SAN FRANCISCO — The Santa Clara University women's volleyball team won its third consecutive West Coast Conference road match Saturday, taking down rival San Francisco, 3-1 (27-25, 28-30, 25-17, 25-17), at War Memorial at The Sobrato Center.
Cate Shanahan led the Broncos (7-10, 3-2 WCC) with 25 kills, hit .396 and added eight digs.
Selin Aslayan finished with 16 kills, a season high and one short of her career high of 17, along with two total blocks.
Macy Hinshaw recorded 49 assists and a season-high 19 digs, her 11th double-double of the season and eighth in her last nine matches.
Grace Flanagan added eight kills, five total blocks and one service ace.
Tia Kapihe recorded a career-high three service aces.
Santa Clara won the first set, 27-25, after answering San Francisco set points at 24-23 and 25-24 with Shanahan kills.
Allison Dzieciuch's block put the Broncos ahead 26-25, and Shanahan followed with the final kill. Earlier, Santa Clara recovered from a 3-1 deficit with kills by
Danielle Brown and Aslayan, plus a Kapihe service ace, to move ahead, 6-4.
Santa Clara pushed the second set beyond 25 points again and had four set points of its own, but San Francisco (9-9, 1-4 WCC) scored the final three points and four of the last five to take it, 30-28. The Broncos opened the frame with five consecutive points, including four on
Lexi Trapani's serve, with Dzieciuch, Flanagan and Aslayan contributing kills. Shanahan helped keep Santa Clara in front late with kills to put SCU up 25-24 and 28-27 before San Francisco closed the set.
The Broncos went on a big run in the third set to pull away from a 14-14 tie, scoring six straight points to take a 20-14 lead. Kapihe served the final five points of the run, including a service ace, while Aslayan, Shanahan and Flanagan added kills. Santa Clara won the set, 25-17, with Shanahan's kill and a San Francisco attack error accounting for the final two points.
Santa Clara left no doubt in the fourth, building a 12-5 early lead and never looking back. San Francisco cut the score to 12-9, but the Broncos maintained the lead and added late points on kills by Aslayan, Flanagan and Shanahan. Shanahan closed the set with consecutive kills as Santa Clara won it, 25-17.
Katariina Korhonen posted team highs for San Francisco with 20 kills and 17 digs. Petra Fritz finished with 19 kills and nine digs. Jordan Smart recorded 20 assists and 13 digs. Emma Neukirchen tallied five total blocks, four kills, four digs and one service ace.
Santa Clara returns home Thursday to host Pacific at 7 p.m. The Broncos will also host Saint Mary's at 1 p.m. Saturday. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
