Gonzaga University
3-25, 1-10WCC
Loyola Marymount
15-12, 6-5WCC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMU | 25 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 1 |
| GONZAGA BULLDOGS | 22 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 3 |
Powell Digs Victory As Bulldogs Snap Losing Streak
11/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 11, 2010
SPOKANE, Wash. - The streak is over and Allyson Powell got her record.
Gonzaga University's volleyball team snapped a 23-match losing streak Thursday night with a 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 28-26 West Coast Conference victory over Loyola Marymount University, and in the process Powell became the single-season digs leader.
The senior from Selah, Wash., had 25 digs to push her single-season total to 450 and break the mark of 436 set by Linda Bushinski in 1986.
The Bulldogs (3-25, 1-11) hadn't won since Aug. 28, and there was relief all around following Schylur Edelman's decisive kill as the Bulldog bench exploded.
"Everyone's vertical increased," Powell said when asked about the reaction after match point. "I really can't put words to it. We had a good feeling tonight. We've been looking for an answer for 23 games. We clicked, had energy, good vibes and fight tonight."
Second year head coach Dave Gantt was obviously happy.
"We've put ourselves in a position to do that now about a dozen times and haven't closed the deal. It was pretty nice that the kids hung in there. They certainly got the monkey off their back in terms of playing well in tight situations."
Early in the first set it didn't look like it was going to be the Bulldogs' night as LMU (15-12, 6-5) ran off to a quick 20-9 lead. But even though they lost the set, the Bulldogs rallied to within two on a couple of occasions, the last at 24-22. The Bulldogs went on a 10-1 run to close the gap to 21-19 as the Zags spread the offense around, Terran Poindexter with two kills in the run the only player with more than one.
Gantt said one of the turnarounds in the match came toward the end of the first set.
"We didn't serve-receive well in first third of that set," Gantt said of the slow start. "We are not big and physical, we can't lumber our way into points. We have to stay in the system as much as we can and it takes a certain mentality."
The momentum carried over into the second set, although the Bulldogs again fell behind early before going on an 8-0 run to take an 11-10 lead. Kylie Edinger started the streak with a kill and Kristina Lavrisha served back-to-back aces for half of her four aces in the match. Two LMU attack errors, another Lavrisha ace and kills by Edinger and Edelman gave the Bulldogs the lead.
Down 21-19, the Bulldogs closed out the second set with a 6-2 spurt that was started by an Edelman kill as she finished with 15 and an attack percentage of .357. Edelman and Edinger each had two kills in the final run, Edelman putting the Bulldogs up 24-22. But Megan Nash pulled LMU within one and Poindexter put the finishing touches on the Gonzaga victory to even the match.
Early in the second set Gantt picked up a red card for arguing a call with the down official, and the coach and Powell both thought that might have ignited a little fire in the Bulldogs.
"It helped them understand I wasn't going to stop fighting," Gantt smiled.
Powell even took the opportunity to give her coach a little ribbing.
"Not that a red card is necessary," she said with a look toward Gantt, "but if definitely got us fired up and wanted us to get the next point."
The third set was a carbon copy of the first two, LMU once again taking the early lead and the Bulldogs fighting back. The Lions led 7-3 before another Bulldog string of points pulled the Zags to within a point at 10-9. After pulling even at 15, Gonzaga took the lead at 16-15 and extended the margin to 18-15, Edelman with two more kills in that stretch.
But once the Bulldogs got the lead in the third set they didn't let the Lions get back in front. An Edelman kill and an LMU setting error pushed the Gonzaga lead to 20-16. Two more of Poindexter's team-high 16 kills sandwiched around a Gonzaga attack error made it 22-19. LMU came back with a kill by Jasmine Ranks, who had a match-high 23, and a service ace by Olivia Bailey to pull within 22-21. The teams were tied at 23 before Edelman gave the Zags the lead and an LMU attack error gave the Bulldogs the set and a 2-1 lead.
Gonzaga had to dig down and fight back one more time in the fourth set.
Trailing 14-10 the Bulldogs came back to even the match at 15, took the lead at 18-17 and saw the match tied at 20, 22, 24, 25 and 26. The Bulldogs had match point at 25-24 and LMU could have forced a fifth set with match point at 26-25. Jessie Genger gave the Zags the 25-24 lead with one of her two kills, but Rankins drew the Lions even. After an attack error, Edelman staved off the Lions with a kill to knot the set at 26, and an LMU attack error and the decisive Edelman kill brought an end to the Bulldogs woes that stretched more than two months.
"When we scored the 28th point of the fourth set," said Gantt when asked when he felt it might be the Bulldogs' night.
Gantt gave praise to junior setter Denise Van de Mortel, who finished with 48 assists.
"Denise was 8-for-8 in terms of siding out after timeouts. That's something attributed to the serve-receive group and making correct choices from running our offense. We've evolved to where if I call a timeout I ask Denise what she thinks we need to do, I don't tell her what to do. I like the way she's running our team. We got some good numbers from Terran in terms of kills, but we're expecting her to do that. Denise ran the team tonight."
Gantt also singled out redshirt freshman Meredith Crenshaw for "solidifying things for us tonight" as she contributed nine kills and three block assists.
Powell was more interested in talking about the victory rather than her record.
"Great night. I couldn't be happier, not for the record but for the win. The team needed that. If it happened I'm glad it was to be for a win," she said of the record. I'm happy for the win and the team motivation."
She also said she loves the role of being the Libero and contributing on defense.
"I love the role. I get everybody on the same page and keep spirits up. Lighting a fire with a good dig is a lot of fun," she beamed.
Gantt summed up the win best when asked what practice will be like Friday.
"I would suspect they will have a blast being in the gym tomorrow," he said.
"Hallelujah," Powell shouted.
The Bulldogs won't get long to savor the victory as Pepperdine University comes to town Saturday for a noon match at the Martin Centre.
