FRESNO, Calif. - Santa Clara women's volleyball fell 3-1 in the first game of the Bulldog Invitational against the CSUN Matadors Thursday night at the Save Mart Center. After dropping the first two sets, the Broncos showed resilience in set three, before falling just short of a comeback attempt in set four. Tia Kapihe and Cate Shanahan led the Broncos with 12 kills each, while Macy Hinshaw recorded 42 assists, two shy of her career high set earlier this season on Sept. 6 vs. UNLV.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• CSUN (5-2) scored three straight points to open up with a 9-6 lead, and later 15-7 after a six point rally. However, the Broncos answered back, scoring six straight points of their own to cut the lead to 15-13.
• A kill by Iye Okolo put the Matadors up 21-14, but the Broncos scored four in a row capped off by a kill from Grace Flanagan to cut the lead to 22-19. However, CSUN scored the final two points of the set to take set one, 25-20.
• Five straight CSUN points helped them jump out to a 9-2 lead to open set two, and later 12-4. The Matadors rattled off another five point rally, making it 21-10, and were able to finish off set two with little Bronco resistance, 25-12.
• A kill from Selin Aslayan put the Broncos up 5-1 to open set three, and later 7-3 after a block from Layla Truitt. A kill from Tia Kapihe put the Broncos ahead 15-11 heading into the media timeout, and another one from Aslayan increased the lead to 17-12.
• Three straight Bronco points capped off by a kill from Cate Shanahan put SCU up 22-16, and an ace from Macy Hinshaw gave the Broncos set point. Finally, a block from Aslayan gave the Broncos set three, 25-20.
• CSUN scored the first four points of set four, but the Broncos answered back scoring four of the next five points. An ace from Lexi Trapani tied the game at six, and an ace from Kapihe gave the Broncos a 15-12 advantage at the media timeout.
• Four straight CSUN points tied the game at 16, forcing a Bronco timeout. Six straight points from the Matadors made it 23-17, however, a kill by Shanahan capped off four straight Bronco points to cut the lead to two.
• A service error by Aslayan made it 24-21, however, three straight Bronco points capped off by back-to-back kills from Kapihe tied it at 24. Then, CSUN scored two straight points capped off by an ace from Jan Marie Duhaylungsod to take set four 26-24.

NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Tia Kapihe and Cate Shanahan led the Broncos with 12 kills each.
• Selin Aslayan totaled 11 kills, her first career game in double figures.
• Macy Hinshaw totaled 42 assists, two shy of her career high set earlier this season on Sept. 6 vs. UNLV.
• Lexi Trapani led the Broncos with 14 digs, her fifth game of the season in double figures.
• Santa Clara falls to 2-3 all time against the Matadors.

UP NEXT:
The Broncos will conclude the Bulldog Invite on Friday, playing the hosting Fresno State Bulldogs at 6 p.m.