CHENEY, Wash.- Gonzaga Volleyball won a thriller to secure a win in the final nonconference match of the season, beating Eastern Washington in five sets on Saturday.
The game was an instant classic, going a full five and featuring ties at 33 separate points. The Zags rose to the occasion in the win, tallying 12 aces, tied for the seventh most in a single game in program history. Sjakkie Donkers was a key part of the effort, scoring the most kills by a Zag since 2021 with her 25 kill performance.
The first set was largely decided at the net, with Eastern Washington's Alyssa Radke taking control with four solo blocks in the first set alone. Radke finished the game with 5 solo blocks and 8 total blocks. Despite amassing more kills in the first set (17-12), the Zags fell behind to start the game due to a combined seven total team blocks by the Eagles in the first.
The Zags rebounded in the second, opening the set on a 7-3 run that was highlighted by two straight aces by Taylor Walsh. Donkers scored three straight kills during a separate 7-2 run in the second half of the set to even the score, with the Zags capturing the second set 25-17.
The third set was a back-and-forth affair, with nine different ties. After the score was tied at twenty points each, Zags managed to pulled away thanks to a four point run that helped them capture the third set. The fifth unfolded in the exact opposite manner, as the set went the way of the Eagles after they went on a run after rallying to tie the score at 21-21.
The fifth set was just as evenly matched, tied through the first six points. Two more aces, this time from Donkers, helped give the Zags the lead heading into the final changeover. The final five points featured several rallies that lasted over a minute to close out the remarkable game. Taylor Walsh got a huge block in the penultimate point before Autumn Larson served an ace to ice the win.
A team effort for the Zags led to the success today, with five different Bulldogs scoring over five kills. Donkers put up a career high in kills with her performance, while Dani Johnson emerged as the key second attacking option on the night, putting up a new career high in kills with 11 to complement three blocks. Hazel Murphy also set a new career best in kills, scoring an additional 11.
The Zags finish their nonconference slate with seven wins as they turn attention to conference play. WCC play kicks off when the Bulldogs welcome the Santa Clara Broncos to the Martin Centre on Thursday, September 25th.
