Aug. 26, 2005

Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - Junior Kristina Conrad amassed 20 kills and 20 digs while teammate Jennifer Sentfleben recorded a match-high 24 kills to lead San Jose State to a 30-32, 30-8, 30-28, 30-25 win over UC Davis in a non-conference women's collegiate volleyball match at the Pavilion Friday.

The Aggies open the season at 0-1. The Spartans, also in their season opener, move to 1-0.

Senior opposite Jill McPheeters highlighted the UC Davis half of the boxscore, posting a career-high 14 kills on 25 swings for a .520 hitting average. Her contributions were especially evident in the Aggies Game 1 victory, as she hit four kills and added a pair of block assists in that frame. Freshman libero Nichole Brown posted 27 digs in her collegiate debut.

The two teams battled to eight ties, including six down the final stretch, in the Game 1 battle. UC Davis actually did not take the lead until 30-29 mark, but Sentfleben knocked down a kill to retie the match at 30-30. Aggie junior Katie Wilson scored on a tool to push her team to 31-30, then setter Katelyn Astruc finished it off with a service ace.

The momentum shifted in a Spartan-dominated second game. San Jose State outhit its host by a margin of .484 to a negative .105, getting four kills each by Conrad and freshman outside Niki Clement. In fact, the Spartans did not commit a hitting error until the 23-6 mark in the game.

UC Davis took control of Game 3, building as much as a 17-11 lead off back-to-back kills by junior Rachel Keener, followed by another ace by Astruc. Aggie freshman Chantal Paschetta also turned on the offensive heat, recording seven kills and five digs in that game. However, San Jose State battled back to a 27-27 when Conrad recorded consecutive kills. Sentfleben won a joust late in the game to give the Spartans a game-point situation, then hit the left sideline for the game-winner.

Eight ties highlighted the decisive Game 4, with the Aggies holding a late 20-19 advantage. Sentfleben had three straight kills to give her team a 22-20 lead, but Keener had a couple kills of her own to keep the visitors at bay. Conrad hammered down three late kills to help San Jose State finish strong for the game and match win.

UC Davis faces California on Saturday for its next action.

SAN JOSE STATE (kills-aces-blocks): Niki Clement 9-0-4, Brittany Collet 2-0-4, Kristina Conrad 20-1-1, Danielle Orong 0-1-0, Jennifer Sentfleben 24-1-2, Colleen Burke 10-0-5, Jessie Shull 1-1-0, Amber Biddle 0-0-0, Dyana Thompson 1-0-2, Nia Freeman 2-0-0. Totals 69-4-9.5. Assists - Brittany Collett 55. Digs leaders - Jessie Shull 22, Danielle Orong 22, Kristina Conrad 20.

UC DAVIS (kills-aces-blocks): Katelyn Astruc 3-2-1, Cleo Schiff 0-2-0, Chantal Paschetta 13-1-1, Katie Wilson 3-0-3, Jenny Pierce 4-2-2, Rachel Keener 13-1-2, Michelle Nelson 2-0-0, Amy McMahon 1-0-1, Jenny Kennedy 0-0-0, Kelly Patterson 4-1-0, Jill McPheeters 14-0-3, Renee Ibekwe 1-0-0, Nichole Brown 0-0-0. Totals 58-9-7.0. Assists - Katelyn Astruc 34, Michelle Nelson 14. Digs leader - Nichole Brown 27.