The Seattle University volleyball team dominated the action at the net both offensively and defensively, collecting 46 kills and 15 team blocks on its way to a 3-1 victory (25-13, 27-25, 22-25, 25-17) over Chicago State Saturday night in Western Athletic Conference volleyball action at the Dickens Center.
Seattle U took the lead for good in the first set on a block by Stephanie Stoll (Bellevue, Wash.) and a service ace from Matea Mamic (Split, Croatia). The Redhawks went on an 11-2 scoring run, led by Martina Samadan (Split, Croatia) with three kills, two block assists, and a service ace, to extend their lead to 18-8. After kills by Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) and Sarah Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) set up set points, Seattle U won the opening set on a Chicago State service error.
The Redhawks put together a 12-2 scoring run early in the second set, including two service aces from Kerry Lane (Tucson, Ariz.), to take a 13-5 lead. Down 20-14, Chicago State scored five straight points, led by two kills and a block assist from Chinwendu Ngwadom, to pull within one at 20-19. A kill by Mamic gave Seattle U a chance to win the set, but three straight Redhawk errors put the Cougars in position to tie the set. Stoll extended the set with a kill, and then combined with Farley for a block that would clinch the set, giving Seattle U a 2-0 match lead.
Chicago State (2-29, 0-16 WAC) used consecutive kills by Paula Sioto at the start of the third set, and then back-to-back kills by Valeria Desiderio to pull ahead, 12-9. Down 17-13, the Redhawks scored five of the next six points, including three kills from Mamic, but the Cougars struck back with six unanswered points, featuring consecutive kills from Desiderio. The Redhawks scored four straight points to extend the set, but committed a service error to give Chicago State the third set.
The Cougars took the early lead in the fourth set until two kills by Samadan and a service ace from Jaeckel put the Redhawks on top, 13-10. With the margin still three points later in the set, Seattle U closed out the match with a 6-1 scoring run, punctuated by a solo block and a kill by Stoll on the final two points.
“Tonight was a solid team effort. We played together, showed good chemistry, and worked hard for tonight’s victory,” Seattle U head coach James Finley said. “This will prepare us for the upcoming WAC Tournament, and we are looking forward to competing in Phoenix.”
Mamic led the Redhawk offense with 15 kills and a .371 hitting percentage, plus she collected seven digs and five block assists. Samadan finished with 11 kills and five total blocks, Jaeckel earned eight kills and 11 digs, and Stoll contributed six kills and 10 total blocks. Lane dished out 40 assists, and Lani Beadle (Seattle, Wash.) led the Seattle U defense in the back with 13 defensive digs.
Desiderio led Chicago State with 15 kills, plus she collected seven digs, as did Sioto to go along with 14 kills. Mackenzie Lotter accumulated 36 assists as the Cougar setter, and libero Julia Menhart led all players with 22 defensive digs.
Seattle University (12-19, 9-7 WAC) will have a week to prepare for the first round of the Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament, to take place at the GCU Arena in Phoenix, Ariz., Monday, Nov. 25. The seed and first-round opponent for the Redhawks are still to be determined based on regular season matches taking place Nov. 18-21.