SAN JOSE, Calif. - Santa Clara women's volleyball had an incredible comeback Tuesday night dropping the first two sets against the San Jose State Spartans, before winning the next three sets to take the match in five.
Morgan Hayes led the Broncos with a career high 17 kills, hitting .400, the second Bronco to hit .400 or higher this season. Three other Broncos finished in double figure kills, while
Macy Hinshaw became the first Bronco to record 50 or more assists since Nov. 16, 2023 (
Nive Tuileta, 58 at USF).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- San Jose State (3-5) controlled the tempo for most of the first set, taking an early 6-3 lead. However, Santa Clara fought back scoring four straight points to take a 9-7 advantage, and later 12-10 after a kill from Selin Aslayan.
- A kill from Grace Flanagan put the Broncos up 15-14 heading into the media timeout, but San Jose State retook control six out of seven points to jump ahead 21-17. A solo block from Cate Shanahan cut the Spartans lead to 23-21, but San Jose State scored the final two points taking set one, 25-21.
- The Spartans jumped out the gates hot, scoring the first six points of set two, including three straight service aces. The Broncos had a tough time digging out of the early hole, eventually cutting the score to 15-21, but were unable to get closer as the Spartans took set two, 25-18.
- The Broncos (4-5) took a 6-2 lead to open set three, and a later 13-9 after a kill from Morgan Hayes, forcing a San Jose State timeout. However, the Spartans scored four in a row to tie things up, and it was a dogfight from there. Things went back-and-forth with a kill from Hayes giving SCU set point, 24-23. Back-to-back Bronco kills from Hayes and Aslayan ended the set 26-24 in favor of the Broncos.
- Set four went back-and-forth until the Broncos scored four in a row capped off by an ace from Ashlynn Reilly to take a 9-5 lead. Another three point Bronco rally made it 12-6, and later 19-12 after another kill from Hayes. The Broncos scored five out of the final seven points, to take them to a decisive fifth set.
- San Jose State scored the first two points of set five but three straight Bronco points gave them a 9-6 lead after a kill from Aslayan. However, SJSU scored five in a row to retake the lead, 11-9. Four straight Bronco points capped off by a kill from Shanahan flipped the advantage back to Santa Clara. Another kill from Shanahan set up match point, but back-to-back SJSU points tied it at 14. A kill from Hayes made it match point again, and an attacking error from the Spartans gave the Broncos the match, 17-15.
NOTABLE NUMBERS:
- Morgan Hayes tallied a career high 17 kills, hitting .400, the second Bronco to hit .400 or higher this season (Layla Truitt).
- Three other Broncos finished with double figures in kills (Truitt, Aslayan and Shanahan).
- Macy Hinshaw tallied 53 assists becoming the first Bronco to record 50 or more assists since Nov. 16, 2023 (Nive Tuileta, 58 at USF), adding 14 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.
- This is the Broncos fifth time coming back from a 2-0 deficit since 2011, and first time since last season on Sept. 14, 2024 vs. Fresno State.
POSTGAME INTERVIEWS:
UP NEXT:
The Broncos will head to Montana for the EVEN Hotel Bobcat Classic to take on Nevada on Friday at 1 p.m., and the hosting Montana State Saturday at 6 p.m.
