BOZEMAN, Mont. - Santa Clara women's volleyball fell short of a comeback attempt Saturday night at the Shroyer Gymnasium, falling to the Montana State Bobcats 3-1. The Broncos dropped the first two sets and after winning set three, were unable to complete the comeback, falling 26-24 in the fourth set. Layla Truitt led the Broncos with 12 kills, her sixth game of the season in double figures, while Cate Shanahan and Morgan Hayes totaled 10 kills each.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Broncos (5-6) scored four straight points capped off by a kill from Layla Truitt to take a 10-7 lead. A kill by Morgan Hayes made it 15-11 heading into the media timeout.
• Back-to-back service aces from Teagan Jaynes cut the Bronco lead to 19-18, forcing a Santa Clara timeout. The Bobcats tied it up at 20, and scored three straight to take a 23-21 lead. A Montana State attacking error cut the lead to 24-23, but a Bronco service error gave the Bobcats set one, 25-23.
• The Bobcats (5-6) scored four straight points to take a 5-2 lead to open set two. Another service ace from Jaynes made it 13-9, but three straight Bronco points cut the MSU lead to 16-14, and later a kill from Truitt made it 20-18. However, the Bobcats scored two in a row to take a 24-20 lead, and finished off the set 25-21.
• Set three went back-and-forth. Back-to-back aces from Lexi Trapani put the Broncos ahead 14-13, but three straight points from the Bobcats gave them a 17-15 advantage. However, the Broncos fought back as a kill by Tia Kapihe capped four straight Bronco points to take a 20-18 lead. A kill from Hayes made it 22-20, but two straight points from the Bobcats tied it at 23. A kill by Shanahan and block assists from Hayes and Grace Flanagan gave the Broncos set four, 25-23.
• Five straight points gave the Broncos a 9-7 lead in set four. Another rally by the Broncos for four straight points gave them a 15-9 advantage. However, the Bobcats scored three straight, and another two points to cut the lead to 17-15.  Kill from Kapihe made it 22-20, but MSU tied it again at 22. Then, MSU went up 24-23 on a Bronco attacking error before finally putting away the set 26-24.

NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Layla Truitt led the Broncos with 12 kills, her sixth game of the season in double figures.
• Cate Shanahan and Morgan Hayes totaled 10 kills each.
• Lexi Trapani totaled 21 digs, one shy of her career high set earlier this season at Notre Dame.
• Macy Hinshaw tallied 45 assists, and nine digs, just one shy of reaching her sixth double-double of the season.
• Ashlynn Reilly had her third career and second straight game in double figures with 10 digs.

 
UP NEXT:
The Broncos will open West Coast Conference play next Thursday, Sept. 26 vs. Gonzaga at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre in Spokane, Wash.