Nov. 5, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Match 27
Gonzaga at
No. 22 Santa Clara
Thursday, Nov. 6 - 7 p.m.
Gametracker: GoZags.com
Match 28
Gonzaga at Saint Mary's
Saturday, Nov. 8 - 1p.m.
Live Stats: SMCGaels.com
THIS WEEK: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team hits the road for the final time this season, playing in two West Coast Conference matches. The Bulldogs begin the two-match roadtrip with a contest at No. 22 Santa Clara University on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.. The Zags then play at Saint Mary's College on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.
BULLDOGS STUN NO. 22 SAN FRANCISCO: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team picked up the biggest win of head coach Kip Yoshimura's era on Oct. 30 by upsetting No. 22 University of San Francisco, previously unbeaten in West Coast Conference action, in five sets at the Martin Centre. The Bulldogs defeated the Dons 25-21, 25-19, 27-29, 13-25, 15-10. The win was only the fourth time in program history that the Bulldogs have defeated a ranked opponent, the last coming on Oct. 15, 2005, when they defeated No. 25 Saint Mary's College in four sets. Gonzaga won that match 25-30, 30-16, 30-27, 30-25.
ON TAP: Gonzaga University women's volleyball closes out the regular season with three home West Coast Conference matches. The Bulldogs welcome Loyola Marymount University and Pepperdine University to the Martin Centre on Nov. 13 and Nov. 15, respectively. The Zags final match of the season will be on Nov. 22 against the University of Portland.
ABOUT THE BRONCOS: Santa Clara University women's volleyball enters into its contest with Gonzaga University with a 15-6 overall record and a 6-3 mark in West Coast Conference. The Broncos, ranked 22nd in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll, are tied for third in the WCC standings with Saint Mary's College. Santa Clara is led by both Brittany Lowe and Anna Cmaylo. Lowe leads the team with 266 kills, 3.59 kills per set, along with 2.55 digs per set. Cmaylo is averaging 2.97 kills and 1.13 blocks per set. The Broncos lead the all-time series with the Bulldogs 37-6 and have won 27-straight, including a 3-0 sweep of GU on Oct. 11.
ABOUT THE GAELS: Saint Mary's College currently holds a 16-6 overall record and a 6-3 mark in the West Coast Conference. Five of SMC's six losses have been to ranked opponents, including three against teams ranked in the top 10. The Gaels, who are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll, are tied for third in the West Coast Conference standings with Santa Clara University. SMC is led by Megan York who is averaging 3.79 kills and 3.49 digs per set. Gonzaga University leads the all-time series with Saint Mary's 23-21, but the Gaels earned a 3-0 sweep over the Bulldogs in their last meeting on Oct. 9.
HOT AT THE RIGHT MOMENT: Junior Layne Brosky was one of the main reasons the Gonzaga University women's volleyball squad upset the University of San Francisco, the 22nd ranked team in the nation, 3-2 on Oct. 30. Brosky led the team with a career-tying high of 17 kills and a hit .519 on the night.
TOPS IN WCC: Gonzaga University freshman setter Denise Van de Mortel has seven double-doubles to her credit this season; third best in the West Coast Conference. Emily Day of Loyola Marymount University leads the WCC with 14 double-doubles and Megan York, of Saint Mary's College, is second with 13. Van de Mortel continues to pace the conference with 1038 assists on the season.
TWENTY-SIX: Senior libero Paige Dillingham broke her career dig record, well actually she shattered her career dig record against Boise State University, Sept. 5. Dillingham finished the 3-1 victory with 26 digs. Her previous best was 17 attained this season against both the University of Montana and North Dakota State University. Along with being a personal-high, Dillingham's 26 digs was also the highest individual dig amount in a single-match since 2004 when Jessica Herrera also had 26 against the University of Portland. Dillingham has 355 digs to her credit this season; second best in the West Coast Conference.
DOMINATING THE AIRWAVES: Senior middle blocker Elaina Renius had a career-high 12 blocks to lead the Bulldogs to a 3-1 victory over Boise State University, Sept. 5. Her 12 blocks, eight of which were block assists, were the most blocks by an individual Zag player since former Bulldog Briawna Mueller collected 12 against San Francisco in 2005. Renius was also just four blocks shy of breaking former Zag and current assistant coach Abby (Cullen) Bennett's school record of 15, set against Portland in 2002.
LEADING THE WAY: Senior Elaina Renius continues to lead the West Coast Conference with 105.0 total blocks and is second in total kills with 344. She had a career-high 24 kills against Eastern Washington University.
THREE DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Junior outside hitter Emily Johnson tallied her third career double-double, with 11 kills and 13 digs, in a 3-1 setback to Loyola Marymount University, Oct. 18. Her only other double-double of the season was an 11 kill, 11 dig performance against North Dakota State University, Aug. 20. Johnson's first career double-double came as a freshman when she had 13 kills and 11 digs against the University of Idaho.
HEAD COACH Kip Yoshimura: Kip Yoshimura is in his seventh year as Gonzaga University's head coach. Yoshimura has compiled a 56-147 record during his tenure with the Bulldogs. A former assistant coach at Gonzaga during the 1992 season, Yoshimura has complied a 307-219 career record which includes nine seasons at Lewis-Clark State College where he guided the Warriors to nine-straight NAIA tournament appearances. A 1990 graduate of Long Beach State University, Yoshimura entered the coaching ranks as a student-assistant on Long Beach State's 1989 NCAA National Championship team.
VOLLEYBALL RULE CHANGES: NCAA volleyball rules changes this year include three important changes. First, the term "set" has replaced the word "game" as it is used internationally. Second, the number of points to win a set has been reduced from 30 to 25. Teams must still win by two points and the fifth set will still be played to 15. And lastly, because sets are now shorter, the number of allowable subs per set has been reduced from 15 to 12.
LIVE ON THE INTERNET: All Gonzaga University women's volleyball home matches are available via Gametracker and live streaming on the internet at www.gozags.com. Check the Gonzaga website for all Gametracker and live streaming links. Gametracker for selected away matches are also available. Check out gozags.com for all Gametracker links.
