Volleyball team reaches Final Four
By Brian Witter
In front of their largest crowd ever and in the biggest game of their lives, the women's volleyball team ended their Cinderella season with a loss to the top-ranked University of Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament last month in San Antonio.
In front of nearly 8,000 fans in the Alamodome, the Cornhuskers swept the Broncos 3-0 in the national semifinal 30-24, 30-19, 30-21. In their 10 previous trips to the postseason tournament, the squad had never before made it farther than the second round. In the Dec. 15 game, Santa Clara committed 27 hitting errors which helped seal the team's fate as they faced off against a Nebraska team boasting three First Team All-Americans and the highest blocking percentage in the country.
Sophomore middle blocker and Third Team All-American Anna Cmaylo led the Broncos' offensive effort with 10 kills and a .227 hitting average, which was second to Santa Clara's own First Team All-American, Cassie Perret's, .318 percentage.
On the opposing side, Nebraska middle blocker Melissa Elmer put the biggest hurt on the Broncos, racking up 13 kills and a solid .647 average which was enough to stall the scrappy upstarts from the Mission Campus. Santa Clara only led briefly in the beginning of the third game and once the Huskers took over, they never so much as glanced back. Nebraska eventually lost to the University of Washington Huskies in the National Championship game. The Huskies won the title without dropping a single game in the entire postseason.
"I'm not that old yet, but I have no problem saying that just being able to play in the Final Four was definitely the best experience of my life," said sophomore setter and Third Team All-American Crystal Matich. "Knowing that people are watching us on TV and little girls are looking up to us gives us a great sense of achievement."
The Broncos' Final Four appearance capped off their most successful season in the program's 42-year history. The squad finished 27-5 which ties the 2000 team's record for most single-season wins and fewest losses. The final national rankings placed Santa Clara at No. 4 in the poll, the first time the team has finished in the Top 10 at the end of the season.
Santa Clara knocked off rival Stanford at the Cardinal Gym in the second round of the tournament and went on to win the Palo Alto Regional, defeating the fourth-seeded University of Arizona Wildcats for the second time this season in the regional final 3-2.
"After we beat Arizona, our team was really awestruck for a little while," WCC Player of the Year Perret said. "Once we started practicing and after the exhilaration of actually being at the Final Four wore off though, we got serious."
The Broncos lose seniors Lexie Bothman, Rachel Greenberg, Kristen Luxton and Perret, but remain optimistic about what lies in store for them next year.
"I'm 100 percent confident that we will go this far next year," Matich said. "Our team dynamic is so strong on and off the court, and if we continue to work together as one like we did this year, we can do anything."
Head coach Jon Wallace is equally proud of his team's accomplishments.
"I want to praise my players for getting out there and playing tough and with heart. I don't think we had our best night, but they wanted it and were trying as hard as they could and I am proud of them for that."
Contact Brian Witter at (408) 551-1918 or bwitter@scu.edu.