Sept. 6, 2003

Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. -

Senior outside hitter Kelly Gaudino recorded a season-best 26 kills and sophomore opposite Mary Gaber added .444 hitting and four blocks as UC Davis overcame a Game 1 deficit to post a 21-30, 31-29, 30-27, 30-19 win over Seattle University in the Seattle Pacific/Comfort Suites Classic Saturday at the Connolly Center.

The Aggies improve to 4-1 on the season. The Redhawks even their record to 3-3.

Kate Wilton contributed 17 kills on offense while Jenny Pierce had five block assists for UC Davis. Setter Marritt Cafarchia posted a career highs of 64 assists and 22 digs. Libero Mary McClelland anchored the Aggie floor defense with 24 digs.

Dori Christensen led Seattle with 22 kills while Sarah Sommerman and Lizzy Safranski added 15 and 13, respectively. The Redhawks hit a monstrous .455 in their Game 1 win but cooled to just .123 after that point. Maggie Safranski led Seattle with 24 digs.

Gaudino enjoyed strong numbers in the opening game, hitting nine kills against no errors in 15 attempts. But the Redhawks built an early 8-4 lead and protected the margin for the remainder of the frame. Sommerman hit 5-0-11, including three of the final four points.

UC Davis responded with 7-1 jump in Game 2, helped by three Gaudino kills in that stretch. The 'Hawks fought back to tie the game at 13-13, the first of 13 ties in the second game. The Aggies built a 25-22 lead late in the game, but kills by Christensen and Janeen Fitzgerald helped bring SU back to a 25-25 knot. The Redhawks took their first lead at 29-28 on a kill by Lynn Kovacevich, but the senior captain committed two hitting errors and Aggie defensive specialist served up an ace to Lora Burris as part of three straight points to give UC Davis the Game 2 win.

The Aggies settled in during Games 3 and 4, hitting .326 and .286 in those frames, respectively. Wilton had 11 of her kills during the final two games. She also served up four straight points in Game 4 ­ including a service ace ­ to boost UC Davis' lead to 26-13, its widest margin of the match.

The Aggies face region power Western Washington at 4:30 p.m. to conclude tournament action.

UC DAVIS (kills-aces-blocks) - Kelly Gaudino 26-0-1, Kate Wilton 17-2-2, Jenny Pierce 10-0-5, Nicole Read 10-0-2, Mary Gaber 8-0-4, Marritt Cafarchia 5-0-1, Christina Ng 0-1-0, Mary McClelland 0-0-0, Kim Vincent 0-0-0, Ellen Fitzpatrick 0-0-0. Totals 76-3-8.0. Assists - Marritt Cafarchia 64. Digs leaders - Mary McClelland 24, Marritt Cafarchia 22.

SEATTLE (kills-aces-blocks) - Dori Christensen 22-1-0, Sarah Sommerman 15-0-0, Lizzy Safranski 13-0-1, Janeen Fitzgerald 7-0-2, Amelie Krahn 5-0-2, Erika Brunson 3-1-1, Lora Burris 1-2-0, Lynn Kovacevich 1-0-0, Cassey Hussey 0-0-0, Maggie Safranski 0-0-0, Marisa Vierra 0-0-0. Totals 67-4-3.0. Assists - Erika Brunson 48. Digs leaders - Maggie Sarfranski 24, Cassey Hussey 17.