Sept. 24, 2011
Box Score
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Four different Toreros recorded double-digit kills to help rally the 16th-ranked University of San Diego women's volleyball team to a thrilling 3-2 win over Santa Clara University Saturday afternoon in a West Coast Conference match at the Leavy Center.
With the 22-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11 win, the Toreros improve to 14-1 overall and move to 1-1 in the WCC. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 5-7 overall and 0-1 in the WCC.
Sophomore middle hitter Katie Hoekman recorded a match-best and career-high 16 kills on 29 swings, while only committing two errors to post a .482 attack percentage, and she had 10 blocks. Freshman outside hitter Sandra Lozic also had a career-high in kills with 14, and she recorded a career-high with 10 digs to post her first collegiate double-double. Amber Tatsch was the third Torero in double-digit kills with 13, while Chloe Ferrari recorded 12 kills on the afternoon. Kandiss Anderson led the defensive effort for USD as she recorded 16 digs, and Rachel Alvey led the team with 37 assists, while helping steer the Toreros to a .228 attack percentage.
In the first set, the Broncos grabbed the early momentum, as they raced out to a 7-3 lead. However, a SCU service error then ignited a 8-4 San Diego run that was capped on a Bronco attack error to pull USD even with Santa Clara at 11-all. After USD would tie things up two more times at 12-all and 13-all, a Tatsch kill finally gave USD its first lead of the set at 14-13. The two teams then began to battle back and forth trading point-for-point until the final tie came at 20-all, then the Broncos were able to outscore USD 5-2 down the stretch to capture the first frame 25-22.
In the second set, it was a close nit battle right out of the gates as this frame featured 15 ties and six different lead changes. The final tie came at 20-all for a second consecutive frame, and SCU managed to once again outscore the Toreros 5-2 to go into the break up two-sets-to-none.
Out of the break, and with their backs against the wall, the young guns of the Toreros responded with a 25-23 win. This was another close battle with the two schools that featured 14 ties and three lead changes. Late in the frame with the score knotted at 18-all, the Toreros strung together three consecutive points on a SCU attack error, a Lozic kill and a Lozic service ace to give USD some breathing room at 21-18. The Broncos then put together three straight points of their own to once again tie things up at 21-all, but the Toreros dug in and were able to close things out to force a fourth set.
In the fourth set, the Toreros again responded with their backs against the wall, as they were able to force a fifth and deciding set with a 25-18 win. The early going was much like the rest of the match, a close battle with the two teams trading point-for-point and both teams having their turn with the lead. Then with the score knotted at 10-all, a Lozic kill sparked an 11-2 run to give USD all the momentum and a comfortable 21-12 lead. USD then eased its way to a victory to force a fifth and deciding set.
In the final frame, the two teams traded point-for-point right out of the gates, then with the score tied at 6-all, the Toreros would go on a 5-1 run to pull ahead and grab the momentum with a 11-7 lead. USD never looked back as they went on to claim the come-from-behind win with a 15-11 win.
San Diego will return to action on Thursday as they host UC Irvine in a 7 p.m. non-conference match at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The Toreros will then resume WCC play on Saturday as the newest member of the conference, BYU, comes to town for a 1 p.m. match.
