Box Score Sept. 10, 2010
Box Score
DENVER, Colo. - The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team was swept by the University of Notre Dame in its first match of the Pioneer Classic on Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs, playing at Hamilton Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Denver, fell to the Fighting Irish 25-12, 25-15, 25-21. Gonzaga is now 2-6 on the year and has dropped four-straight after opening the season at 2-2. Notre Dame, who opened the season receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 poll, improved to 5-2 on the season.
"It is unfortunate that we weren't more competitive in the beginning of the match," explained second year head coach Dave Gantt. "Our ongoing effort to overcome some history seems to continue to be a road block. At this point it is the player's expectations of their own performance that is critical."
The Bulldogs closed out the match with 35 kills, with 17 errors, on 88 total attempts for a .205 attacking percentage. Senior Schylur Edelman, who transferred to Gonzaga this season from the University of Colorado and is from Sterling, Colo., led the Bulldogs with 10 kills and a .421 hitting clip. Classmate Caitlin Cozad and sophomore Jessie Genger each added six kills apiece for the Zags.
The Fighting Irish finished the match with 43 total kills and just 12 errors on 91 attempts for a .341 hitting percentage. Kellie Sciacca led all players with 14 kills and a stellar .619 attacking clip. Andrea McHugh added nine kills, while Kristen Dealy had seven and added a match-high 11 digs.
A big factor in the win for Notre Dame was the seven services aces it had, three coming by Dealy, and the four service errors Gonzaga finished with. The Fighting Irish also held the 6-4.5 advantage in blocks.
Gonzaga did end the match with a slight 34-31 edge in digs. Senior Allyson Powell led the team with 10, while freshman Kristina Lavrisha, the second Colorado native on the squad, hailing from Denver, had seven digs in the match.
"We line up with the University of Denver tomorrow morning and I am confident we will come out better prepared," stated Gantt. "The player's self-preparation will allow them to be more competitive tomorrow."
The Bulldogs look to rebound when they face both Denver and Texas A&M University Saturday. Gonzaga will start the day off against the host Pioneers at 11 a.m. PDT and close out the day versus the Aggies at 3 p.m. PDT.
