The Seattle University volleyball team set a new school single-match record with a .407 hitting percentage as no hitter made more than two attack errors in Seattle’s 3-0 victory (25-17, 25-10, 25-14) over Savannah State Sunday morning at the Willcox-Wiley Gym.
Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.), returning to her birthplace, led Seattle University with ten kills and five service aces, making only one attack error in 16 attempts for a .562 hitting percentage. Libby Graff (Beaverton, Ore.) earned nine kills with only one error for a .615 hitting percentage, plus she also posted two service aces. Jordan Keller (Mukilteo, Wash.) also finished with nine kills and a .438 hitting percentage.
Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) helped run the balanced offense, ending up with 33 assists. Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.), Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.), and Raissa Licano-Sanchez (Grandview, Wash.) each contributed four kills, and Jessica Gunderson (Duvall, Wash.) added three kills to the winning effort. Defensively, Mellies, Tessa Koutsky (Seattle, Wash.), Shelly Anderson (Bothell, Wash.), and Shea Wright (Boise, Idaho) each posted four digs to lead the team.
The first set was close until Seattle University went on a 7-1 run to open up a 19-12 advantage, with Savannah State (7-17) making an attack error to end the set in the Redhawks’ favor. A couple of 5-1 runs in the second set allowed Seattle to take a 12-5 lead, and then the visiting team closed out the set by outscoring the Tigers, 12-2. A 10-2 run midway through the third set allowed the Redhawks to cruise to the sweep.
The team’s .407 hitting percentage broke the previous record of .400 set on August 31, 2002, against Pacific University of Oregon. After facing five ranked teams in the first half of the season, Seattle University has now won seven of its last nine matches. The team is one win away from its eighth consecutive season with at least ten victories.
Seattle University (9-14) won’t have much time to rest from this cross-country journey, leaving Tuesday morning for a trip to face Eastern Washington Tuesday, Oct. 21 and Gonzaga Wednesday, Oct. 22. The Redhawks then return to the Connolly Center to face Cal State Bakersfield Saturday, Oct. 25, beginning at 7 p.m.