LONG BEACH, Calif. — Santa Clara volleyball began postseason play with one of its most thrilling matches of the 2019 season on Wednesday night. The Broncos went from holding a two-set lead to fighting off match point in the fifth for a 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 23-25, 16-14 victory over Long Beach State in the first round of the NIVC at Walter Pyramid.

Julia Sangiacomo's fifth-set kill kept the Broncos (21-11) alive and tied the frame at 14-all, then the freshman came through again on the next point to put Santa Clara ahead 15-14. Following a Long Beach State timeout, Michelle Shaffer's serve clipped the net and found the floor for a match-clinching ace.

Sangiacomo totaled 21 kills on a career-best .463 hitting for the Broncos. Allison Kantor led all players with 22 kills; she added 14 digs to record a double-double alongside Michelle Shaffer (career-high 57 assists, 13 digs), Taylor Odom (12 kills, 10 blocks), and Kathryn Decker (10 kills, 12 digs). Gretchen Reinert topped the visitors with 20 digs.

Yizhi Xue had 17 kills on a match-best .484 hitting for the Beach (12-17). Katie Kennedy and Kashauna Williams each produced 14 kills and Tia Chavira added 12. Hailey Harward led all players with 27 digs and Carly Aigner-Swesey registered a 50-assist, 10-dig double-double.

The Broncos outhit the Beach .277 to .206 and won the block battle 13 to six.

Santa Clara began the match with an efficient and clean first set, hitting .440 without committing an attacking error. The Broncos used an 8-2 run to take a late 20-13 advantage; Sangiacomo had two kills and two aces in that spree.

Decker, Kantor and Odom produced kills on the first three points of the second set as the Broncos jumped out to a 5-0 lead. They held at least a two-point edge until the Beach used a 6-0 run to pull within a point at 22-21. Long Beach State cut the deficit to one point twice more before Williams' swing went into the net to give the Broncos the set.

The Beach won the first four points of the third set and led wire-to-wire to get on the scoreboard. The fourth set was the closest of the match as neither team had more than a two-point lead. Williams had back-to-back kills to put Long Beach State up 22-20 and the teams traded the next six points as the Beach forced a fifth set.

QUOTABLE – HEAD COACH ERIN LINDSEY

On the match overall: "I was really proud of how we came out. We were ready to play and wanting to play great volleyball. The team communicated at a high level and we put Long Beach on their heels early. They did a really good job of making some adjustments and cutting down errors. It was an interesting match tactically and ultimately I was proud of our team of being resilient through it and continue to figure out ways to win."

On Sangiacomo's play: "Julia did an exceptional job, especially when it mattered most at the end, and wanted to be the one to put the ball away for the team. Even when everyone in the gym knew it was going to her, she still found a way. Beyond the numbers, which are very strong, her ability to step up in that moment was huge for a freshman."

NEXT UP

The Broncos advance to the second round, where they turn around in less than 24 hours to face Tulsa (16-15). The Golden Hurricane defeated UC Davis in four sets earlier in the evening.

NOTES

• The all-time series is tied 4-4. The teams met for the first time since 2008 on Wednesday.