The 17th-ranked San Diego Toreros rounded into form as the match went along, posting several service aces and keeping the Seattle University attack at bay in sweeping the Redhawks, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-15), Saturday afternoon at the Connolly Center.
After took a 12-10 lead in the first set, scored six unanswered points to go ahead 16-12. The Toreros then scored the final five points of the set to take the early match lead.
(10-2) took the early lead in the second set, but the Redhawks fought back, tying the set 14-14 on back-to-back service aces by Janet Beckerman (). Two kills by Ali Troost and one by Torey Ellick allowed the Toreros to retake the lead, and then Ellick notched two more kills as San Diego expanded its lead and eventually took a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
Feeling that they had not played up to their ability in the first two sets, the Toreros came out of the locker room on a mission, rolling out to a 14-3 lead in the third set. cut the advantage to six at 16-10, but the Toreros were able to hold off the Redhawks and complete the sweep.
Beckerman, Cristin Richards (, ), and Kaytlyn Dill () each had five kills to lead the Redhawks, with Beckerman also collecting two aces and three total blocks. Jamie Mellies (, ) finished with 19 assists, four digs, and two blocks, while Emily Powell () also earned three blocks in the match.
For , Ellick led the way with 13 kills and a .667 hitting percentage, while Amy DeGroot contributed 11 kills, two service aces, and a match-high 13 digs. Kelsi Myers (28 assists) and Jessica Nyrop (11 assists) split the setting duties, Jillian Wolpman came off the bench and contributed six kills in nine attempts, and libero Kayleen Webster added 11 digs to the winning effort.
(2-11) heads to the Bay Area next weekend, first facing St. Mary’s College next Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. After a neutral site match against Penn Saturday morning, Sept. 27, at 11 a.m., the team faces the University of San Francisco that night at 7 p.m. The team will then have two weeks off before hosting () Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m., followed by the Dig for the Cure Classic over Columbus Day weekend featuring , , and .