Blue Devils Fall to Broncos

Saturday, September 13

Santa Clara, Calif.

2:00 PM

Duke University

Santa Clara

Duke Sweeps Oklahoma Saturday in Cameron

Blue Devils Fall to Broncos

9/13/2014 4:20:00 PM | Volleyball

By: Duke Sports Information

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – No. 20 Duke fell in its second match of the Stanford Invitational, dropping a 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-23) decision at Santa Clara Saturday morning at The Leavey Center.

Santa Clara (7-1) entered the weekend ranked third nationally in aces per set and the Broncos' tough service game caused the Duke (5-3) problems throughout the match. Five different Santa Clara players registered an ace, led by Sabrina Clayton's five.

In addition to her performance from the service line, Clayton was also the Broncos' top offensive target, putting down a match-high 14 kills on 33 attempts.

Junior Breanna Atkinson had a team-high eight kills for Duke. Junior Emily Sklar, sophomore Jordan Tucker and sophomore Alyse Whitaker registered seven each while sophomore Sasha Karelov picked up a match-high 17 digs.

Santa Clara's service game limited Duke's ability to transition. The Broncos held outside hitters Jeme Obeime and Sklar, a duo which averages 6.92 kills per set, to 11 combined kills.

In the first set, Duke struggled to slow Santa Clara's offense, which hit .400 in the frame. Nikki Hess knocked down five of her eight kills without committing an error to lead the Broncos. The Blue Devils earned a three-point separation at 13-10 before Santa Clara stormed back with a 5-0 run. The Broncos held the narrow lead the rest of the way and finished the frame with a Taylor Milton kill.

Down 10-6 to start the second set, sophomore Chloe DiPasquale stepped to the service line and spurred a 7-0 Duke rally. DiPasquale registered two of her career-high four aces during that span, giving the Blue Devils a 13-10 lead. Santa Clara recovered and eventually tied the score at 21-21 on a Clayton kill. The Broncos then utilized a pair of aces to win four of the final five points, sealing the 25-22 second set victory.

Duke won the first four points of the third set but could not hold the lead. Santa Clara tied the set at 12-all then rattled off four straight points with Clayton at the service line. The Bronco advantage ballooned to 23-16 before Duke rallied late with five consecutive points. Clayton's 14th kill put the match within Santa Clara's reach. The Blue Devils received an Obeime kill and DiPasquale ace, but could not get the game-tying point in the end. Milton's kill finished the set and clinched the match for the Broncos.

Duke faces a quick turnaround as the Blue Devils take on Penn today at 5 p.m. (PDT) at Stanford's Maples Pavilion in their final match of the Stanford Invitational.

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