May 4, 2005

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Sunday, Dec. 2, 1990 from Los Angeles, Calif.

Arcophobia, the fear of heights, apparently doesn't exist within the Gonzaga University volleyball program.

The Bulldogs reached new heights this season and showed no signs of backing off, although Gonzaga was beaten 15-6, 15-7, 15-12 by top-ranked UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

UCLA (32-1), playing at home in front of a crowd of 1,098 at the Wooden Center, never trailed in the match, but was challenged by a strong Gonzaga effort in the final two games.

Still, the consistent Bruins kept Gonzaga (25-7) from establishing a strong offensive rhythm as the Bulldogs scored consecutive points only four rallies in the match. Three of those occasions occurred in the third game after UCLA built a 12-5 lead and began to subsitute freely.

Trailing 12-5, Gonzaga's B.J. Kuntz delivered two of her eight kills and Lisa Petticord followed with one of her match-high 16 kills, cutting the Bruins lead to 12-8.

Several rallies later, the Bulldogs scored again on a hitting error by UCLA's Natalie Williams and followed that up with an ace from Kuntz, making the score 13-10.

UCLA stretched the lead to 14-10 and Gonzaga made one last effort behind the serving of Erica Cordy, who kept the Bruins off balance as Gonzaga scored twice.

UCLA got the ball back on a strong kill by Williams, who beat a slow Bulldog block, then won the match when Gonzaga's Tammy Pfeifle was blocked by Marissa Hatchett and Holly McPeak.

Kelley Cunningham, the only Spokane high school graduate on Gonzaga's roster, had some of her best moments late in the match successfully connecting on short back sets to her strong side. She finished with 11 kills and a .250 hitting percentage.

UCLA would go on to win the 1990 NCAA National Championship.

The loss to UCLA marked the end of the careers for seniors Lisa Petticord and Erica Cordy. Petticord was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1990 as GU finished second in the WCC with a 12-2 record.

Report compiled from several sources including story by David Oriard, LA Times Correspondent