SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's volleyball team fell 3-2 in a hard-fought battle against the San Francisco Dons on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos took a 2-1 lead in the match before dropping the final two sets. Santa Clara was led by Alayna Crabtree with her third double-double of the season, recording 19 kills and 13 digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Santa Clara (4-6) scored five points in a row to take a 12-8 lead in the first set. USF (7-5) fought back, cutting the lead to 17-15, but SCU scored four straight to take a 21-15 lead. A service ace from Grace Flanagan made it 24-17 and a kill by Lauren Grover gave the Broncos the 25-19 victory.
• USF jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the second set, and later 13-6. The Dons went up 24-17, however, the Broncos fought off multiple set points to climb their way back, scoring five points in a row to make it 24-22 after back-to-back kills from Lauren Grover. Unfortunately, USF scored the next point to take the set 25-22.
• The third set was neck-and-neck until the Broncos scored two in a row to take a 21-18 lead. A kill by Alayna Crabtree made it 22-19, and the Broncos scored the final three points capped off by a kill Elena Radeff to take the set 25-20.
• USF took a 19-15 lead to open the fourth set, but the Broncos again fought back, cutting the lead to 19-18 with back-to-back service aces from Alayna Crabtree. A service ace from Lauren Grover made it 23-22, but USF scored the final two points of the set to take the 25-22 victory.
• The Dons took a 7-3 lead to open the fifth and final set, and later 10-6. Santa Clara fought back, scoring three in a row capped by a service ace from Nive Tuileta to cut the lead to 10-9, however, USF scored the next three points. The Broncos again answered back, scoring three in a row to cut the lead to 14-13, but USF scored the final point to take the 15-13 victory.

NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Alayna Crabtree netted her third double-double of the season, recording 19 kills and 13 digs.
• Elena Radeff posted a season high 10 kills.
• Halle Reiter had a career high 27 digs, her sixth game of the season in double figures for digs.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW:
 

Gave it our all.#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/owdtGHY3jL

— Santa Clara Volleyball (@scuvolleyball) September 28, 2024

 
UP NEXT:
The Broncos will return home on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. for a matchup with LMU.