SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Gonzaga volleyball team battled Santa Clara on Saturday afternoon, grinding out the 3-2 match win (22-25, 26-24, 27-29, 25-23, 15-10) at the Leavey Center.
 
Gonzaga (8-16, 5-8 WCC) had five players with double-figure kills, led by Kennedy Croft and Chapin Gray with 13 each. Peighton De Von and Kaylie Loewen added 11 apiece, while Sarah Penner finished with 10 kills. Croft added 15 digs for her second-straight double-double effort, while Faith Smith and Jenna Kuehn also finished with a double-double. Smith had 24 assists and 12 digs while Kuehn finished with 26 assists and 15 digs. Tiyana Hallums added a team-high 25 digs.
 
"When we settled our mind, worked the game plan and had a diverse offense, we scored," head volleyball coach Diane Nelson said. "But our blocking was key in the end, as well as key serves."
 
In the first set, Santa Clara (6-20, 1-13 WCC) took the early lead and midway through the set had extended its lead to three points, 11-8. A quick 6-1 run in favor of Gonzaga gave the Bulldogs a two-point lead, 14-12. The Zags maintained the lead until a 2-0 Bronco run tied the set 18-all. The set was tied again at 19 and 20, but three-straight Bulldog errors gave Santa Clara a three-point cushion, 23-20. The Zags were unable to close the gap and fell 25-22 in the opening set.
 
Santa Clara continued its run into the second set, rattling off six early points for the 6-1 lead. Midway through the set, the Broncos maintained a four-point lead (18-14), but Gonzaga responded. Sparked by back-to-back kills from Gray and Croft, GU strung together five unanswered points to take the late 19-18 lead. The Bulldogs hit .275 in the second set and capitalized on a few late-set Bronco errors to take the second 26-24.
 
The third set was a battle with 13 ties and four lead changes while neither team led by more than three points. Gonzaga led 27-26 and was working for its third set-point attempt when Santa Clara strung together a 3-0 run, capitalizing on two critical Bulldog errors, to take the third 29-27. The fourth set was similar with neither team leading by more than three points. This time, with the set tied 23-all, Gray connected for a big kill to give the Zags a 24-23 lead. Santa Clara committed an attacking error on the ensuing play to give GU the 25-23 set win.
 
In the final set, the Bulldogs hit .294 while limiting Santa Clara to a .158 hitting effort. Gonzaga also finished with 12 digs to the Broncos' seven to go along with two critical service aces. With the set tied 4-4, the Zags put together four unanswered points for the 8-4 lead and never looked back, continuing on for the 15-10 set win and 3-2 match win.
 
Santa Clara was led by Kamrin Caoili with 16 kills hitting .351. Liliana Light added a match-high 42 assists while Chloe Loreen finished with 27 digs.
 
Gonzaga returns to the court Thursday, Nov. 8 against Pacific at 6 p.m. at the Martin Centre.