MORAGA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's volleyball team fell in a five set thriller to the Saint Mary's Gaels on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the University Credit Union Pavilion. The Broncos were led by
Alayna Crabtree with 18 kills and 12 digs, and had five players in double figures for kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Set one went back-and-forth until four straight points from the Broncos gave them a 6-4 lead after a kill by Grace Flanagan. A kill from Alayna Crabtree put the Broncos up 18-15, forcing a Saint Mary's timeout. Back-to-back points from the Broncos forced another Saint Mary''s timeout as they took a 21-18 lead. Three consecutive kills from Elena Radeff gave the Broncos set one, 25-20.
- Saint Mary's (6-13, 2-8) jumped out to an 8-3 lead to open set two, and later 10-6. Two straight points for the Broncos cut it to 12-10. A kill by Elena Radeff made it 18-17, and another kill from Alayna Crabtree tied it up 20-20. However, three straight points from the Gaels put them ahead 23-20, but Santa Clara scored four of out five points, and four straight to take a 25-24 lead. Unfortunately, the Gaels scored the final three points of the set to take set two, 27-25.
- Saint Mary's rode the momentum jumping out to a 4-0 lead to start set three, however, the Broncos scored nine straight points to take a 9-4 lead, capped off by a kill from Lauren Grover. Five in a row for the Broncos put them up 15-6 after a kill from Oren Abutbul. Three straight points from the Gaels made it 19-12, but the Broncos took the set 25-16 after a kill from Lauren Grover.
- The Broncos went up 3-0 to start set four, then Saint Mary's scored five in a row to take a 6-4 lead, and later four in a row to go up 14-8. The Broncos cut it to 18-14, and four straight points cut it to 23-21, however, Saint Mary's scored the final two points of the set to take set four 25-21.
- Three straight points for the Broncos put them ahead 5-3, and later 9-4 after four straight points, capped off by a kill from Grace Flanagan. However, Saint Mary's battled back, cutting the lead to 9-7, forcing a Broncos timeout. Five straight points from the Gaels gave them a 12-10 lead. Two straight points put them up 14-11, and the Gaels took set five 15-13.
NOTABLE NUMBERS:
POSTGAME INTERVIEW:
UP NEXT: The Broncos will return home to the Leavey Center for two matches next week against Oregon St. on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. and Portland on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.
