Oct. 17, 2003

Final Stats

DAVIS, Calif.. --- Junior outside hitter Kate Wilton hit .385 after Game 1 en route to a match-high 20 kills to lead UC Davis to a 30-28, 30-28, 30-27 sweep over Cal Poly Pomona in a California Collegiate Athletic Association women's volleyball match at Upper Hickey Gym Friday.

The Aggies improve to 11-8 on the season and even their conference record to 6-6. The Broncos fall to 13-7 overall and 8-4 in CCAA play.

Wilton hit just .125 in the first game, recording seven kills but committing five hitting errors. However, she had just one error in Game 2 then compiled an 8-2-13 line in Game 3. Senior opposite Ellen Fitzpatrick hit .400 for the match, posting seven kills against just one error in 15 attempts. Libero Mary McClelland had 15 digs and defensive specialist Christina Ng added 12 to lead UC Davis defensively. Setter Marritt Cafarchia had 49 assists, her career high for a three-game match.

Pomona's middle blockers handled most of the offensive chores as Kimberly Van Beek had 13 kills and a .480 hitting average to lead her team offensively. Sophomore Allison Anderson added 10 kills on 29 swings while Kellie Francis put down 10 kills on 23 attempts. Van Beek also recorded five total blocks, including a pair of solos.

"We were familiar with what they did against us the first time," said Aggie head coach Stephanie Hawbecker. "We kept pressure on them with our serving, which we thought would be crucial. Kelly [Gaudino] was really aggressive with her jump serve. And we keyed our block on their middles, their big guns. Even though they got their share of kills, I think they knew what was coming and it kind of rattled them."

"We were just confident. We've always had good matches with Pomona, but sweeping them in three makes a statement. We like to see the players earning things and getting rewarded. This group has worked their tails off ever since the end of last season and they're getting some rewards."

UC Davis took a late lead in Game 1 as Kelly Gaudino scored the first of her five aces in the match and Wilton contributed back-to-back kills as part of a 4-0 run that gave the Aggies a 26-22 advantage. Gaudino enjoyed an unusual kill at 28-24, scooping up a tough dig that trickled over the net and into an open Bronco court. Wilton's subsequent kill gave UC Davis a 29-24 lead but Pomona managed to fight off four straight game points to cut the margin to 29-28. However, Aggie freshman Nicole Read ended the Bronco run with the game-winning point.

Senior opposite Ellen Fitzpatrick hit .400 for the match, posting seven kills against just one error. (Wayne Tilcock, Davis Enterprise)

Early in the second game, Gaudino's jump serve turned up three consecutive aces to help UC Davis take an 8-4 start. The Aggies scored 12 of the next 16 points to build the lead to 20-12, but the Broncos whittled away to cut the lead to 25-20. Pomona right-side hitter Anne Stinchfield served up three straight points to help her team approach within one point at 26-25. However, Wilton responded with back-to-back kills, including an effective tool against the Bronco's middle blockers, to give UC Davis a 28-25 lead.

With the Aggies leading 29-26, Pomona again fought back to a 29-28 margin. As in the first game, however, Read posted the game-winner to give UC Davis a 2-0 lead in games. Despite the loss, the Broncos hit .469 and had four total blocks in the second frame.

Wilton's offense and McClelland's nine digs highlighted the Aggies' Game 3 win. Save for a 3-0 run to support the serving of Stinchfield, Pomona never managed to string more than two points as UC Davis hung on to a 13-8 lead. Francis knocked down back-to-back kills to bring the Broncos within 28-27, but Read's side-out kill gave the Aggies match point. With Wilton serving, Francis' side-out attempt failed to clear the net, completing the sweep for UC Davis.

The Aggies take on No. 3-ranked Cal St. San Bernardino in continued CCAA action Saturday.

CPP (kills-aces-blocks) - Allison Anderson 10-0-4, Elizabeth Defoort 4-0-1, Kellie Francis 10-0-2, Kimberly Van Beek 13-0-5, Lindsay Fischer 9-0-1, Emily Kennedy 2-0-3, Breezie Jordan 0-0-0, Megan Meenan 0-0-0, Rachel Hastert 0-0-0, Anne Stinchfield 1-2-0, Casey Riedel 2-0-0. Totals 51-2-10.0. Assists - Emily Kennedy 41. Digs leader - Emily Kennedy 13.

UC DAVIS (kills-aces-blocks) - Kate Wilton 20-0-2, Kelly Gaudino 10-5-1, Marritt Cafarchia 4-0-2, Christina Ng 0-0-0, Rachel Keener 8-2-0, Nicole Read 8-1-3, Mary McClelland 0-0-0, Ellen Fitzpatrick 7-0-0. Totals 57-8-4.5. Assists - Marritt Cafarchia 49. Digs leaders - Mary McClelland 15, Christina Ng 12, Kelly Gaudino 11.