The top-ranked UCSD women’s volleyball team closed out a perfect home record in 2003 by earning sweeps in its final three contests in a five-match homestand. The Tritons earned 3-0 victories over Grand Canyon on Nov. 5, UC Davis on Nov. 7, and Chico State on Nov. 8 to finish 11-0 at RIMAC Arena this season.
Senior Night was celebrated on Nov. 8, marking the final regular season home game for Ashley Petersen, Lauren Mills and Denelle Smalley. Wanting to give the seniors a victory in what might be their final match at RIMAC took some of the attention away from attaining a perfect 11-0 home record.
“”I didn’t talk to them about it at all,”” UCSD head coach Duncan McFarland said. “”It’s a big accomplishment to play at UCSD for four years. It is a big deal, and we wanted to give them a good sendoff in the last home game … and it went according to script.””
The Tritons had little trouble disposing of the Antelopes on Nov. 5, giving up the lead only once in the victory. UCSD won by the scores of 30-18, 30-19 and 30-20. Outside hitters junior Bonnie Wilson and sophomore Lindsay Crandell each had 11 kills, while junior middle blocker Katie Hogan had an all-around game with seven kills, four digs and four blocks.
Against UC Davis, the Tritons came out strong and controlled the first game, winning 30-14. Game two was a different story, however, with the Aggies getting out to an 18-9 advantage. The Tritons inched their way back, scoring five straight points and eventually tying the game at 20-20.
Neither team could put the other away until the score reached 27-27, when UCSD scored the final three points on a service ace by junior middle blocker Kendra Canape and two service aces by junior outside hitter Stacey Dunsmore. The Tritons were able to wrap up the match from there, taking game three by a score of 30-22.
On Senior Night, UCSD didn’t yield the lead to the Wildcats until the third game.
In the first two games, the Tritons scored the first points and never looked back, winning each one by a score of 30-17.
In the third frame, Chico State held a brief 6-5 lead, but UCSD came back to win the next three points. The Tritons continued to pull away from that point, and the match ended on a kill by Smalley to give UCSD a 30-22 win.
The Tritons remain one game behind rival Cal State San Bernardino for first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. They have an overall record of 23-4 and a CCAA record of 17-3. With the regular season coming to a close after this upcoming weekend, the Tritons would like to take over the conference lead to avoid facing the Coyotes at their own gym in the postseason.
UCSD will wrap up the regular season by going on the road to face Sonoma State on Nov. 14 and San Francisco State on Nov. 15. Cal State San Bernardino will also be on the road taking on Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Los Angeles on Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, respectively.
