With the victory, Seattle University finishes the tournament with a 2-1 record, just behind tourney winner Pepperdine after tiebreaking procedures were employed. Junior setter Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) and sophomore outside hitter Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Seattle University started the first set with four blocks and took a 10-4 lead before Army scored five unanswered points to cut the Redhawk advantage to one at 10-9. Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) picked up two kills and a block assist to stop the Army run, and after the Black Knights came within one point two more times, SeattleU proceeded to go on a 6-2 run, thanks in part to three kills from Richards, to win the first set.
The Redhawks dominated the second set, as Dill served three aces to help SeattleU open a 12-1 lead. While Army earned only three kills and committed eight attack errors in the second set, Seattle University picked up 13 kills and only one attack error in 19 chances for a .632 hitting percentage as the Redhawks went into the intermission up two sets to none.
Army (8-3), which had defeated host school and nationally ranked Pepperdine in five sets Saturday night, came out of the intermission determined to extend the match, going up 16-11 midway through the third set. Two kills by Dill and one from Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.) allowed SeattleU to cut the Army advantage to one at 16-15, and another kill by Beckerman later in the set brought about match point. The Black Knights held on to tie the set at 24-24, but back-to-back kills by Dill closed out the set and the match for SeattleU.
Dill finished with 12 kills and only one attack error for a .407 hitting percentage, plus she earned three service aces, five digs, and six total blocks. Richards contributed ten kills, a service ace, and seven digs, while Beckerman added six kills and three block assists to the victory.
Freshman Kelly Biette (Brighton, Colo.) had the best match of her collegiate career, notching eight kills, a .700 hitting percentage, and a match-high seven total blocks. Raissa Licano-Sanchez (Grandview, Wash.) also contributed at the middle of the net, finishing with five kills and four block assists.
Mellies ran a solid offense for SeattleU, collecting 34 assists, six digs, and four block assists. In the back row, Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, Calif.) finished with seven defensive digs, and Megan Augustavo (Shoreline, Wash.) contributed six digs to the winning effort.
Francine Vasquez led Army with nine kills, while Rachel Dunn finished with seven kills and five digs. The Black Knights were held to a .071 hitting percentage and had only one service ace and three team blocks, while the Redhawks committed only nine attack errors for the match.
Seattle University (3-7) looks to use the momentum from the last two matches as it continues its California road trip Tuesday, Sept. 15, against nationally ranked San Diego. After participating in the Mission Inn of Pismo Beach Invitational hosted by Cal Poly next weekend, the Redhawks return to Seattle for the first home match in 24 days, as North Dakota visits the Connolly Center Tuesday, Sept. 22, for a 7 p.m. match.