Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) earned 16 kills and eight digs and Cristin Richards (Tumwater, Wash.) added 14 kills and a .414 hitting percentage as the Seattle University volleyball team began the 2011 season with a 3-0 victory (25-21, 25-18, 25-19) over Eastern Washington Friday morning at the Connolly Center.
However, Seattle U was no match for the offense of Santa Clara in the evening match, as the Broncos posted a .720 hitting percentage in the third set to complete a 3-0 sweep (25-15, 28-26, 25-14) over the Redhawks.
In her first start as the setter, senior Megan Augustavo (Shoreline, Wash.) dished out 30 assists against Eastern Washington, plus she led the Redhawks with 13 defensive digs. Karina Miastkowska (Northbrook, Ill.) earned seven kills, three service aces, and five digs, and Jordan Keller (Mukilteo, Wash.) contributed four kills, a service ace, and a team-high five total blocks.
Eastern Washington (0-1) was led by Chenoa Rossi-Childress, who finished with 10 kills along with four total blocks, and Cora Kellerman, who collected nine kills and seven defensive digs. Although the Eagles earned eight-and-a-half team blocks, they were held to a .106 hitting percentage while Seattle University posted a .229 hitting percentage.
In the second match of the day, Washington State defeated Santa Clara, 3-1 (27-25, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20). The Cougars posted a .331 hitting percentage, plus they earned 11 service aces and 13 team blocks along the way.
Santa Clara (1-1) recovered a few hours later, as five players collected at least seven kills, led by Dana Knudsen and Tanya Schmidt with 11 kills apiece. Schmidt did not make an attack error, while Knudsen made just one in compiling a .769 hitting percentage. Libero Bridget O'Hara led all players with 18 digs.
Richards was the offense for the Redhawks, earning 16 of the team's 29 kills, while Augustavo notched 23 assists and nine digs in the night match. Seattle U had three chances to win the second set and tie the match at 1-1, but the Broncos held off each set point, and kills by Schmidt and Kayla Lommori gave Santa Clara a 2-0 advantage heading into the intermission.
Seattle University (1-1) will face Washington State in the sixth and final match of the 2011 Seattle U Fall Volley Saturday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. The day will start at 11 a.m. when Washington State faces Eastern Washington, followed by the match between Santa Clara and Eastern Washington at 1 p.m.