Sept. 11, 2008
STANFORD - Jon Wallace added another first to his resume Thursday night as he became the only Santa Clara head volleyball coach to earn 200 victories as the Broncos defeated the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara, 3-1. The final set scores were 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19.
"What I'm most proud of are the players that have helped get this program to where it is today," said Wallace about his 200th career win. "It is because of players like Cassie Perret, Ynez Carrasco, Becky Potter, the Hirsch sisters, Caroline Walters, Crystal Matich and those who are on the team now that we have 200 wins today."
"It's such a great honor to give Jon his 200th win tonight," said Lindsy Davigeadono. "He is a great coach and he deserves it. He's a lot of fun to play for and we're so proud to help him reach 200."
The Broncos (5-1) were led by senior Brittany Lowe, who posted a match-high 17 kills, and Anna Cmaylo, who had 14 kills, nine digs and eight total blocks. Setter Davigeadono had match-highs with 43 kills and 10 total blocks.
The Broncos saw a slow start to the first set but rallied back from a 0-4 deficit to knot the score 9-9 on a service ace by Davigeadono. Santa Clara pulled ahead on a kill by Lowe, 12-10, but the Gauchos tied the score, 12-12, on kill by Lauren McLaughlin. After battling point-for-point, SCU finally broke away with back-to-back kills by Cmaylo. The first came after a short serve from the Gauchos was saved by a diving Lowe, 19-18. The Broncos came within two points of winning the set on a high powered up the middle kill from Lowe, 23-19. An ace by Cmaylo brought SCU to set-point, and a kill by Lowe gave Santa Clara a 25-19 win. Cmaylo had six kills in the set and hit 71.4 percent.
The Gauchos once again took control in the beginning of the second set and held the advantage throughout. Santa Clara fought back to knot the score at 9-9, but UCSB quickly regained the lead. Two Bronco blocks by Cmaylo and Davigeadono make the score 9-6. Davigeadono then ended a long rally with a commanding kill, 9-7. SCU compiled a four-point run on points from Davigeadono, Taylor O'Brien, Kim Courtney and Lowe to tie the score again, 14-14. However, the Gauchos fought back and took set two, 25-21.
Although, UC Santa Barbara held the advantage through most of the third set, Santa Clara worked hard to keep the score tight. SCU came within two, 9-7, on a triple block by Cmaylo, Davigeadono and Lowe. Santa Clara then knotted the score, 10-10, on a kill by Lowe. UCSB regained control but SCU continued to apply pressure. The Broncos tied the score again, 21-21, on a block by Cmaylo and Davigeadono. Lowe followed with an ace to give SCU its first lead of the set, 22-21, and a kill by Davigeadono increase the team's lead to two-points, 23-21. Another kill and a Gauchos error gave Santa Clara a 25-22 victory.
Three service aces by the Gauchos helped UCSB pull ahead in the fourth set, but the Broncos quickly brought an end to their control. A kill by Davigeadono brought SCU within one point, 7-6, and then a UCSB error tied the set, 8-8. The Broncos then claimed a five-point edge on Gaucho attack errors and kill by Tanya Schmidt, 16-11. Points by Sevastopoulos, Lowe and Cmaylo gave Santa Clara a six-point lead, 20-14. Cmaylo gave the Broncos match-point, 24-19, and a kill by Davigeadono ended the match, 25-19.
Santa Clara continues play at the Stanford Invitational on Friday, Sept. 12 against New Mexico State. First serve between the Broncos and Aggies is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Maples Pavilion on the campus of Stanford University.
