Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) led Seattle University with 14 kills, a .324 hitting percentage, and eight defensive digs. Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) collected 12 kills, seven digs, and four total blocks, including two solo blocks. Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.) finished the weekend with six kills and five block assists, and Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) earned 32 assists, two service aces, and five digs.
Seattle University took a five-point lead early in the first set before Santa Clara scored six straight points to pull ahead, 12-11. After a block by Richards and Kelly Biette (Brighton, Colo.) put SeattleU back ahead, the Broncos scored the next four points to take the lead for good. The Redhawks came within one point late in the set, but a kill by Tanya Schmidt closed out the first set in Santa Clara's favor.
Two kills by Richards and three Redhawk blocks allowed SeattleU to score six of the first seven points in the second set, but Santa Clara again seized control, this time with a 12-2 run punctuated by four straight service aces by Kayla Lommori. Seattle University again came within one point more than once near the end of the set, but a Redhawk service error allowed Santa Clara to win the set and take a 2-0 lead.
Santa Clara (8-4) took a five-point lead of its own in the third set before SeattleU started its comeback with a kill by Biette and back-to-back kills from Dill. Three kills by Richards helped the team move into the lead at 20-15. A 10-3 run by Santa Clara, capped by a kill from Katherine Douglas, gave the Broncos the set and the match
Douglas led Santa Clara with 12 kills, while Dana Knudsen collected seven kills and Sam Peters contributed six kills and four total blocks. Lommori finished with six service aces to go along with four kills and three digs, and Alexandra Palmer and Emily Burke split the setting duties with 18 assists and 14 assists, respectively.
Seattle University (3-11) returns home for a match against North Dakota at the Connolly Center Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m., the first home match for the volleyball team in 24 days. The team then heads to the Dakotas for contests at South Dakota and North Dakota next weekend.