SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's volleyball team fell to the San José State Spartans on the final day of the SCU/SJSU Invitational in a back-and-forth affair, 3-2. With the loss, the Broncos fell to 16-26 overall in the Battle of the Alameda.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Spartans (5-0) scored three straight points to take a 9-6 advantage, and later 17-9 in the first set, forcing a Broncos timeout. The Spartans extended their lead to 21-9 scoring eight in a row causing another Broncos timeout. The Spartans stayed hot winning the set 25-13.
- The second set was in a deadlock 15-15 tie at the media timeout. The Spartans scored two in a row forcing a Santa Clara timeout, 18-16. The Broncos (4-3) fought back, scoring three in a row to take a 19-18 lead, which led to an SJSU timeout. The Broncos scored three straight once again capped off by a kill from Lauren Grover to take a 23-20 lead.
- After a Broncos point, the Spartans scored three in a row, but a kill by Oren Abutbul gave the Broncos the 25-23 set victory.
- The Broncos rode the momentum going up 5-0 to start the third set, and 11-1 after six straight points capped off by a service ace from Lexi Trapani. The Spartans fought back and cut the lead to 20-17, scoring three straight and leading to a Broncos timeout.
- SJSU scored four of the next five, making it 22-21, however, the Broncos scored the next three points to take the set 25-21.
- The Spartans scored four in a row to break the fourth set deadlock 11-7, causing a Santa Clara timeout. The Spartans continued on the attack scoring three in a row to force another SCU timeout, 14-8. The Broncos cut it to 16-13 with a kill by Oren Abutbul, but SJSU scored three in a row to take a 20-14 lead.
- A kill from Elena Radeff capped off a three point rally forcing an SJSU timeout, 21-18. SJSU scored the next four, winning the set 25-18.
- Santa Clara held a slight 8-7 lead at the media timeout of the fifth set after a kill by Oren Abutbul. The Spartans scored the next three to take a 10-8 lead, forcing an SCU timeout. SJSU kept attacking, winning the set 15-11.
NOTABLE NUMBERS:
- This the third straight game the Broncos have gone to five sets.
- Two Broncos finished with double figure kills – Oren Abutbul (14) and Lauren Grover (10).
- Tia Kapihe made her collegiate debut tonight.
- The Broncos fell to 16-26 overall against the Spartans.
- Oren Abutbul (.247, 34 kills, 2.07 kills per set) and Layla Truitt (.309, 31 kills, 2.27 kills per set) were selected to the All Tournament Team.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW:
UP NEXT:
The Broncos will travel to Berkeley, Calif. to take on the University of California Golden Bears on Wednesday, September 18 at 7 p.m. PT.
