SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's volleyball team defeated the Fresno State Bulldogs in a five set nailbiter on the second day of the Santa Clara/SJSU Invitational. After losing the first two sets, the Broncos dug deep and persevered to take the next three from the Bulldogs for the victory.
Alayna Crabtree had a season high 22 kills and
Nive Tuileta added a season high 49 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The score was knotted up at 9-9 before Fresno State (3-4) scored the next four points to take a 13-9 advantage in the first set. The Broncos (3-3) fought back to tie the set at 17 after a kill by Lauren Grover. The Bulldogs ended the set hot, scoring seven of the last 10 points to take the set 25-21.
- The Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-3 lead to start the second set, and later 12-8. Fresno State continued to control the tempo jumping out to a 16-10 lead, forcing a Santa Clara timeout. The Broncos battled back, cutting the lead to 23-20 with a kill from Grace Flanagan, but Fresno State scored the final two points of the set to take the 25-20 victory.
- The Broncos held a 9-7 lead in the third set after a kill by Layla Truitt, but Fresno State countered, scoring three of the next four to tie the set at 10. The Bulldogs scored four in a row to take a 17-13 lead, forcing a Santa Clara timeout. Santa Clara came to life, scoring four in a row to tie it up at 17, causing a Fresno State timeout.
- Fresno State scored the next two, but the Broncos answered with kills by Lauren Grover and Alayna Crabtree to tie it up. With the set tied at 21, the Broncos scored three in a row capped off with a massive kill by Layla Truitt to take a 24-21 lead. The Bulldogs scored the next two, but a kill from Alayna Crabtree gave the Broncos the set win 25-23.
- The Broncos gained momentum in the fourth set jumping out to a 4-1 lead. The Bulldogs cut it to 8-7, but a kill from Cate Shanahan and two straight kills from Grace Flanagan put the Broncos ahead 10-6. Fresno State tied the match again at 12, but the Broncos again jumped ahead 16-13 with a huge block from Flanagan. The Broncos took a 21-16 lead after an ace from Lauren Grover, forcing a Bulldogs timeout.
- A kill by Layla Truitt gave the Broncos a 24-20 lead, and another kill from Truitt gave the Broncos the fourth set victory 25-21.
- The Broncos took a 7-4 lead to open the fifth set causing a Fresno State timeout. The Broncos tied it up at 9, leading to a Santa Clara timeout. A kill from Oren Abutbul gave the Broncos an 11-13 lead, and a Fresno State error gave the Broncos match point, 14-12. The Broncos scored the next two points to tie the match at 14. A kill by Nive Tuileta and Alayna Crabtree gave the Broncos the 16-14 victory.
NOTABLE NUMBERS:
- Alayna Crabtree posted her second double-double of the season (9th career) with a career high 22 kills and 13 digs.
- Lauren Grover recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 kills and 19 digs.
- Nive Tuileta had her third double-double of the season (30th career) with a season high 49 assists and 10 digs.
- This the first time this season the Broncos have completed a reverse sweep.
POSTGAME INTERVIEWS:
UP NEXT:
The Broncos will finish off their last match of the Santa Clara/SJSU Invitational tomorrow against San Jose State at 4 p.m. PT.
