Sept. 1, 2001

Stats

PULLMAN, Wash. - Zuzana Tumova recorded 17 kills Saturday afternoon but it was not enough as Gonzaga University fell to Bradley University in the final game of the 2001 Cougar Challenge in Pullman. Bradley (2-2) claimed third place in the tournament defeating Gonzaga (1-3) in four games, 26-30, 30-28, 30-26, 30-27.

Gonzaga jumped out to a 17-12 lead in the opener as Abby Cullen has three of her 13 kills during the early stretch. The Zags increased their lead to 25-18 with Tumova recording two kills for Gonzaga points. After Bradley closed the margin to 25-22, Tumova hammered home two more kills as GU won the opening game 30-26.

Bradley jumped out to the early lead in the second game as Sam Hardwick had two kills to pace the Braves to a 16-10 lead. Gonzaga clawed back into the game as Cullen had two solo blocks to knot the game at 20-20. The teams traded lead changes over the next few points before Laura Benzing had consecutive kills to give Bradley a 30-28 win.

In the third game Gonzaga again jumped out to the early advantage with a 13-7 lead. Tumova and Cullen combined for six kills during the Zags first 13 points. Bradley cut into the Zags lead as Benzing collected seven kills to even the game at 21-21. The Braves used a four-point rally down the stretch to win the second contest 30-26.

The final game witnessed both squads trading points with sixteen lead changes during the game. Gonzaga moved out to a four-point lead at 26-22 as Tumova knocked home consecutive kills. Bradley again rallied on the closing plays to outscore Gonzaga 8-1 en route to a 30-27 victory. Benzing added six more kills for the Braves.

Christina Davis and Natasha Kozen rounded out the Zags with double-digit kills as both players finished with 12. Benzing led all players in the match with 22 kills while Ann Franklin added 14. Gonzaga returns to action on Tuesday night at the University of Montana.