Women's volleyball avenges defeat

By Erin Chambers

Santa Clara women's volleyball forgot about early-season mistakes last weekend, and San Diego can forget about its second place standing in the West Coast Conference.

Doing what they have done all season, the Broncos out-hit and out-dug the Toreros last Saturday at the Leavey Center for their fourth straight WCC win. The Broncos took over second place in the WCC and avenged their last conference meeting with Toreros back in September, which ended in a three game sweep victory for San Diego.

Perhaps the win was due to the confidence gained from a swift, three game sweep of Saint Mary's the night before, or sophomore Becky Potter's impressive 19 kills and seven digs. Perhaps it was the team's five service aces or senior Jami Bari's 19 digs. Or maybe it was the consistent offensive attack, lead by freshman Toni Muartore, as the Broncos out-hit the Toreros .250-.212 and out-dug them 81-78.

"The team was extremely fired up to beat San Diego. We wanted to prove to them that their win over us was a fluke and I think we proved it nicely," Potter said.

At the start of the match, San Diego took an early 6-1 lead and held it to 21-13. Fears of a first frame defeat were eased however when the Broncos returned from a timeout to score three kills as well as a service ace by junior Chrissy Hirsch for four consecutive points. When the offensive rally tied it at 23, USD was forced to take a timeout of its own, but returned only to commit two hitting errors and accept the first game loss at 28-30.

Game two was more of the same as the Broncos secured the win off a Torero service error for game point.

When USD posted five blocks and a .421 hitting percentage to take the third game, Bronco defense stepped up to hold them at 23-15 early in game four. Then after sophomore Jessie Mechem's 15th kill crushed a San Diego game point at 28-29, Santa Clara clinched the victory with a second service ace by Hirsch to set up match point.

"During the last few points of the fourth game, Bari and I could not stop smiling; we knew it was ours," Potter said.

Santa Clara's record improves to 15-7 overall and 7-2 in the WCC, while San Diego also maintains a 15-7 overall mark, but falls to 6-3 in the WCC. The Broncos continue WCC play this weekend in the Northwest, traveling to Portland on Friday and up to Gonzaga on Saturday.