Box Score 1 SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- After squeezing by William Jessup in a five-set affair to open their play at the UC-Santa Cruz Slugfest Tournament, the Lewis & Clark volleyball team defeated the hosts in straight sets, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19, to improve to 2-0 on the season.
In the first match Friday against NAIA opponent William Jessup, junior Maeleen Hopeau's kill sealed the Pioneers victory 24-26, 17-25, 27-25, 25-10, 15-9.
Later in the evening, Lewis & Clark beat UC-Santa Cruz by a combined four points in the first two sets. In the first, the Pioneers won despite being outhit .220 to .034 by the Banana Slugs.
Things improved in the second period, which stayed close throughout, once tied at 15-15. Once again, UC-Santa Cruz had more kills than the Pioneers, 13-12, but Lewis & Clark finished with a higher hitting percentage for the set.
The third set saw Lewis & Clark build a 15-10 lead before winning by six points.
Freshman Julia Somers had a match-high three aces and 11 kills for the Pioneers, the latter matching the total for both UC-Santa Cruz's Madison Waddell and Tatum Novitzky. Hopeau tallied six kills, one more than senior Ali Carleton and freshman Emma Contreras had apiece.
Senior Emily Drake led the Pios in assists with 17 and added two aces, while first-year player Mikayla Lopez finished with 12 assists. Junior Alexe Navarro registered 18 digs, while Somers had 13.
As a team, Lewis & Clark outmatched the Banana Slugs on serves, leading in aces 7-3 and posting fewer service errors by three, 5-2.
Lewis & Clark plays twice on Saturday facing Redlands at 9 a.m. before an 11:30 a.m. match with Mills College.
Friday scores
Redlands 3, William Jessup 1
UC-Santa Cruz 3, Mills 0
Lewis & Clark 3, William Jessup 2
Mills 3, Redlands 0
Lewis & Clark 3, UC-Santa Cruz 0
Saturday's schedule
Redlands vs Lewis & Clark - 9 a.m.
Lewis & Clark vs Mills - 11:30 a.m.
Redlands vs UC-Santa Cruz - 2 p.m.
William Jessup vs Mills - 4:30 p.m.
William Jessup vs UC-Santa Cruz - 7 p.m.
