SLCC opens up SWAC play with huge win

SALT LAKE CITY – Fresh off a win over No. 7 Western Wyoming, the No. 9 Salt Lake Community College volleyball team opened their Scenic West Athletic Conference title defense with a 3-0 sweep over No. 11 Snow College.

Set one saw a tight battle between the two teams with neither team able to get a comfortable lead. With the score deadlocked at 20-20, the Bruins opened up an impressive four point run that included three straight kills from Carol Grasso (Sao Paulo, Brazil) to close out a 25-22 set one victory.

It was nearly déjà vu in set two as each team had an answer for everything the other was throwing at them. Once a lead was started it was immediately vanished. With Snow leading 6-9 over SLCC, the Bruins put together a three point run to tie the set and never looked back as SLCC never fell behind again to take a 2-0 advantage with a 27-25 set win.

Coming out of the break in set three it looked like SLCC was poised to complete the sweep with a comfortable six point lead throughout the set. The Badgers responded with a match long six point run to knot the set at 15-15. With Snow desperately holding on to force a set four and continue the match by defecting two match points, a pounding kill by Penny Gwynn (Hamilton, MT) put the set away for SLCC with a 27-25 leading to a 3-0 sweep.

The Bruins had two players post double-doubles with Grasso putting down a match high 15 kills with 10 digs as Jessica Quayle (Ogden, UT) had 10 kills with 12 digs. Quayle also added five blocks. Mariana Pilon (Sao Paulo, Brazil) led all players with 20 digs.

The setting duo of Rachel Davis (Riverton, UT) and Ailin Donati (Rome, Italy) had 49 assists combined.

For Snow Delayne Daniel posted a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs and defensive specialist Cali Tovey added 15 digs.

Head Coach Sue Dulaney and the rest of the SLCC volleyball team will now prepare for their next match on Friday, Oct. 3, as they will continue SWAC play against rival No. 3 College of Southern Idaho. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside the Bruin Arena and will be broadcasted at live.ksl.com.