Thanks to a varied offense and a tough defense, both at the net and in the back, the Seattle University volleyball team was able to pull out a 3-2 victory (20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 15-11) over the University of South Dakota in the second match of the Dig For The Cure Classic Saturday afternoon at the Connolly Center.
In the deciding set, back-to-back kills by Laura Slagter allowed to take a 9-7 lead, forcing head coach Shannon Ellis to call a timeout. The Redhawks earned consecutive kills by Kaytlyn Dill (, ) and Jordan Keller (), followed by a block by Keller and Libby Graff (Beaverton, Ore.) and another attack error by the Coyotes to take the lead for good.
Cristin Richards (, ) led with 17 kills, plus she earned 15 digs and five total blocks, including three solo blocks. Dill finished with 14 kills, seven digs, and three blocks, while Graff contributed 13 kills, six digs, and six total blocks. Setter Jamie Mellies () finished with 50 assists, 16 digs, and three block assists.
The freshmen middle hitters played a key role in the match, as Keller collected seven kills and five blocks and Raissa Licano-Sanchez () earned six kills, two service aces, seven digs, and six block assists. Libero Shelly Anderson () led the team with 19 digs in the match. As a team, earned 16.5 team blocks, the second-most in a match in school history.
(15-2) lost despite a match-high 24 kills from Kathleen Hruska and 18 kills, 12 digs, and four block assists from Kristin Kritenbrink. Laura Slagter also had a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs, as did setter Gina Baldwin with 51 assists and 12 digs. Heather Hult contributed seven kills and a match-high seven total blocks, while libero Amber Kobus led all players with 23 digs.
In the first match of the day, North Dakota (19-2) swept Bryant University (13-10), 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-20) behind 11 kills and seven blocks by Amanda Polzin and ten kills from Devin Trefz. Hilary Andrews and Jazmin Stoner had eight kills each to lead the Bulldogs, but Bryant was hurt by a .092 hitting percentage.
(5-13) gets some rest before facing at 7:30 p.m. The Fighting Sioux will face at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, while does not play again until Sunday morning at 10 a.m. against .