-digit kills or digs in six of the last eight matches.

Roster Breakdown

• The Broncos return 12 players from the 2017 roster, 10 of whom saw the court last season.

• Michelle Gajdka and Taylor Odom played in all 30 matches and 115 of 116 sets a year ago. Gajdka led the team with 361 kills (3.14/set) and ranked third with 277 digs. Odom tied for the team lead in block assists (97) and was second with 108 total blocks (.94/set).

• Allison Kantor and Tessie Powers each took the court in 29 of 30 matches. Kantor, a 2017 WCC All-Freshman Team selection, posted seven double-doubles on the season and closed out the year with six double-digit kill efforts in her last seven matches. Powers finished second on the 2017 team with 287 digs and posted 10-plus digs 16 times.

• Brittany Gillingham (25 matches), Tatiana San Juan (23), Gretchen Reinert (19), Chloe Loreen (16), Anna McCreadie (11) and Ngozi Nwabuzoh (9) round out the returners that took the court. Laura Willems did not play last season and Kathryn Decker redshirted. 

• Santa Clara welcomes six newcomers: UCLA transfer Alexa Dreyer — who joins the team with two years of eligibility remaining — as well as freshmen Alex Anthony, Kamrin Caoili, Liliana Light, Natalia Rentsch and Michelle Shaffer.

• 2017 players lost to graduation: setter and 2017 West Coast Conference assists leader Kirsten Mead (1,232 assists, 10.62/set), middle blocker Jensen Cunningham (team-best 114 total blocks), setter Erin Reineking. Mead also led the team with 33 aces.

Head Coach Jon Wallace

• Jon Wallace, the winningest coach in program history, is in his 20^th season at the helm in 2018. His overall record is 366-217 (.628).

• The Broncos have reached the NCAA Tournament 13 times in Wallace's 19 seasons.

Captains

• Redshirt juniors Anna McCreadie and Taylor Odom, junior Alexa Dreyer and freshman Liliana Light are the 2018 team captains. 

Class Breakdown

• Seniors: 1 - Tatiana San Juan

• Juniors: 7 - Alexa Dreyer, Michelle Gajdka, Anna McCreadie (RS), Ngozi Nwabuzoh, Taylor Odom (RS), Tessie Powers, Laura Willems

• Sophomores: 4 - Brittany Gillingham, Allison Kantor (RS), Chloe Loreen, Gretchen Reinert

• Freshmen: 6 - Alex Anthony, Kamrin Caoili, Kathryn Decker (RS), Liliana Light, Natalia Rentsch, Michelle Shaffer

• By State: California (13), Oregon (2), Washington (2), Colorado (1)

THE TOREROS

• Santa Clara is 34-36 against San Diego in a series that dates back to 1979

• 9/23/17: USD won 3-0 @ SCU | 11/16/17: USD won 3-0 @ USD 

• San Diego has won six straight in the series, including four straight sweeps

San Diego ranks fourth in the WCC with a 4-2 conference mark. Addie Picha tops the WCC in total blocks (85) and blocks/set (1.44), while ranking third in hitting percentage (.401).

The Toreros were picked to finish second (of 10 teams) in the 2018 WCC preseason poll, while Santa Clara was picked to finish sixth. San Diego went 25-5 overall and 17-1 in conference play last season to share the regular season championship with BYU. The team made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

THE COUGARS

• Santa Clara is 4-11 against BYU in a series that dates back to 1992

• 9/21/17: BYU won 3-0 @ SCU | 11/18/17: BYU won 3-0 @ SCU 

• BYU has won five straight in the series

BYU and Pitt are the only remaining undefeated teams in the country. The Cougars lead the NCAA in four categories: hitting percentage (.339), opponent hitting percentage (.143), total blocks (145.0) and blocks per set (2.74). Individually, Roni Jones-Perry leads the WCC with 4.67 kills/set and 5.43 points/set.

The Cougars were picked to win the conference in the 2018 WCC preseason poll. BYU went 30-3 overall and 17-1 in conference play last season to share the regular season championship with San Diego. The team made it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

PROMOTIONS 

Saturday

- Clear tote bag giveaway to the first 200 fans

Click here to see the full-season promotions calendar.

TICKETS

Season and single-game tickets are available. Click here to purchase online or contact the ticket office weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (408) 554-4660 or BroncoTickets@scu.edu. Group discounts are also available through our ticket office sales and service consultants. Doors to Leavey Center are open one hour prior to first serve. Pricing is subject to change.

SCU Grand Reunion attendees can show their SCU name tag at the ticket office to receive a $5 general admission ticket to both of this week's matches.

PARKING

For weekday matches, the Leavey Center lot, located on Accolti Way off El Camino Real, is free beginning one hour prior to first serve. Any other parking facility on campus will be subject to normal daily rates or restrictions, including the main structure, located adjacent to Stevens Stadium on Palm Drive. During the weekend, campus parking facilities are free (except for permit required locations). Click here for a campus map and parking restrictions.

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GO BRONCOS!