All the Sports, All At Once
Santa Clara’s 18 athletic teams return to campus following a 11-month hiatus
For nearly a year, Santa Clara’s epicenters of athleticism, Leavey Stadium and Buck Shaw Field, have remained vacant. But now, the Broncos are back in action.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, Santa Clara graduate class of ‘89, lifted the Bay Area shelter-in-place order on Jan. 25, marking the official return for Santa Clara athletics. Now every sports team from the fall, winter and spring seasons, are back on campus, training for upcoming games and competitions.
In case you don’t remember where we left off or what to look for, don’t worry, you’re not alone. For the sake of clarity, here’s a short preview of some of the upcoming seasons.
Women’s Soccer
Santa Clara women’s soccer starts their season on Feb. 20 against rival Pepperdine in Malibu, Calif. Last season, they finished second, just behind West Coast Conference (WCC) powerhouse Brigham Young University (BYU).
While BYU is slated at the No. 1 spot in the preseason rankings, the Broncos have a great deal of depth, especially in their veteran players. Three out of the four seniors—Alexis Loera, Kelsey Turnbow and Julie Doyle—were named to the Preseason All-WCC team, and are crucial components to Santa Clara’s starting roster. They each move the ball quickly upfield and create scoring opportunities from every inch of the pitch.
In the 2019-2020 campaign, Santa Clara had a terrific postseason run as they advanced to the third round of the National College Athletics Association (NCAA) Tournament. The Broncos hope to embark on a similar journey this season.
Who to Watch: Sr. Defender Alexis Loera, Sr. Forward Kelsey Turnbow, Sr. Forward Julie Doyle
Cross Country
Santa Clara cross country is more than ready to hit the ground running. The team’s 2020 track and field season was canceled due to COVID-19, and their fall cross country season was postponed. Despite the setbacks, the Broncos have been training since mid-June for their WCC Cross Country Championships, scheduled for Feb. 24 in Las Vegas.
One interesting element of the Broncos’ adapted training plan is that most of it has been a solo affair. Since the pandemic hit, most of the team has been running in small groups or individually at high school tracks and trails near campus to maintain fitness and gear up for future races.
The men’s team is ranked No. 11 in the Western Region, which matches its highest mark in program history. Both the men’s and women’s squads have an opportunity to put their training to the test in their upcoming conference meet.
Who to Watch: RS Sr. Jack Davidson, RS Sr. Xander Olivero, Sr. Zach Litoff
Volleyball
While the first few games for Santa Clara women’s volleyball were postponed due to COVID-19 protocols, they are fired up to open their season next Tuesday, Feb. 16 at University of San Diego.
Last year, the Broncos recorded the first 20-win season and reached the postseason for the first time since 2015 under their new head coach Erin Lindsey. The Toreros, who sit atop the WCC rankings, will make for a tough first match for the Broncos, who are ranked No. 4. Santa Clara’s unwavering team chemistry that developed during their long-awaited return could support this team’s spring season campaign.
Who to Watch: So. Outside Hitter Julia Sangiacomo, Sr. Libero Gretchen Reinert, Sr. Outside Hitter Kathryn Decker
Baseball
Before the pandemic hit, Santa Clara baseball was off to a solid start to their 2020 season. They posted a series sweep against crosstown rival San José State and a huge road win over the nationally-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. This year, they are projected to finish eighth in the WCC, but they’re hungry to prove that ranking wrong.
Bronco baseball welcomes back 15 redshirt seniors, including home-run-slugger Jake MacNichols and utilityman Jason Dichochea. These two veterans are key players in Santa Clara’s starting roster and hope to make an impact on the field and behind home plate.
Santa Clara will open up their 2021 season next Friday, Feb. 19 against University of California, Santa Barbara.
Who to Watch: RS Sr. Catcher Jake MacNichols, RS Sr. Infielder Jason Dicochea, RS Sr. Pitcher Freddie Erlandson
Softball
Although many sports have had to adjust to season postponements from the fall, Santa Clara softball is settling in right on time for their 2021 debut.
Exactly one year ago last weekend, the Broncos opened up their 2020 campaign with a pair of wins in Sacramento. Their entire lineup contributed on the offensive front by producing runs in early innings. The following weeks featured several clutch wins before the pandemic shut down their season.
This year, the Broncos returned several pitchers, but not quite in time for their first game against Stanford on Feb. 21. With their top two starters, juniors Regan Dias and Lauren Anderson, both recovering from injuries, other position players will have to step up to the mound to support Santa Clara’s defense.
Who to Watch: Jr. Outfielder Ashley Trierweiler, Jr. Infielder Emma Bickford
Men’s Tennis
Santa Clara men’s tennis currently sits at sixth in the WCC Preseason Poll. If their upcoming matches look similar to their victories in previous years, they should climb higher in those rankings.
Before the pandemic canceled their season, men’s tennis did what men’s tennis do: win at home.
Since the 2016-17 season, they have posted a 32-5 record at Santa Clara’s Degheri Tennis Center. In 2021, the Broncos hope to build on that impressive record––this time, on newly renovated tennis courts.
The Broncos have two stars back in action, redshirt senior Vas Iliopoulos and junior Arthur Neuhaus. Neuhaus, a native of Switzerland, captured a tournament title in his home country over the summer. These two Santa Clara veterans will look to carry last season’s momentum into their home opener on Feb. 18 against University of California, Davis.
Who to Watch: RS Sr. Vas Iliopoulos, Jr. Arthur Neuhaus