SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara University volleyball team pushed preseason West Coast Conference favorite San Diego on Thursday for a second time this season, but the Toreros were able to hold off the Broncos with a strong defensive effort, beating the Broncos, 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-21), at Leavey Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Santa Clara (11-13, 3-9 WCC) was within three points late in every set. It was a two-point margin in sets one and two. But on every occasion, San Diego (13-9, 9-3 WCC) was able to stunt SCU where it stood and hold onto the lead.
   
• In the first set, Santa Clara's 3-1 spurt midway through made it 17-15, but USD responded by scoring eight of the set's last 10 points to win, 25-17. In the second, a late 6-2 run by the Broncos pulled them to within 23-21. But again, the Toreros responded with back-to-back kills to finish off the set victory and go up 2-0 in the match.
   
• The Broncos still wouldn't go away in the third, putting a last-minute 4-1 run together that made it 24-21. Santa Clara had fought off consecutive match points, but USD's Layla Blackwell put the match away and finish off the sweep.
   
• Though San Diego's offense was efficient with 50 total kills in three sets and a .310 hitting percentage, it was the defense that anchored the Toreros' victory. Three USD players had at least 12 digs, and four had at least three blocks. The team totaled 69 digs (23.0 per set) and nine blocks (3.0 per set) in the three-set sweep.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• .300: The Broncos were strongest offensively from the middle. Anna Stucchi (.308) and Layla Truitt (.300) both hit at least .300 to lead Santa Clara. Truitt had seven kills, a dig and a block. Stucchi had five terminations with two digs and a block.
• 9: Nive Tuileta posted her team-leading ninth double-double Thursday with 25 assists and 11 digs.
• 9: San Diego's nine blocks were tied for most by a Santa Clara opponent in a three-set match this season. Its 69 digs were the most in a three-set match and tied for second-most overall this year.

POST-MATCH COMMENTS

Check out tonight's post-match comments from head @Coach_ELindsey ???#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/Ap2QetkgbP

— Santa Clara Volleyball (@scuvolleyball) November 3, 2023

NEXT UP

• Santa Clara heads to the East Bay Saturday to face Saint Mary's in Moraga. Fans can find all live coverage links on the Broncos' schedule page.