The starting freshmen for Seattle University did not show any opening night jitters, as Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) and Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) combined for 24 kills to lead the Redhawk volleyball team to a 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-18, 25-19) over the host Boise State Broncos in the opening night of the Bronco Invitational at Bronco Gym.
Richards led Seattle University with 15 kills and ten defensive digs, plus picked up two block assists and a service ace and posted a .294 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, after a slow start, Dill finished the night with nine kills on 26 attack attempts.
In the first set, Seattle University made back-to-back attack errors to fall behind 3-1, but quickly came back to take the lead for good. After a Boise State service error, Richards finished off the set with a kill to give the Redhawks the early lead. Seattle University dominated the second set, hitting at a .440 percentage while holding the Broncos to a .037 hitting percentage. Middle hitters Emily Powell (Puyallup, Wash.) and Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.) were a perfect 7-for-7 in attacks during the middle set.
Boise State (0-1) took the lead midway through the third set with a 10-2 run, but Dill and Kelly Benson (Mission Viejo, Calif.) earned two kills each to bring Seattle University within one at 16-15. The Broncos self-destructed, committing four straight attack errors to give the Redhawks the lead, and then committed four more attack errors as well as a service error to end the match.
Setter Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) earned 31 assists and four total blocks in the match, while Powell ended the night with five blocks to go along with her four second-set kills. Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, Calif.) tied for the team lead with ten digs, and Shelly Anderson (Bothell, Wash.) contributed eight digs to the winning effort.
The volleyball team becomes the second straight Seattle University squad to win its opening contest against a Division I foe. The women’s soccer team defeated Weber State last weekend and earlier today earned a tie with Big Sky favorite Sacramento State. The men’s soccer program will have its chance to repeat the feat Saturday evening against Cleveland State in Irvine, Calif.
Seattle University (1-0) has an early wakeup call to face Pac-10 school Washington State as the Bronco Invitational continues at 9:30 a.m. local time. The Cougars defeated Cal State Northridge, the Redhawks’ opponent Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. local time, in five sets earlier Friday.