Nov. 5, 2005

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University volleyball team nearly picked off its second ranked opponent of the season but the Bulldogs (10-17, 2-8 WCC) could not hold off No. 11 Santa Clara University as the Broncos (22-1, 11-0 WCC) rallied to win the final three games to grab the five game victory. SCU won 28-30, 26-30, 30-22, 30-26, 15-10 to sweep the season series against Gonzaga.

Gonzaga played extremely well at the net during the first two games as the Bulldogs collected 21 total blocks with Kelly Steinhaus and Lacey Bell each picking up six block assists over the first two games. Sophomore middle blocker Briawna Mueller also contributed with one solo block and four block assists.

Gonzaga's offense was provided by sophomore Becky Jones who had 11 of her match-high 23 kills over the first two games including seven in the game two win. The 23 kills gives Jones 401 kills for the season and moves her 9th on the GU single-season list for kills. She also became just the 9th GU player to record 400 or more kills in a season since the program moved to the NCAA Division I level in 1986.

In game three the Broncos settled down and were able to avoid the Bulldogs blockers. Kim McGiven had seven kills in the game as the Broncos had 19 team hills and a .381 attack percentage. Gonzaga did not record a single block during the third game.

McGiven continued to swing well for SCU in game four as she finished with 23 kills for the match. Cassie Perret also came on strong for Santa Clara during the final two games to help the Broncos avoid the upset. Brittany Lowe added 15 and Annalisa Muratore 14 kills to round out the double figure Bronco attackers.

Mueller attempted to keep the Bulldogs in the match in games four and five as she hammered home eight kills in the final two games. Mueller finished with 8 total blocks, two of the solos. Steinhaus and Bell each only had one block assist over the final three games as each player finished with seven.

Setter Heather Dunn led four GU players into double figure digs with 15 as the Bulldogs had 66 digs compared to just 64 for Santa Clara. Caroline Walters led all players with 21 digs while Lowe had 16.

Gonzaga hits the road for the final time next weekend with a pair of road matches in the Bay Area. On Friday night they will play at Saint Mary's College with a Saturday night match at the University of San Francisco.