Gonzaga University
Oregon State University
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 23 | 16 | 30 | 30 | 5 | 2 |
| Oregon State | 30 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 15 | 3 |
Bulldogs Rally Falls Short In Opener
8/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2003
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Gonzaga University rallied from two games down Friday to take Oregon State University to five games, but the Beavers prevailed 15-5 in the decisive fifth game to ruin the Bulldogs' season opener in the OSU Volleyball Showcase at Gill Coliseum.
OSU defeated Gonzaga for the fifth time in six overall outings in the series 30-23, 30-16, 28-30, 28-30, 15-5.
Gonzaga will face Northern Arizona University at noon and Mississippi State University at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday to conclude the opening weekend of action.
With junior transfer setter Emilee Gihring sidelined for the early part of the season with a knee injury, freshmen Melissa Schickler and Megan Thompson combined to pick up the slack, Schickler collecting a team-high 22 assists and Thompson 18. Junior Christina Davis and senior Jamie VanMeetren were the recipients of most of those sets, Davis with a team-high 17 kills and VanMeetren with 15. Davis had 43 total attacks, VanMeetren 40.
The rest of the Bulldogs offense was held in check, senior Abby Cullen next on the kills list with eight as the Bulldogs had just 47 kills and a .154 attack percentage to 70 kills and a .241 attack percentage for the Beavers. Cullen had just 19 attack attempts.
The difference in the match was Gonzaga's serve defense, the Beavers blitzing 15 service aces at the Bulldogs while Gonzaga was able to retaliate with just one service ace.
After a 3-3 deadlock in the decisive game, the Beavers ran off six straight points for a 9-3 edge, three of them coming on Bulldog attack errors. Anne Watts-Roberts' match-high 21st kill of the night, and two attack errors by the Bulldogs sandwiched around the 15th service ace for the Beavers ended the 2:05 marathon after Gonzaga had closed the gap to six again at 11-5.
OSU took control of the match early, trailing just once in the first two games as Gonzaga held a 2-1 advantage in game two.
But the Bulldogs battled back, holding a 5-1 lead in game three only to see the Beavers come back for an 8-7 lead. OSU held a two-point lead at 15-13, GU tied the game at 15 and neither team held more than a two-point advantage until OSU went up 25-22. Trailing 26-23, Gonzaga rallied for a 28-28 deadlock and then VanMeetren recorded back-to-back kills for the win.
The visiting Bulldogs took control of game four early, racing to a 16-9 lead after a 6-6 tie. OSU chipped away and finally caught up at 28, but an attack error and a ball handling error by the Beavers knotted the match and set up the decisive fifth game.
In addition to Watts-Roberts, the Beavers had a consistent offense as Amanda Eggert and Allison Lawrence each had 13 kills.
Gonzaga won the blocks war with 13-10. Lauren Armas had six block assists and Lacey Bell and Rebecca Wood five each for the Bulldogs.
