After struggling in the first two sets, Seattle University played much better in the third set, nearly extending the non-conference neutral site volleyball match further, but Gonzaga University was able to hold on for a 3-0 victory (25-12, 25-17, 27-25) Friday night at the University of Montana’s West Auxiliary Gym.
Gonzaga (8-2) scored four of the first five points of the opening set, and then went on an 11-2 scoring run to extend its lead to 17-7, led by three kills from Jordan Gasser. The Bulldogs would close out the first set on a kill by Kaylie Loewen.
The Bulldogs once again took the early lead in the second set, pulling ahead 6-2 thanks in part to a kill and a block assist each by Savannah Blinn and Sarah Bradley. The Redhawks closed their deficit to two at 11-9 on a block by Alec Goodrie (Springfield, Ore.) and Abby Blanchard (Kennewick, Wash.), but Gonzaga scored the next four points, two of them on blocks that both involved Bradley. A kill by McKayla Ferris and a Redhawk attack error clinched the second set for the Bulldogs.
Gonzaga scored the first three points of the third set, but Seattle U quickly responded with three straight points of its own, including a triple block. The Redhawks scored four out of five points, capped by a block from Iris Ivanis (Pozega, Croatia) and Blanchard, to pull ahead, 10-8, and then consecutive blocks involving Stephanie Stoll (Bellevue, Wash.) gave Seattle U another lead at 14-12.
Down 22-19, Seattle U took advantage of Gonzaga errors as well as two kills by Ivanis to earn set point at 24-23. A kill by Ferris tied the set, but Stoll earned a kill to give the Redhawks another chance at extending the match. However, the Bulldogs won the final three points, the last two on a kill by Blinn and a solo block by Imani Wimbush, to clinch the set and the match.
Ivanis led the team with 10 kills, plus she earned six digs and three block assists, while Matea Mamic (Split, Croatia) finished with seven kills and a team-high seven digs. Stoll added six kills and four total blocks, the same total of blocks collected by both Blanchard and Goodrie.
Seattle University (4-8) continues its five-match road swing next week, first traveling south to Eugene, Ore., to face the nationally-ranked Oregon Ducks Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. The Redhawks then begin conference play with a contest at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Saturday, Sept. 27, starting at 1 p.m. local time (12 noon Pacific time).