After losing the season opener to New Mexico 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-15), the Seattle University volleyball team quickly recovered, pulled out a hard fought first set, and then improved as its second match of the day progressed, sweeping UTEP 3-0 (28-26, 25-23, 25-17) Friday at the Lobo Classic at the Johnson Center.
“I was really happy with the effort in the second match, especially because we had to deal with all the emotion of the first match, and no one being happy with that result,” Seattle U head volleyball coach James Finley said. “Our freshman libero Shelby improved from five digs in the early match to 18 this afternoon, Kerry improved her assist average, and Martina made only one attack error against UTEP. In addition, Matea had a great day offensively, and Iris was able to contribute in other ways even though she struggled offensively, something that we will need from our players throughout the season.”
Seattle U 3, UTEP 0 (28-26, 25-23, 25-17)
Seattle U was able to maintain a two-point lead early in the opening set, but UTEP was able to pull into a 16-16 tie. After a kill by Stephanie Stoll (Bellevue, Wash.) gave the Redhawks a 22-19 advantage, the Miners scored three unanswered points, concluding with a kill from Coline Coessens, to tie the first set at 22-22. After each team enjoyed chances to win the set, Seattle U finally converted thanks to a kill by Martina Samadan (Split, Croatia) and a block by Samadan and Jelena Vujcin (Becej, Serbia).
After the two teams basically traded points at the start of the second set, Seattle U went on a 7-2 scoring run to pull ahead 15-10, led by three kills from Matea Mamic (Split, Croatia). After Mamic earned a service ace to bring up set point for Seattle U, UTEP closed to within one point, but the Redhawks were able to finally clinch the second set thanks to a UTEP service error.
UTEP (0-2) scored five straight points early in the third set to take a 9-5 advantage as Coessens picked up a kill and a block assist, but Mamic brought Seattle U back within one thanks to a service ace and a kill. The Redhawks pulled ahead for good with four unanswered points, the first two on blocks, and then Seattle U closed out the set and the match with a 7-1 scoring run, punctuated by a kill from Alec Goodrie (Springfield, Ore.)
Mamic led the team offensively with 14 kills and two service aces, plus she collected six digs and three block assists, while Samadan earned 11 kills, a .556 hitting percentage, and five total blocks. Kerry Lane (Tucson, Ariz.) dished out 36 assists, and freshman libero Shelby Babcock (Chandler, Ariz.) led the team in the back with 18 defensive digs.
New Mexico 3, Seattle U 0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-15)
New Mexico (0-0) won the first three points of the match, but Seattle U recovered, going on a 9-3 scoring run, highlighted by four kills by Mamic and two blocks from Samadan. The Lobos scored five unanswered points to pull ahead, 12-10, but two kills apiece by Samadan and Lane helped the Redhawks pull into a 15-15 tie. New Mexico took advantage of several Seattle U errors down the stretch, scoring 10 of the final 13 points of the opening set to win, 25-18.
The Lobos used an 8-1 run early in the second set to pull ahead, 10-3, led by Chantale Riddle with two kills and a block assist during the run. Samadan picked up a kill and a block assist to close the Redhawk deficit to three at 12-9, but a 6-2 New Mexico scoring run extended the Lobo lead to 18-11. Down by nine late in the set, the Redhawks picked up four kills by four different players as well as a solo block by Iris Ivanis (Pozega, Croatia), but a kill by Cassie House clinched the set for New Mexico, 25-19.
Early in the third set, Samadan and Vujcin combined on a block to give the Redhawks a 4-2 lead, but a 9-4 Lobo run, thanks in part to three blocks by Victoria Spragg, helped the home team pull ahead, 11-8. After a kill by Stoll, New Mexico extended its lead further with a 7-1 scoring run, led by Riddle with three kills. The Lobos scored four of the final five points of the match, capped by a kill from Julia Warren.
Mamic led all players in the match with 11 kills and two service aces, while Samadan finished with six kills and five total blocks. Riddle led the Lobos with eight kills, setter Hannah Johnson notched a double-double with 26 assists and 12 digs, and Spragg joined Simone Henderson with six total blocks apiece, part of a New Mexico effort that totaled 13 team blocks.
Seattle University (1-1) concludes play in the Lobo Classic Saturday, Aug. 30, against second-ranked Texas beginning at 3:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. Pacific time). The Redhawks open the home schedule with the start of the Redhawk Invitational Thursday, Sept. 4, against the Pacific Tigers beginning at 7 p.m. at the Connolly Center.