2008 Woodie Awards
Gaels take Broncos for a ride
Volleyball splits weekend with #9 Broncos and #25 Toreros
Zack Farmer
Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: Sports
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In the first game against Santa Clara, the Gaels fought hard but fell early as the Broncos took an early 8-3 lead. After a Saint Mary's timeout, the Gaels went on a 7-2 run, including multiple kills from Taylor Groess '09 and Cassandra Kolkka '07 to tie the game. The Gaels took a 29-27 lead for game point but could not hold on as Santa Clara came back and took the first game 32-30.
The second game was completely controlled by the Broncos as the Gaels could only get within seven points. Christina Kirk '07 had six kills in the game.
Middle blocker Brittany Barker '09 said, "We were with them the whole first game and there was no reason why we couldn't beat them." At the break, the Gaels regrouped and came back in a flurry.
The Gaels fell behind 12-7 in the third game but came back with a 10-2 run against the Broncos, capped off by a kill by Megan Burton '10 to take the lead 14-13. The momentum shifted when Missie Stidham '08 made a diving dig, which led to a Gaels point. Stidham recorded 12 digs.
The Gaels took the game 30-26 to narrow the gap two games to one.
The Gaels took the largest lead to that point in the fourth game when the Gaels took a 19-14 lead on a Mandy Bible '07 kill. Santa Clara got back within three points at 27-24 when the Gaels took a timeout. Saint Mary's closed out the match on an error by the Broncos, forcing a game five.
In the final game, the Gaels went on two separate runs of 4-0 and 3-0 to take a 11-5 lead before the Broncos took a timeout. Kills by Burton, Groess, and Kolkka finished off the Broncos, completing the upset.
"It was a great team effort. We had a lot of players contributing," said Head Coach Rob Browning. "My assistant coaches did a phenomenal job, making adjustments to Santa Clara and using our personnel."
Injuries had plagued the Gaels all season and this match showed their perseverance. "Kolkka is playing on the front line for the first time since hurting her knee," said Browning.