The Seattle University volleyball team played well during some parts of its two matches, but was unable to close out enough sets, suffering losses to Washington State (25-20, 21-25, 9-25, 25-20, 12-15) and Cal State Northridge (23-25, 10-25, 24-26) Saturday during the second day of the Boise State Bronco Invitational at Bronco Gym.
Against the Pac-10 Cougars, Seattle University scored eight unanswered points in the first set to take a 17-9 lead. Washington State cut the Redhawk lead to two, but then made two attack errors and Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) closed out the first set with a kill. The Cougars scored the last four points of the second set to tie the match, and then dominated the third set, posting a .474 hitting percentage while forcing Seattle University into 11 attack errors.
The Redhawks recovered in the fourth set, hitting at a .302 percentage to tie the match and force a deciding fifth set. Seattle University held an 8-6 lead, but Washington State scored six straight points to go on and win the match.
Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) led the Redhawks with 13 kills and also posted 15 digs and two blocks, while Dill finished with 11 kills. Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.) had nine kills, Emily Powell (Puyallup, Wash.) contributed eight kills, and sophomore setter Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) posted 44 assists, three service aces, and six digs. Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, Calif.) led the team defensively with 17 digs and Tessa Koutsky (Seattle, Wash.) earned nine digs off the bench.
In the team’s second match of the day against Cal State Northridge, both teams played well offensively in the first set, with each squad posting a hitting percentage over .300. Seattle held the early lead, but Northridge took control midway through the set and held on. After Northridge dominated the second set, Seattle attempted to extend the match, tying the third set at 24-24, but the Matadors won the last two points to clinch the match.
Richards again led the Redhawks offensively with 12 kills, with Mellies notching 25 assists, eight digs, and four total blocks. After posting a .312 hitting percentage in the first set, Seattle University had more errors than kills in sets two and three.
Seattle University (1-2) hosts Oregon State at the Connolly Center Tuesday, Sept. 2, beginning at 6 p.m. It will be the first home contest for Seattle University as a Division I school since the spring of 1980.