SPOKANE, Wash. - Seattle University volleyball rallied to force a fifth set after a slow start, grabbing both the second and fourth sets at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre on Saturday afternoon, but the Zags (9-7, 2-3 WCC) would stave off the comeback in the fifth, blocking the Redhawks (6-10, 0-5 WCC) from their first WCC win 3-2 (5-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 15-17).
Sophomore Madyn Cervellera pushed her double digit kill streak to 13 straight matches, recording 16 kills on the afternoon to lead all Redhawks, while finishing two digs shy of a double-double, ending the day with eight digs. Freshman Petra Fritz tallied a new season high five aces to lead both teams, while also posting a double-double in digs and kills. The outside hitter recorded 11 kills, a new season high, and 10 digs.
Also a pillar to the Redhawk offense was redshirt junior Yasemin Elmas, who added eight kills on a .300 hitting percentage. The middle blocker was one of four Redhawks with two blocks, finishing the day with an ace and three digs. Finishing right behind Elmas was junior Teagan Melton, who posted seven kills.
Redshirt junior Elif Teksoy and sophomore Grace Jones combined for 25 assists to guide the Redhawk offense, with Jones leading the pair with 19 assists. The duo tallied one kill a piece while Teksoy grabbed six digs. Jones was one of five Redhawks with at least an ace.
On the defensive end, junior Kaitlyn Gotsch paved the way up front, combining for four blocks. Joining Elmas with two blocks was Fritz, Melton and senior Marley Hardgrave.
Freshman Katelynn Albano finished with 13 digs to lead all Redhawks. She also tallied multiple aces alongside fellow freshman Fritz, tacking on two for Seattle U.
Together, the Redhawks recorded 46 kills, 41 assists, 10 aces, 48 digs, and 7.0 blocks. They finished two aces shy of tying fifth all-time aces in a match since 2008. Fritz with five aces, was one shy of tying third all time for player aces in a match since 2008.
The afternoon began right away in favor of the Zags as a 13-0 run towards the end of the set forced an early set deficit for SU 1-0. The Bulldogs claimed set one 25-5, with Fritz highlighting the opener with two aces.
SU completed a 180, responding in kind by securing set two 25-23. The Zags and Redhawks traded eight ties throughout the second, but a 5-1 run through the end leveled the match 1-set a piece. Kills from Cervellera and Melton, along with two blocks led by Gotsch helped lead the charge after the Bulldogs held a 22-20 lead late.
Gonzaga struck back in the third set, leaping out to an early lead. Trailing by as many as eight through the middle of the set, the Redhawks fought back within three behind a 6-0 run led by Fritz from the service line. The freshman recorded three of her five aces in set three. After cutting off the Redhawk surge, Gonzaga posted a run of its own, scoring five of the next seven to take set three 25-19.
Facing a 2-1 set deficit, the Redhawks once again matched Gonzaga point for point to keep the match alive. They led 7-4 early, with three Redhawks recording kills and Elmas locking up an ace. The Bulldogs leveled the set 10-10 and the two teams traded five ties late into the set. Back-to-back kills from Melton and Cervellera evened the fourth set 22-22 before back-to-back Gonzaga errors gave SU set point. A final kill from Cervellera forced a fifth set, securing set four for Seattle U 25-23.
Gonzaga struck first in the final set, taking on a 4-1 lead before Seattle U battled back 5-6. Kills from Fritz and Elmas, along with a Gonzaga error, swung the match back in favor of the Redhawks 8-7. After the Zags tied the match, three straight Gonzaga errors gifted Seattle U another two point lead 11-9, forcing a Bulldog timeout. Another kill from Cervellera and Bulldog error forced match point for the Redhawks 14-12 before a 3-0 run avoided the match point 15-14 for Gonzaga. Cervellera evened the set once more with her 16th kill of the match, but the Bulldogs would score the final two to extinguish the SU comeback 17-15.
The Redhawks return to action next week to host both Pepperdine and San Diego at the Redhawk Center. The rematch with the Waves is slated for Thursday night.
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