It’s Match point. The crowd holds its breath as the Beavers lead two sets to zero, at 24-20 in the third. Oregon State’s Jackie Matias serves, launching the ball across the net.
A quick back and forth before Maeli Cormier leaps into the air and smacks down the kill shot, and OSU takes the match, the crowd roars.
This was how the Oregon State Women’s volleyball team defeated Santa Clara University on Thursday night, posting a 3–0 sweep 25–23, 25–16, and 25–20 at Gill Coliseum to maintain third place in the West Coast Conference Standings.
“As a staff, we thought we executed the scouting report really well…even though our passing wasn’t as great as maybe we wanted it to be, I just loved how we went for it behind the service line,” Head Coach Lindsey Behonick said in the post-game press conference.
The Beavers entered the match with a 17–8 overall record and an 11–4 conference record, while the Broncos arrived with 15–10 and 10–4 records, respectively. With the win, OSU improved to 18–8, 12–4 in the WCC, while Santa Clara dropped to 15–11, 10–5 in the WCC.
The opening set was the closest of the contest; Santa Clara opened the scoring with a kill from Layla Truitt, but Oregon State immediately responded with a kill from Maeli Cormier. After exchanging points and arriving at an 8-8 tie, the Beavers created their first separation after a service ace by Tia Shum and built a 12–8 advantage
OSU was able to hold the lead through most of the set, but the Broncos rallied behind Truitt and Selin Aslayan to tie the set at 23–23. A kill from Cormier on the next point gave the Beavers a set point, which Alana Marrs capitalised on with a kill to take the first set.
Oregon State tightened its grasp in the second set, holding the lead from start to finish. The Beavers were able to jump out to a 7-2 lead that the Broncos were unable to surmount. With kills from Cormier and Keila Gabriel, OSU expanded the advantage to 12–6 after an extended defensive sequence anchored by libero Jackie Matias, who finished with a team-high 12 digs.
Rumel was able to contribute at the net, hitting .400 for the match with 15 kills and three blocks. Her defensive presence helped limit the Broncos to a .155 hitting percentage. OSU took the second set 25–16, putting up the most efficient offensive frame of the night at .324.
The Broncos were more competitive in the third set, taking the opening point with a kill from Truitt, but were unable to disrupt Oregon State’s rhythm. Marrs, who hit .667 with 10 kills. After Santa Clara tied the third set at 8-8, the Beavers immediately took back the lead with a kill from Cheyenne Green to make it 9-8.
At 9-8, the Beavers held the lead to the end of the set; while Santa Clara kept pressure on OSU with strong serving from Lexi Trapani (two aces) and steady setting from Macy Hinshaw (34 assists), the Beavers were able to win the critical points. After cutting the Beavers’ lead to 15-13 on a kill from Cate Shanahan, OSU won five of the next six points to make it 20-14.
OSU’s balanced scoring, including five players who recorded at least six kills, was too much. After securing a match point on a kill from Keila Gabriel at 24-19, the Beavers won it on their second attempt, with Cormier’s kill to close out the contest.
Oregon State finished the match hitting .356, with Matias racking up 33 assists and an ace to boot. The Beavers also won the defensive battle, posting 49 digs to Santa Clara’s 42. Truitt (10 kills), Shanahan (9), and Aslayan (7) led for the Broncos, but OSU’s defence was able to prevent extended runs.
The win continues Oregon State’s late-season surge, improving to 6-2 in their previous eight games.
“We’re trying to end the season on a really good note, I think it’s a really good testament, and I’m really excited for the last two matches of the season,” Cormier said after the match.
Oregon State returns to action in its penultimate game of the season on Saturday at 1 p.m., travelling to Seattle to take on Seattle University in WCC play.
